Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel: Honest Reviews & Amenities

The Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel sits on 26 acres of landscaped grounds in Hollingbourne, Kent, and is promoted as a 4-star property by Accor. Based on guest reviews across Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and Expedia, this article offers a balanced look at the hotel’s amenities, breakfast quality, and value to help you decide if it fits your stay. We triangulate official claims from the hotel’s own site (Mercure Maidstone official website) with real guest feedback to separate marketing from experience.

Last checked: 2026-09-04

Hotel Name: Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel · Location: Hollingbourne, Kent, England · Star Rating: 4 Star · Key Amenities: Free parking, Free Wi-Fi, Indoor swimming pool

What is Mercure Maidstone Known For?

The Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel is a 4‑star property operated under the Accor group, set in 26 acres of landscaped gardens in Hollingbourne, Kent. Its reputation among guests centres on a warm, friendly staff and a convenient location near Maidstone. Review platforms such as TripAdvisor and Booking.com consistently highlight the helpfulness of the team and the pleasant grounds. One TripAdvisor reviewer summarised the staff as “very helpful & competent” (TripAdvisor). However, the property also receives criticism: rooms are often described as dated, with some guests mentioning tired decor and occasional maintenance issues. The overall guest rating sits around 3.5/5 across booking sites, and Accor’s own internal score is 3.7/5. The hotel is known for being a wedding and conference venue, with dedicated event planning contacts listed in its official PDF brochure (Mercure event brochure (PDF)).

What this means: The hotel’s core strength is the staff and setting, but the physical condition of the rooms lags behind the branding, making it a fit for guests who prioritise service and grounds over contemporary room finishes.

What Amenities Does Mercure Maidstone Offer?

The hotel lists a solid set of amenities across its official website and third-party platforms. Free on‑site parking (with registration required), free Wi‑Fi, and an indoor swimming pool are the headline inclusions. The Feel Good Health Club also provides a gym, sauna, and spa. The on‑site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there is a bar. Conference rooms are available for business guests. Expedia’s listing confirms 126 rooms and adds that breakfast is served 06:30–09:30 on weekdays and 07:30–11:00 on weekends (Expedia). A recurring guest complaint across multiple platforms is the lack of individual air‑conditioning controls in rooms; some guests report discomfort during warm weather. Nevertheless, the pool and gardens are consistently praised. The hotel promotes itself on Accor’s site as having “26 acres of private landscaped gardens” and a “Feel Good Health Club” (Accor (ALL)).

The trade‑off: Free parking and decent leisure facilities offset the lack of air‑conditioning and some dated decor, but guests expecting modern in‑room climate control may be disappointed.

Is Breakfast Included at Mercure Maidstone?

Breakfast is not automatically included in every booking; it depends on the room rate chosen. When purchased separately, the English breakfast costs approximately GBP 17.95 per person, according to Expedia’s listing (Expedia). The breakfast itself is highly rated on Booking.com with a guest score of 8.0/10, and offerings include continental, full English/Irish, vegetarian, vegan, gluten‑free, buffet, and to‑go options. On Accor’s own page, the internal breakfast score is lower (around 5.1/10 from over 700 reviews), indicating a split in satisfaction. TripAdvisor reviewers frequently describe the breakfast as “plentiful” with a good selection of hot and cold options, though some note queues for items like eggs during peak times. One reviewer called it “good value” compared with typical £10–11 café breakfasts, due to the unlimited tea, toast, and variety (TripAdvisor). Travelmyth synthesises mixed feedback, ranging from “excellent” and “lush” to “worst fried breakfast ever” (Travelmyth). Trivago markets a “Signature Kentish breakfast buffet” with local sausages and fried bread (Trivago).

The pattern: Breakfast quality is variable, but the buffet’s variety and the availability of dietary options are consistent positives; value perception depends on how heavily you use the buffet.

Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel Reviews on TripAdvisor

Overall Rating Trends

TripAdvisor’s page for the hotel shows a mixed picture: the property holds thousands of reviews, with many guests awarding 3 or 4 stars. The general rating trends suggest a “pleasant” hotel that does not consistently exceed expectations. Value perception is described as “reasonable rates but overpriced extras” (TripAdvisor). Trip.com aggregated scores also sit around 7.0/10 overall, with location scoring 7.7, amenities 6.6, service 6.7, and cleanliness 7.1 (Trip.com).

What Guests Love

Friendly, helpful staff and the beautiful gardens are the most frequently praised aspects. The indoor swimming pool and free parking also receive positive mentions. Breakfast variety, when it works well, is another highlight. Momondo reviewers echo this: “breakfast was good plenty of choice” and “brilliant breakfasts” (Momondo).

Common Complaints

Dated and tired rooms, lack of air‑conditioning, and inconsistent breakfast quality are recurring themes. Some guests report smelly rooms and maintenance issues. Service at busy breakfast times can lead to long queues. A Trip.com review noted organisational problems with missing breakfast order slips causing delays (Trip.com).

The bottom line: The hotel delivers on staff warmth and grounds, but physical upkeep and breakfast consistency are clear weak points that potential guests should weigh.

“Excellent buffet breakfast. Free parking (remember to register your registration plate), very helpful & competent reception staff.”

— Anonymous guest reviewer, Trip.com

Alternatives to Mercure Maidstone Great Danes

For searchers comparing options in the Maidstone area, here are three other hotels that often appear alongside this property in guest research:

• Holiday Inn Maidstone – Sevenoakes: A 3‑star chain hotel with similar amenities (pool, free parking) and generally higher guest ratings for room quality and breakfast.
• Hilton Maidstone: A 4‑star property in the town centre, offering modern rooms and on‑site dining, but with paid parking and no pool.
• Village Hotel Maidstone: Located near the M20, with a leisure club (pool, gym), free parking, and a more contemporary feel; often rated slightly above the Mercure on cleanliness.

Each of these alternatives may offer a different balance of price, modernity, and breakfast inclusion, so it’s worth comparing directly.

“Breakfast was good plenty of choice.”

The bottom line: “Breakfast was good plenty of choice.”

— Anonymous guest reviewer, Momondo