Blue Jay, Derby by Marston's Inns

Hotels
•
Marston's Inns
8.4 (2195 reviews)
Commercial Road , Derby , GB

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Heating
Family rooms
Garden
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Clean and tidy rooms (majority reports)
Excellent location near food outlets, attractions and parking
Air conditioning in rooms appreciated during heatwave
Friendly pub/bar staff and good pub food often mentioned
Free parking and EV charging; family-friendly facilities
Cons:
Inconsistent service (some rude reception/manager incidents)
Food quality inconsistent; some reports of poor/overcooked items
Occasional failures in housekeeping (room not cleaned, towels not changed)
No lift and several flights of stairs in some areas
Drain smell outside and occasional check-in waits

Categories

Cleanliness
8
Mostly reported as clean and tidy across many reviews, but a few serious negatives (room not cleaned for 3 nights, lack of towel changes, and an outside drain smell) lowered the score slightly.
Service
8.5
Generally praised staff and friendly pub/bar staff in multiple reviews, though there are notable negative incidents (rude receptionist, a manager refusing an advertised offer) — overall service is positive but with a few impactful lapses.
Location
9
Repeatedly highlighted as a strength: convenient for food outlets, Alton Towers travel, pub next door, and free parking; location consistently praised.
Room Quality
8.2
Rooms described as comfortable, clean and with welcome air conditioning; some comments about beds being too firm for some guests and occasional initial temperature issues on arrival.
Amenities
8
Good practical amenities mentioned (free parking, EV charging, play area, aircon). Some shared spaces (breakfast/bar area) have seen better days, so amenities are solid but not premium.
Value for Money
8.5
Several guests called it good value or 'cheap and cheerful' and praised family rooms and space; a few issues (unexpected breakfast charges, food quality) temper this but overall value perception is positive.
Food and Beverage
7.8
Mixed reports: many enjoyed the breakfast and pub meals, while others reported poor food quality (overcooked carvery, stale vegetables) and issues with advertised offers not being honoured.
Overall Experience
9.2
Overall stays were described positively (good location, family-friendly, comfortable rooms, helpful staff in many cases), though occasional service failures and food/cleaning problems impacted some stays.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-13 21:45

Property Description

Modern Comfort and Convenience
Blue Jay, Derby by Marston's Inns offers a relaxing stay just minutes away from Derby Cathedral. The guest rooms are equipped with all the essentials for a comfortable stay, including a seating area and flat-screen TV.

Delightful Amenities
Enjoy a delicious continental or Full English/Irish breakfast during your stay at the hotel. Additionally, the property features a charming children's play area, perfect for families traveling with little ones.

Convenient Location
With key attractions like Kedleston Hall, Calke Abbey, and Pride Park Stadium nearby, there's plenty to explore around the hotel. Plus, being just 10 km from East Midlands Airport, your travel convenience is assured.

Book your stay at Blue Jay, Derby by Marston's Inns now for a memorable experience!

Important information:

Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 2195 reviews
Cleanliness: 8
Service: 8.5
Location: 9
Room Quality: 8.2
Amenities: 8
Value for Money: 8.5
Food and Beverage: 7.8
Overall Experience: 9.2
J
Janet • couple • gb
8
Quiet, clean, good value hotel, easy to reach on main road.
Pros:

Excellent breakfast, cooked to order. Quiet room, despite being near busy road.

Cons:

Didn't like music in breakfast room.

2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
M
Moore • couple • gb
10
2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
L
Lee • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
F
Francis • family_with_children • ie
3
2026-10-21 • via Nuitee
H
Hesamedin • solo_traveller • de
7
2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
P
Paul Fletcher • family_with_children • gb
8
2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • family_with_children • gb
9
Very enjoyable and relaxing
Pros:

Friendly staff, room clean and comfortable

Cons:

Finding it

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
S
Steven • couple • gb
4
Location is ideal for what we wanted but was a terrible nights sleep.
Pros:

Fairly basic, only came due to location

Cons:

What ruined the stay completely was the bed. I have never slept on a harder mattress than that before in my life. I understand everyone has their own preferences with mattress firmness etc but that was like sleeping on the counter top. Mattresses in hotels should never be scrimped on it’s what everyone wants when they stay somewhere “a comfortable nights sleep”. I woke up in so much pain from that one night on the mattress. Next time I’d have to look elsewhere purely because of that issue.

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
S
Stephen • solo_traveller • gb
10
Good value hotel with fantastic Carvery
Pros:

Good value hotel with fantastic Carvery

Cons:

Drinks were a little pricey

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
A
Alfie • couple • gb
6
2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
L
L • family_with_children • gb
8
2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
M
mujafar • family_with_children • gb
10
Excellent value for money
Pros:

Spacious and clean Excellent facilities

Cons:

Nothing bad to stay about the facilities

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
S
Stephen • couple • gb
8
This stay was budget friendly and the cleanliness was perfect. I had booked b&b but I had to be somewhere for 8:30am
Pros:

Room was clean and access and check in was easy

Cons:

Everything was great

2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
T
Tarla • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Great room, clean and location was ideal

2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
P
Paul William • extended_group • gb
8
Excellant
2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
K
kenneth • couple • gb
9
Helpful staff
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Nothing

2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
S
Sam • couple • us
10
2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
T
Tanya • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Clean rooms

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
A
Ali • family_with_children • gb
8
2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
M
maria • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Room was good, breakfast was very good

Cons:

Shower was not a detachable one

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee