Hôtel Mercure Rouen Centre Champ-de-Mars in Rouen

The only part of this stay that merits a positive note is the front desk staff. We were checked in very quickly and greeted with warmth and smiles.

We were in a room that faced an inner parking lot and is most likely a service dock/delivery area. While large enough, it was not fresh, inviting or particularly clean. There was a large brown stain in the bathroom sink, stains in the toilet, and mold in the shower. One bottle of hand soap and one shampoo/bath gel in the shower. One glass bottle of mineral water that we did not use. No robes or slippers were provided, so thank goodness we already had slippers with us from the prior hotel. Orange garish carpet that is perfect for hiding dirt. Did not use the kettle/service tray, but it was just the basic instant coffee packets and tea bags. The bed itself was comfortable enough, but there was only one flat square pillow that should be changed out. It's too easy for hotels to have good pillows, so why not this one? The worst part was the very loud talker at midnight and the person doing their evening bedtime routine- these we could hear very clearly through the walls.

We were with a large group so we did not eat at the regular restaurant, but the staffing needs to be increased in order to efficiently serve group dining in the conference room. This aspect of the stay was pretty bad, as in wine being served to part of a table and then moving on, and some dinners being brought out but the rest of the table being forgotten and having to ask for meals to be brought to us. Staff should perhaps be re-trained on how to move through a room to serve guests. They were clearly trying but were stressed and harried in their manner.

I would recommend finding a different hotel for a stay in beautiful Rouen.

We had been given to understand that the hotel was 4☆. It most certainly isn't.
The reception & dining areas were 3☆ at best. These areas are clean & tidy, but visually nothing special.
The staff were hard working & would benefit from having additional members of staff on duty alongside them.
Both lift's doors are dangerous, & extremely fast to close, they don't stop closing on to customers arms, legs or luggage, by way of breaking the beam, alerting the system to keep the doors open, & if you don't exit the lift in split seconds you will be bashed by the doors closing on you - I have the bruises to prove it ! The safety commentary from within the lift is only in French.
The bedrooms ... are at best 2☆ & we were very disappointed with our room. The first obstacle is finding the light in the entrance area. Take a torch with you so that at least you have some light to try to find where you are supposed to put the plastic room 'key' to make the electrical work !!! After two trips up in the dreaded lift to reception, once with the chap from the joining room, we finally worked out that the card had to be placed behind a light switch - there was a nano gap that one had no chance of seeing.
The bathroom was quite basic, but clean. There was the usual wall hanging hand-wash come shower gel & shampoo. Clean, fluffy white towels & lots of loo roll. Outside of the bathroom was a wardrobe with only four hangers & and extra pillow. Also housed in the wardrobe was a mini safe, mini fridge that didn't get cool or cold, & a rather excellent hairdryer. Move through to the bedroom & there our disappointed really kicked in. The bed, DID NOT HAVE A MATTRESS PROTECTOR on. How basic is that, especially as there is a known epidemic of bed bugs throughout Europe ? You lay on a cotton sheet which wasn't even tucked in properly. There wasn't a top sheet, just the duvet. The mattress itself was really firm, but many people prefer it to be.
Furniture is sparse and looked old & cheap. A tiny round bedside table, a bench style table underneath the wall hung TV with tea & coffee machine & tray of fruity teabags, sugar, but no milk. There was an easy chair, but it too looked old & grubby. We had a small window, again grubby, which overlooked a small park for local residents. The truly excellent thing about the room was the lights, lots of them & some really bright - useful to anyone like myself with poor eyesight.
Outside of the hotel, there is parking for a few coaches & cars. Across the road flows the river Seine, and a ten minutes walk takes you to the city centre & the delight of stepping back in time into the 'old' & very beautiful Rouen.

I have stayed in a lot of Mercure hotels and this was the most disappointing. The room we had was tired. The curtains had holes in, there was chipped bits around the sockets in the bathroom and a socket had been removed meaning we had to pull the fridge out and un plug it each time we wanted to use the kettle. The reception staff were OK but not overly friendly, I am used to being greeted as I walk into a hotel but this didn't happen at any time. On the plus side the beds were comfortable.