Mercure Livingston Hotel

Arrived, foyer area looking fresh and clean. Receptionist wasn't the most welcoming; went to our room to find a very dated bedroom, could even smell the old furniture! As part of the package we were given a free bottle of wine...Just as well it was free as couldn't even finish half a glass it was so bad. Fire alarm went off late afternoon - luckily it was dry, while we evacuated. The bedroom looked on to the car park and was under the flight path of the airport... soundproofing was non-existent, could hear cars and planes late in to the night and was woken by planes in the morning. The bathroom was clean, plenty of evidence that work has been carried out over the years - cut outs in the bathroom units, silicone on the units and tiles. The shower is powerful enough but only really suitable if you are under 6ft. The bath, is a standard size. Breakfast (included) was a mixed buffet, with limited choice. There was a menu stating breakfast would normally be £15, which I'd never entertain if breakfast was an extra... a banner at the hotel foyer stated breakfast was £11, still wouldn't pay that much for the quality of food on offer. During checkout receptionist (different from day before) didn't ask how stay was (maybe she knew it would be negative...). Anyway, for a chain hotel, we expected more, if it wasn't for the itison voucher reducing the stay to a more acceptable price for the quality a complaint would've been made. Definitely one hotel we won't be returning to...even with a voucher.

The hotel was very good overall. It was clean and comfortable with ample parking. The service and food in the restaurant though were pretty bad. Firstly, i had to wait several minutes as there were no staff to seat guests ect. In the end i walked around to the kitchen and found them all in there talking. I ordered a chicken tikka masala and it wasn't good. A few popadoms, and stale naan bread from a packet. For £20 i would expect food cooked fresh. I would avoid it next time and take a trip into town.

Visited this as a last minute overnight as on holiday so the price was way more than normal but it was one off. It's so handy for the designer outlet. Staff were awesome couldn't of asked for more, got into room early which was great. The spa facilities were nice and peaceful. The room was suitable for disabled/elderly which we were neither the decor was for me v dated in need of an upgrade in bathroom etc and I've paid less and had much nicer however this is my opinion. Paid £90 and won't pay it again.... staff were fabulous

Stayed one night in a Privilege Room on the second level. It wasn't worth the price. The room was small with little space to hang things. There is no lift, so one has to lug the luggage up the stairs and back down again. The hotel is frequented by tour groups; this means crowds in the restaurant. Service was fine, staff were helpful. Stay here only if you want to be near the shopping outlets.

Found hotel after a few wrong turns at various roundabouts staff friendly and knowledgeable at check in .Hotel clean fresh but a little dated in parts we booked two nights couples deal breakfast both mornings and evening meal included one night .We used the pool spa sauna to the maximum pool was warm and had it to ourselves most of the time very clean fresh towels also a small gym shower room and lockers liked the idea you had to get a card to get in and out of the pool area and sign in and out felt very safe and secure. Restaurant was crazy busy Friday night but had a two bus tours in but serving staff were great felt for them as they looked overwhelmed with work load but coped really well and a credit to hotel food was lovely menu felt a little limited as no fish n chips left Breakfast was buffet style you helped yourself must have been busy as found no bread to make toast no morning teabags etc but when staff was asked the young man's reply was I'm no sure I've only started here to which I found funny I suggested could he find out or ask staff where they kept there bread God bless him . Would feel a runner would be a good idea to fill things that are running low at breakfast time as staff where serving clearing tables trying to keep on top of food for the buffet again looked overwhelmed .Rooms where spotless comfortable struggled to sleep in bed though no reason just couldn't sleep would I recommend this hotel yes would I visit again definitely yes.

The hotel is tired and is in desperate need of a refurb, but this is something which Mercure have to sort out. The hotel staff can only work with the tools they are giving. All of the staff we had contact with were friendly and helpful when we needed advice. The room was spacious enough, the beds were comfortable and the breakfast was fine, we also had a meal in the restaurant and that was quite good as well, albeit a bit pricey but I suppose it was hotel prices afterall. The only real complaint I have is not directly the hotels fault, but is connected to the hotel. We got the hotel to book a return taxi to & from the VU in Bathgate, the taxi firm the hotel uses failed to show up on the return journey, thus leaving us stranded late at night in the middle of nowhere. Going by reviews on another site this taxi firm has done this before, so perhaps the hotel needs to review it's contract with this taxi firm as they appear to be unreliable. As said Mercure need to spend some money on this hotel as the hotel has so much potential and lack of investment is holding it back.

I have stayed at this hotel many times over the last 20 years, both for social and business purposes. Having stayed so many times I have seen many changes that have taken place, some good, some not so good. The hotel staff in reception are both friendly and extremely helpful. They were delightful when I arrived a considerable time before my scheduled checking in time of 14:00. The cleanliness of the communal areas is above average considering its in constant use due to it being a popular location for companies to hold meetings and training events. The actual accommodation is excellent, the bed was comfortable and I can say the same for the pillows. The room I had was on the ground floor and in a quiet area of the hotel, providing of tea, coffee and even some biscuits are a very welcome rarity in any hotel now. The bathroom was exceptionally clean with plenty of clean fresh towels, also with more than adequate toiletries provided, these were even topped up on my second night. The pet hate I have is no provision of a bath mat, here there are no complaints from me at all; a lovely clean white bath mat made me a happy guest. Being on my own I elected to have room service rather than dine on my own, the room service menu was OK if very expensive when you're add the tray surcharge of £5.00 for room service, also the cost of drinks both soft and alcohol is exorbitant, for example the cheapest bottle of white wine was £21.00 but then again it was my choice to eat in my room. The food was well cooked and really lovely. Delivered in a reasonable time and delivered with a smile. Breakfast was a little manic due to the number of guests, food is served in a hot buffet self service; remember not all people understand the process of forming an orderly cue. I specifically order soya milk and dairy free spread whenever I book a hotel that I chose to have breakfast, there was soya milk available for my first breakfast but not my second, the waitress helpfully said it would be available the next morning; not useful when I wasn't actually leaving after breakfast. The dairy free spread was available and brought out as the standard kitchen size tub of flora light. Would I go there again, yes if I got a good booking deal, would I recommend it to others, yes just be aware it's not cheap but you do get what you pay for. A good service and pleasant surroundings close to the designer shopping outlet as we as Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The good: easy to get to, right next to a massive shopping centre, comfortable sleep The bad: decor surely dating back to the 80s, unpleasent staff at the reception, old and tired everything. How on Earth this can operate under Mercure brand is beyond me as it has a feeling of a "£40 per night worth Days Inn on the motorway services"... Anyway, way cheaper than anything decent in Edinburgh in the summer.

One night stay for work, rooms painfully old fashioned as is the rest of the hotel. However clean, comfortable and the staff were very pleasant and accommodating. Evening meal was good although pricey for what was on offer, and the breakfast was a little half hearted (broken coffee machine and cold eggs) I didn't venture to the pool or gym so couldn't comment on this part of the hotel.