Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny

After paying over €300 to stay in a 4 star hotel, we were given a room in the basement, that took 5 mins to walk to, and it was completely damp. I normally don't complain, but I read alot of good reviews and was really looking forward to an enjoyable break. After waiting 20 mins to check in, when we eventually got to our room, it was damp and had a terrible smell. I sat on the bed, and it was seriously damp. Not good enough for spending over €300. We left after 30 mins. Not a good start to a relaxing break away, to have to look for a B&B at 10:30 on a Friday night!

This was my second time staying in the Newpark Hotel. I had lovely time the last time but the second time I went with my boyfriend for his birthday. The room we were put into was dreadful, it was obviously a very old room, very plain and a clock on the wall that wasn't even working. The dinner in the restaurant was also dreadful (thank god it was included in the price of the stay). There wasn't much to choose from on the Menu and the portions were so miserable. I wouldn't recommend this hotel to anybody and I will certainly never return to the Newpark Hotel again.

The service was excellent, friendly and relaxed. But there was background music on so loudly that we couldn't even talk. It sounded like wailing. At our request the waitress turned it down, so we ordered. The music was turned up again, and when we brought it to the waitress's attention, she offered to switch it off altogether. Lovely! Peace and quiet, and as the restaurant wasn't too busy, there was a nice atmosphere. Our mains were average. But then the music was turned on again. We went ahead with our mains. Overcooked monkfish, good duck and appalling beef. The beef was reheated, dry and tough. Back it went. But the second serving also went back for the same reason. My local pub serves better for €12. We discovered that a wedding was getting the same beef. That's 250 unhappy customers in one night. Anyway the waitress realised were very annoyed, and a duty manager was drafted in to deal with us. At the end of the meal he spent several minutes talking to us about why we were unhappy, and to his credit he was professional, understanding, and deleted 1 entire meal from the bill. He even gave my mother a box of chocolates. Incredibly we were told that the muzak had to be turned on and loudly, so it could be heard in reception. It beggars belief that they would want this awful music in reception or anywhere else. We made our point, and he was good about the bill, but never again. I should reiterate that the waitress was excellent all the time. I should also point out that their website specifically states that the restaurant has "soft piano music" which we were looking forward too. And 2 weeks later, their website still says the same thing! Their website doesn't seem have a contacts section, or an email for me to write to them directly. This restaurant does NOT belong in a 4* hotel.

A little distance from the center of the city, but the value and the quality were very good. The room was clean and large. Additionally, the included breakfast was very good - close to the quality that you receive at a B and B.

This was a nice hotel, but it was a long walk to the city center. There are no doors on the showers, so the floor gets wet. Other than that it was a very nice stay.