Crowne Plaza Harrogate by IHG — Hotel in Great Britain

Overall the check in was pleasant however not without issues on their side that became issues on our side. When booking we provided our Amex online as gaurentee for costs. Upon check in we requested that they can keep our Amex card on file for gaurentee and asked that upon checking out we wanted to pay by debit card. Well, didnt this put them into a spin! They said they needed a physical card. Between the two of we had 10 cards (combination of UK & Australian Debit and Credit cards) but all were on apple pay. No Physical Cards. I suggested they charge us for everything now plus a securirity fee but that was rejected. The lady then said she will just charge us for parking and that will "open an account" whatever that means. That night we tried ordering meals for room service. We were told we could not as there was no ....whatever (card/account..I dont know)The room ( a suite) was a normal room with a funny room tacked on. We used that for our luggage. The room was clean, bed comfortable and overall the hotel was clean and well presented. Breakfast was plentiful, well laid out and service was good. On the morning of checkout before brekky I noticed they had charged my AMEX card against my wishes.||Note to Management.|Executive lounge. We visited the lounge on both nights. My observations:||1. Food very average/no spirits - possibly reflected in price for rooms with exec access.|2. 15 minutes after loung opens no plates left. 1st night there was no cutlery.|3. Second night at opening he forgot to put plates out.|4. Red wine ran out, white wine ran out and food ran out. They were eventually topped up but long gaps between (45 min plus)|5. Nobody cleared glasses/plates so when you arrived you had to clear the tables yourself.|6. Servietes were missing|7. Great for exec loung abusers/hoggers. There is no one that checks you are entitled to be there. From conversation we had with guests in the lounge it was clear that people knew the system and brought their freinds & family in even though they are not staying leaving few seats and food and beverages being consumed quickly.|8. AND THE BIG ONE - 10 minutes before closing two groups filled their bags with beer, a bottle of wine and whatever else was available. I saw at least 20 bottles were taken as well as the fruit.||All of the above is due to...

As a long-time guest of the Intercontinental / Holiday Inn Group, staying 70–100 nights annually for over two decades, I bring a seasoned perspective to my reviews. While my travel has reduced to around 20 nights a year since the Covid outbreak, my recent experiences at the Crowne Plaza Harrogate have been consistently excellent.

I have stayed at this property twice in recent months: first for business in November 2024 and most recently in January 2025 while traveling as a couple. Both stays were thoroughly enjoyable, and here’s my detailed assessment:

Arrival & Check-In

• The hotel is easy to locate using the provided Sat Nav and postcode instructions.

• Parking is convenient, with an underground (paid) car park shared with the adjacent conference centre.

• The check-in experience was smooth, with friendly and welcoming staff who made a great first impression.

• As a Priority Club member, I was acknowledged upon arrival and offered a choice between bonus points or a complimentary drink—a thoughtful touch.

Rooms & Cleanliness

• The hotel and rooms were impeccably clean, well-maintained, and in line with the high standards expected from the Crowne Plaza brand. (See attached photos for reference.)

Club Lounge & Dining

• The Club Lounge was a highlight of my stay, offering complimentary appetizers, beer, and wine from 5-8 PM—a great perk for Priority Club members.

• Breakfast was exceptional, with freshly prepared items like poached eggs and omelettes, alongside a wide variety of other continental and fully cooked breakfast options.

Local Dining Recommendation

• For those looking to explore nearby dining options, I highly recommend The Ilam, a Southern Indian restaurant just a 3-minute walk from the hotel. It’s a fantastic local gem serving tasty dishes!

Check-Out

• The check-out process was seamless and efficient, with staff readily available to assist.

Overall Rating

The Crowne Plaza Harrogate offers a consistently enjoyable stay with excellent service, clean accommodations, and great amenities. My overall score is 4.5/5—a reliable and solid choice for both business and...

Nothing but positive things to say about this hotel!

I was here for a major annual conference, and chose the Crowne Plaza due to it being located right on the site of the convention centre.

With that said, it is also very well situated for the entire town, which is extremely walkable, and not more than 15 minutes walk from the railway station.

There is a limited on-site carpark for drivers, and it is suggested that you pre book if you wish to use it.

The staff were all incredibly attentive, friendly and extremely accommodating, and were kind enough to look after my luggage before my check-in and after check-out, which was extremely helpful as it allowed me to take part in all aspects of the conference unhindered by my luggage.

The rooms were clean, modern, spacious and extremely well appointed with all the features one would expect from a hotel of this kind. The bed was exceptionally comfortable and I was able to have a very good night's sleep during my stay.

The food service was also very good, with an excellent and tasty breakfast buffet every morning, and a restaurant with a wide selection of dishes available in the evenings, and a well-stocked bar serving food and drink into the night. Room service is available but I elected to eat in the dining rooms.

The pizza I had in the restaurant, and the nachos I had in the bar were both excellent, and I was impressed that the nacho chips themselves were clearly freshly made on site, whereas many places often use pre-packaged types.

The prices for the room and other services were in line with what I expected and knew of similar hotels, and for Harrogate were clearly extremely competitive, as a fellow delegate at the conference informed me that they had paid a similar nightly rate, but at a nearby budget chain hotel, and noted they would have stayed in the Crowne Plaza if their booking had not been arranged by a group they had travelled with.

Overall, I was most impressed with the Crowne Plaza, and will certainly look to stay at their hotels again in the future, as they have greatly impressed me on this occasion. Highly...