The Midland Hotel, Bradford

I stayed at the Midland in Bradford on business a few times this year, and it has plenty going for it.

First, it is a far cry from the endless, generic, magnolia, soulless places you normally end up in, that look exactly the same no matter which brand you choose, no matter which city you stay in. You know the brands I mean, and I'm pretty sure I won't be allowed to submit a review that castigates all of them, so if you don't know you'll have to guess.

Second, you get a friendly welcome and a glass of wine when you turn up, in the airy, victorian lobby. It is part of the old train station buildings from a grander era and the decor is a throwback to a more opulent epoque. The carved high ceiling is a giveaway that this was definitely something special. Some design mistakes have been made since but you sense you are in a pretty special place.

Third, it is a quiet sanctuary in a busy city centre, and generally the place is never more than half full, so you tend to have the run of the place when you are there. Certainly in these tough times.

Fourth, the prices are pretty good, competitive with other better-known brands, and even better if you shop around on the hotel booking sites.

Finally, it has its own (free) car park, so you pull up, get out, go in and check in inside a couple of minutes. Magic.

One word of warning, if you are using a sat nav to find it (its off Forster Square, by the way), then ensure you have a 2009 version of the software, otherwise your poor old navigator will not manage to navigate you there. Print a map!