Over the last 8 months I have had the distinct pleasure of staying at the park Avenue Hotel. The purpose of my trips was business. The accomodations have been very clean and well taken care of. The bed was exceptionally comfortable. The one thing that stands out in this hotel is the friendliness and professionalism of the staff.

We were booked in a s part of a large group. Despite being told we had booked a family room for four and a room for three at set prices, the hotel saw fit to change this arrangement to 2 doubles and a room for three at rates they chose on the day. The family were split into 2 rooms not even close to each other despite having 2 children under the age of 13. Meals served in the bar were hit and miss largely due to lack of staff. The manager was indifferent when spoken to about our issues and for someone employed in a customer service capacity was unable to deal with any kind of criticism or confrontation.

On what must have been the busiest weekend in Belfast - football, McFly concert and a car rally, I ended up paying £400 for three nights at the Park Avenue. The public areas are attractive, with a modern decor, and the friendliness of the staff and the good breakfast, did much to lift my spirits. I loathed returning to my bedroom, at night, and thought of just staying in my car, rather than sleep in the grubby room. Although the furniture was of a good standard, what let my room down was the dirty bathroom and the brown stained carpet in the room together with the grubby valance on the bed. I could put up with the poor, saggy bed but the bathroom was dirty and in dire need of modernisation. The old tiled floor reminded me of an institution and had muck round all the edges, and behind the taps of the bath and sink was the most disgusting black gunge - just poor housekeeping; dirt must have accumulated there for months! It looked like the sort of place the Environmental Health would have found of great interest. For a three star, and for the price, it was extremely disappointing and poor value.

As others state, it is a little bit off beaten track in east Belfast but we have used it as a base to visit our relatives for a number of years now and also to visit friends in Helens Bay so it is a perfect base for us.

It is a well designed hotel with some views overlooking bay side of city- but ask! Rooms we have ever being given were always spacious and clean ,good size bathroom etc .

Staff as stated elsewhere are from the Mainland ,mainly Polish,lithuanian and one of the waiters in dining room is from
Albania.So a true European mixture reflecting the New Ireland .Indeed all the other Irish staff are very well trained and polite and good humoured etc.

Dining room is big and good seating etc.Breakfast though has never being one of its strong point! Very basic to be honest with limited cereals , juices etc and I have often said to reception that their ' English Fry ' , (I kid you not!) , on the menu always gives me a laugh.

I would have to agree with other negative points made by others but it is a good all rounder despite these and so we will still continue to use.Interestingly enough because they get so much mid week corporate trade, it is cheaper to stay at weekends!