Leeds, Leeds Marriott Hotel

I stayed at the Marriot Hotel in Leeds on the evening prior to my wedding and my wedding night.

I had visited the Marriot the previous Friday with my friend, chief bridesmaid, on the 11th July to arrange a late checkout of the first room and an early check-in of the second room explaining that I would be in my wedding dress and didn't want to be sat in reception for 2.5 hours. The front of house reception manager was very helpful and explained that this had all been arranged at no extra cost and the he would probably be there on the 18th or 19th, he made a note on my reservation to ensure everything ran smoothly.

I arrived on the 18th July with my chief bridesmaid carrying both dresses and luggage, I use crutches due to arthritis a lot of the time and cannot carry a lot. I went to check in and was told that there would be an extra charge for the late check out and that the early check in was not guaranteed, I was upset as I had already arranged this. I asked if the reception manager was available and he came and sorted it out for me.

I enjoyed the use of the swimming pool and facilities on the morning of the 19th and was very relaxed.

I finally made my way down to reception to await my dad at approx 14:30. I was sat quietly with my chief bridesmaid in reception when the Duty Manager came up to me and asked me quite rudely what I was doing there. I was quite taken aback by his abruptness, I explained that I was waiting for my dad and as I was sitting in a wedding dress it was very obvious what I was waiting to do, however I went on to explain that I was getting married at Leeds Town Hall. He asked me if I was a guest in the hotel and asked me for my name, how long I had been staying there and what name my room was booked under. I was made to feel very unwelcome. He went away to reception to I assume check that what I had said was true. Upon his return he was not quite so rude, he went on to explain that there was a wedding reception at the hotel and the bride and groom were just about to arrive, he asked me if I had ever heard of a superstition in which two brides should not see each other on there wedding day, I have not, and neither has anybody else I have spoken to. And I saw more than one other bride at the registry office. He went on to explain that the other bride was superstitious about this, I would question how he would know this, if true, and how she would have even known I was there to be able to tell him as he didn't apparently know I was there until he saw me. I said that I would be leaving shortly and would probably not see her anyway. He went on to pull a barrier in front of me so I was not visible from the doorway so easily. My dad arrived at the same time as the other bride and groom; so as not to avoid getting myself upset I said I would leave through another exit if there was one nearby however he took me through a newsagents on Boar Lane in Leeds and I had to walk down Boar Lane in my dress with my crutches and he made me stand around the corner of the hotel. My dad was sat in reception, 2 other guests explained to my dad that I had been taken out of a back door. The duty manager started to shout at my taxi driver, who was waiting in front of the hotel for me. I felt edged into a corner by the duty manager I was made to feel very uncomfortable about being there.

My dad finally got into the taxi and we set off.

I stay at this hotel every time I shop in Leeds (live in Chorley) and every time we want to celebrate something, we come here. We have always been treated with the upmost respect and friendliness and will continue to stay there. The breakfasts are brilliant and you are in the town centre with Toni & Guy on one corner and the bars and shops across the road - what more can anyone want?

This hotel is centrally located about a 5 minute walk from Leeds City station. I arrived late and the check-in was extremely slow which caused me to miss the cut off time for anything decent from room service ... despite this being the hotels fault they showed no flexibility in offering me anything more than sandwiches. The room I had suffered from a really noisy vent system, I think that this will run through most rooms despite my complaint there was nothing could be done.