Ashley Hotel

My partner and I booked to stay at the Ashley Hotel for two nights in order to attend a May Ball, among other Cambridge-based activities. We arrived and checked in to room 14 around 3pm, at which time we discovered The Arundel House Hotel was linked to this one. Once we were settled, I came downstairs to ask the staff member at reception if I could use an iron and ironing board to get my suit ready for the ball later. I accompanied her as she looked for them, but to no avail. At which point, she said she would find them and bring them up to my room when she did. Unfortunately, the staff member did not come up to the room, and the iron and board did not materialise. I went downstairs again around 5pm to ask again, at which point I was told that the iron and ironing board could not be found, and that there was nothing that could be done. I asked if one could be brought over from The Arundel House Hotel, to which I was told that wouldn't be possible, but if I wanted to go to the other hotel "to use the ironing room," I should. Bereft of options, I took my suit up the road to the Arundel House Hotel, sweating as I walked. Upon arrival, I explained to the receptionist there that I needed to use the ironing room, to which she obliged and let me in. Once I had started ironing, I realised I needed some water for the iron, so came out to find some, and was advised to "ask at the bar downstairs." Visiting the bar downstairs meant coming out through a security door, meaning on my return to the ironing room, I was once again held up waiting for the receptionist to let me in through the door. I walked back to the Ashley Hotel around 6pm after ironing my clothes for the ball. Suffice it to say, all of these ironing board drawbacks had pushed our departure - and therefore, arrival time - later and later. As such, not only was the getting ready experience needlessly stressful, but we were late for the ball, having had to also call a cab, rather than just walk to Jesus College. I try my utmost not to use unnecessarily hyperbolic language. That being said, I genuinely feel like not having an iron or ironing board; not making me aware of that fact without further investigation on my part; and then causing me to have to visit another hotel half a mile away, has ruined our stay in Cambridge. For £155 per night, I don't think it particularly unreasonable to expect to be able to use an iron and ironing board to get your clothes ready for an evening out. To say this has left a sour taste is a gross understatement, and I currently do not plan to ever stay at either The Ashley Hotel, nor The Arundel House Hotel, when I visit Cambridge in the future.

Great room for a weekend stay - clean, comfortable, and spacious. Just as important to out stay, was the breakfast service. We want to specially mention the incredibly kind and professional breakfast service by Nicola at the hotel. Couldn't have asked for a better host who made our stay much cosier and homelier than any of our previous stays in Cambridge!