St James Hotel, 1 Rutland St, Nottingham NG1 6FL
Date of stay: December 2025.
Hotel has a small car park outside of the hotel. Or you can use the Multi-Story one next door.
Recommended to phone and reserve a spot in the hotels car park. It’s cheaper and you don’t have to lug your bags in lifts and up/down stairs. I parked on the 3rd floor (in the first available space) in the Multi-Story. The spaces are an ok size but driving inside the building, left very little room as it wasn’t one way and a few times I found someone in an oversized car for their driving abilities blocking the way, I’ve got a small car so it was a little easier to maneuver round some of the tighter bends but not ideal, especially as some corners were blind and some drivers drive too fast for the environment. I’d not recommend using the Multi-Story if possible. The car park is paid for via an app like most things are these days, or you can pay via card at the exit barrier. The payment machines had been taped up to prevent people from using them.
Hotel had an elegant feel, decorated with a big Christmas tree in the hall when I arrived. Friendly staff. Check in was quick and easy. Was offered breakfast but I tend to not accept breakfast if they charge (usually I can get better quality breakfast elsewhere, with more choice, and cheaper along with a time table more suited to my time schedule).
The hotel has 2 elevators, which had a nice roof inside.
My room was on 5th floor. What a nice room is was. I almost didn’t want to leave. The bed was very comfortable, a couple of small windows. Both of which was large enough to use as a reading nook. I liked the colour scheme. I think if I wasn’t in the city to see one of my favourite bands, I might have just stayed in the room.
There was light switches by the bed along with power sockets which are also an added bonus when staying in a hotel.
TV was a decent size although it remained untouched.
Kettle with complimentary tea coffee and hot chocolate. I’m yet to find anywhere that offers the option of vegan milk (soya, oat) options, or even a note saying they offer it and ask at reception…)
There was a complimentary offer of water, in reusable bottles. There was a note saying if the bottles were removed there would be a £5 charge per bottle added to the cost of the stay (bit excessive as those little bottles do not cost that much. It’s obviously tap water inside and given the bottles were not factory sealed, I decided I’ll stick with my own water bottles. As a female solo traveller, you can’t be too careful with these things and although I’m sure it would be fine to drink, I don’t like the idea of the bottles not being sealed, not knowing where they came from or even how long the water has been sitting there.
May sound silly, but you never know what else has been added and although there should be an element of trust, solo travel has taught me many lessons, and one is to always be wary of unsealed items.
Full length mirror on the bathroom door, which if you leave the door open, gives you the option to watch yourself peeing (or pooping) in the toilet! 😂
Heater worked nicely – in the bedroom, although the bathroom was absolutely freezing, I couldn’t see any form of heater in there so that knocked off some of the bonus points awarded for things like full length mirror. I had the heater on as it was a cold night, I initially left the bathroom door open in the hopes the bathroom would be warmer by the morning. However during the night it was just too cold to have the door open.
Location of the hotel was good, as previously mentioned, 2 options of parking right next door. Castle is less than 2 minutes walk away. There was a pub opposite the castle entrance and a few other little cafes/restaurants. The City centre also isn’t very far. I didn’t want to stay too much in the city centre because many hotels tend to be quite noisy which defeats the point in staying in a hotel IMO (despite advertising sound proof rooms, they are usually are not). Plus there’s usually amenities lacking such as nearby parking..
I managed to get myself lost a couple of times trying to find the music venue – not sure if this was rubbish Google directions, being tired and hungry or the mass of Xmas stalls around along with so many people. Decided when I go back to the venue for the gig later to use a different route which avoided the “centre”, that seemed to have an easier route to follow.
I might stay here again if the price was right, but probably not during the winter. If there’s no heater in the bathroom, at least initially, it’s far from ideal to use the facilities within.
Score 7/10.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the places / companies I have written about, neither did I receive any remuneration for the recommendations or reviews. This is something I am doing as my own “scrap book” and for others to enjoy too. Any places I have recommended are places I have been to and enjoyed. These are places that deserve to be visited and enjoyed for many years to come.
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