Nottingham’s strongest choice depends on whether you want a small hotel near the castle, a country-house setting or a more economical base. Hart’s is our first recommendation for food and a romantic city stay, with its two-Rosette kitchen and private garden. Colwick Hall has the lowest midweek guide total, while the Orchard offers University Park grounds and dinner at Bramleys.
Park Plaza is the straightforward central alternative. All four have on-site restaurants, but their settings and dinner budgets differ enough that the cheapest figure should be the start of the decision rather than the end.
Our picks: which stay suits your break?
- Best for food and a romantic city stay: Hart’s Hotel — two AA Rosettes, 32 bedrooms and a private garden, with dinner at the hotel
- Lowest midweek guide total: Colwick Hall — £175 for two with a dinner allowance, in a Georgian house outside the central streets
- Best balance of grounds and budget: The Orchard Hotel — £220 midweek in University Park, with Bramleys on site
- Lowest weekend guide total: Park Plaza Nottingham — £230 for two with dinner at Westway, in a central hotel setting
Why Hart’s is our food pick
Hart’s Hotel combines a small-hotel setting with the strongest restaurant recognition in this shortlist: two AA Rosettes. Its £273 midweek and £268 weekend figures use a calculated three-course à la carte dinner, rather than the generic £50 allowance used at some of the alternatives.
The location near Nottingham Castle and the private garden make it our most rounded choice for a romantic city break. You can spend the day in Nottingham and return for dinner without arranging a second venue. With 32 bedrooms, it also offers a more intimate scale than the larger hotels here.
At the weekend, Hart’s is £28 above Colwick Hall or the Orchard and £38 above Park Plaza. For a trip where dinner is the point, that is the upgrade we would investigate first. Midweek, the gap from Colwick Hall is much larger, so the value decision changes.
Colwick Hall: the cheapest midweek stay, with a different setting
Colwick Hall is around £175 midweek for two, rising to £240 at the weekend. The price includes an estimated dinner allowance for Byron’s Brasserie; it is not a promise that every à la carte combination fits that budget.
The Georgian house and parkland are the reasons to choose it for a romantic escape outside the city centre. They are also why it should not be treated as an identical substitute for Hart’s or Park Plaza. If the evening includes central bars, a show or several restaurant stops, consider the journeys as well as the room price.
Colwick Hall hosts weddings and larger events. For a quiet occasion, ask what is taking place on your dates and which room location suits you. That is a more useful booking question than assuming a country-house appearance guarantees a secluded evening.
The Orchard or Park Plaza?
The Orchard Hotel is £220 midweek or £240 at the weekend, with dinner at Bramleys. Its University Park setting suits visitors who want green surroundings or have plans around the university. The catalogue records one AA Rosette for the restaurant, giving the lower-cost stay a food-quality distinction of its own.
Park Plaza Nottingham is £235 midweek or £230 at the weekend. Westway is its current on-site restaurant, serving familiar dishes with contemporary touches. Choose it for a central base and an easy hotel dinner, especially if you expect to spend most of your time out in the city.
At weekends, only £10 separates Park Plaza from the Orchard and Colwick Hall. We would choose the most convenient setting before worrying about that difference. For a food-led upgrade, compare all three with Hart’s £268 figure.
Dogs and spa expectations
Hart’s offers dog-friendly accommodation, particularly Garden Rooms with direct outdoor access. However, dogs are excluded from its restaurant and bar, and must not be left unattended in bedrooms. Room service or another agreed arrangement is needed if you want to eat while keeping your dog with you.
The Orchard also accepts dogs, and Bramleys confirms they can use the bar and lobby areas but not the restaurant itself. Both are useful accommodation leads; neither should be sold as unrestricted dog-friendly dining.
There is no verified destination-spa choice among these four recommendations. If a pool and thermal suite are central to the trip, widen the search rather than book one of these on the assumption that a four-star hotel must have them.
One-night dinner, bed and breakfast comparison for two
| Hotel and base | Dinner basis | Midweek | Weekend | Restaurant recognition | What to know |
|---|
| Colwick Hall HotelColwick Park, Nottingham | ByronsDinner allowance | £175 | £240 | 1 AA Rosette | At the hotel |
| The Orchard HotelUniversity Park, Nottingham | Bramleys RestaurantDinner allowance | £220 | £240 | 1 AA Rosette | At the hotel |
| Park Plaza NottinghamCentral Nottingham | Westway NottinghamDinner allowance | £235 | £230 | — | At the hotel |
| Hart’s HotelNear Nottingham Castle | Hart’s KitchenThree-course à la carte calculation | £273 | £268 | 2 AA Rosettes | At the hotel |
If a different destination would suit you better
Compare East Midlands to look beyond Nottingham for a hotel with the facilities or country setting you want.
Compare the Peak District if walking and a country-hotel stay matter more than being in the city; compare the spa and food options there.
You can also view all dinner, bed and breakfast deals and choose a destination, sort by price or use the map to find a suitable base.
