pumpkinstrokemarrow

Similar offerings in that they are both on the southern edge of the town centre of a town boasting a lot of old buildings. We had large comfortable rooms in both. Both had free computing in the foyer, not much used which meant that I could have a go. Presumably most people who want access carry laptops. Both had a plentiful supply of hot and cold water.

Plus points for the Novotel, smart modern building and good breakfast. Minus point the bath. All as previously mentioned. Plus points for the Best Western, large sensible bath and a smoking area which took the form of an old walled garden. Lawn, big trees, full moon. Plenty of suitable garden furniture. But oddly unused. Perhaps people don't puff in Cambridge. Minus points for the Best Western, good deal dearer than the Novotel. But their biggest black was their kipper. Knowing that these can be a bit dodgy in hotels, made a point of asking the waitress whether the kipper came with head and tail, failing that with some bones. She assured me that head and tail were missing but bones were present. OK, go for the kipper. When it turned up, it turned out to be one of those deodorized shrink wrap affairs. Small soggy fillets with no bones and swimming in oil and butter. Sprig of parsley. I remonstrated with the waitress. Well, she said. This is what we call a kipper here. Bit of a cheek considering it formed part of their de-luxe breakfast offering.

Next day tried their traditional English (small). Said to be cooked to order. Which included an over cooked and over spiced sausage and some sort of potato wedges which had clearly been cooked the previous day and warmed up for my delectation. On the whole, Novotel had done rather better with their hot buffet version - although the Best Western scrambled eggs were not quite as palid as the Novetel ones. Different brand of egg powder? In both places what was described as a fried egg looked as if it had been poached in warm vegetable oil. Flabby, shiny white things. Not much like the hot lard fried job at all. To end on a good note, both used quite decent bacon. Much better than the stuff you are apt to get from Mr S..

PS: pity about the Labour Party - when the offering seems to be one of two brothers. Not been following their election closely enough to tell them apart, although one of them seems to have got into a bit of a twist about torturing people suspected of terrorism. Which one though? I think there ought to be a self-denying ordinance whereby if somebody is active politically, their children, parents, siblings and partners are all disqualified from being active at the same level. Far too many relations floating about the upper reaches of the Labour Party. Gives off a bad smell. (I have inherited prejudice in these matters from my teacher mother who hated having married couples in the staff room. Always forming cliques).