Travel test

WHAT: Premier Inn, Gatwick Airport (North Terminal) Rooms from £55 a night; Premier Plus room from £10 extra, free wi-fi throughout the property. premierinn.com

WHERE: A two-minute walk to the terminal building – so a breeze for the check-in desks and the shuttle train for departures from the South Terminal. EXPERIENCE: On arrival there was a bit of a bunfight for the lifts from the street to reception (this is a large 701-room hotel across 10 floors) but once there, check-in was simple.

My contemporary Premier Plus room on the 9th floor was generously sized, with a superb Hypnos bed, desk, posh tea and coffee-making facilities, lounge chair, a bench for a case, flatscreen TV and a bathroom with decent shower and Damana amenities. I was also rather taken with the funky purple mood lighting and the fact there were plenty of USB charging points.

The Thyme bar and dining area is large, but it was a very busy Sunday night at Gatwick and there was a constant queue for tables and drinks, though the hard-working, friendly staff kept it moving as best they could.

You’d be wise to book a restaurant table in advance, or as soon as you arrive.

Bar prices are not too horrific for a London area airport, so after a snifter in the courtyard I headed to the restaurant (I had booked).

The food was solid gastropubstyle fare and I had the Cauliflower Popcorn with red pepper and harissa dip starter (£5.79) which I loved, then the Surf and Turf main (£21.28) which was spot-on. Service was brisk but impeccable.

It was an early night ahead of a stupid o’clock check-in and a long day heading to America’s Pacific Coast and I was grateful for blackout curtains and not a whisper of aircraft noise. QUIBBLES: The bar’s outdoor courtyard is not hugely attractive and the lifts from the street struggle to cope with peak-time arriving guests.

VERDICT: A convenient, friendly and reasonable value airport hotel. Hugely popular and busy for a reason. 9/10