Great Location

Stayed for just one night booked using an online hotel specialist. Greeted by welcoming receptionist, who informed us we had been upgraded to a room overlooking the main square on the fourth floor.

Room spacious by french standards clean and tidy though mattress was a bit tired! Great views over the main square with the location being perfect to see all the main sights.

Car parking was dead simple. Parked right outfront the hotel (arrived after 6pm) and moved into into underground carpark 80yds away at 8am next morning.Perfect!

Didn't bother with breakfast at hotel just went over the square to Paul's restaurant/bakery for good coffee and croissant.

Spacious bedroom but smelly toilet

I booked this hotel with some trepidation following the mixed reviews. As with all hotels, I think the success of your stay depends on the room you have been allocated. Some rooms are better situated/decorated/equipped than others.

We were initially given Room 405 (non-smoking), it was spacious and clean, the furniture was mix of old and new. The bathroom/toilet was spotless, but after half an hour, we heard a gurgling sound and found that sewage was coming out of the plug hole of the bathtub! The very efficient and friendly receptionist moved us immediately to Room 421 - even more spacious but with a tiny toilet that had a terrible smell coming out of it! The other downer was the weak air-conditioning. On the plus side the room was nice and quiet.

We paid 76 euros a night through bookings.org. I thought it was good value considering the hotel's location, the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, and the size of the rooms. I would return to the hotel - but only in the winter-time and only in a room with a combined toilet/bathroom.

We didn't have breakfast at the hotel and would recommend Le Pain Quotiden around the corner for your first meal of the day.

Doesn't feel like part of a big chain

I really liked this little hotel which is situated in one of the most convenient locations in all of Lille. Although part of the Best Western group, the Bellevue felt like a family-run establishment where service is incredibly efficienct as well as friendly.

Our rooms were large, airy and clean. The bath (slightly sunken) could potentially be a bit difficult to navigate and the shower was one of the best I've experienced.

The central feature of the hotel is the very French late 19th century interior architecture and the central caged lift by the staircase.

I thought breakfast was a bit too expensive for what was on offer - your typical central European fare of croissants, cheese, ham and yogurt - and had it not been a Sunday morning, I would have probably ventured out of the hotel and grabbed something to eat but not knowing if anything would be open at that time, I didn't.

A very popular cocktail bar is attached to the hotel which is a popular night spot on Friday and Saturdays especially. Go early before the crowds and enjoy the amazing cocktails for around Euros8 a go.

Charming & Quaint

I was very surprised to see negative reviews of this hotel. I stayed here 6 nights last week and was very pleased with the experience. My room was clean. The service was excellent. All of the people at the front desk spoke some English (the day shift people spoke excellent English, the night shift not so much). My room did smell of smoke, but really, most of the hotel rooms in Europe do. Breakfast did not have a large selection, but I enjoyed what was there: French bread, jams, cereal, milk, orange and grapefruit juice, deli ham slices, cheeses, croissants, and coffee and tea. The hotel is located right on the square and there is plenty of shopping and restaurants in walking distance. The only negatives, in my opinion, were the noise level (noise carried very well through the hotel) and the fact that you only get one key for your room. I was staying with a friend who wanted to go out more than I did-- it was a pain coordinating who had the key. In all, I found my hotel stay to be quite pleasant.

Great Location, Clean and Large Rooms

I am so surprised by the other reviewers comments.

This hotel is in a great location, right on the square. Lots of shopping and restaurants in the area.

Our room was huge by American hotel standards. The bathroom marble and spotless. Large windows opened out to the street below.

The hotel was very clean, and the staff courteous.

I would stay here again.

April 2004 City Break

A friend and I stayed at The Bellevue in Lille for 5 nights in April.

It was our first Eurostar experience and we loved Lille, especially the Old Town.

The hotel entrance, reception area and fabulous glass elevator gave a really good first impression.

However, our 'superior' room was thick with dust and smelt very musty.

The toilet was in a cupboard in the passage.

It was smelly and claustraphobic.

An extractor fan and sliding door are required at the very least.

Breakfasts were awful, with minimal choice and stewed coffee.

The place totally lacked atmosphere and yet has great potential

Staff appeared to be very over-worked, especially at reception and there was no evidence of any management presence.

When we requested refills for our hospitality tray, we were told the initial supply (3 tea bags and 4 sachets of coffee) were meant to last us for the whole of our stay!!!

I do hope improvements are made at The Bellevue as this hotel could be Lilles Jewel in the Crown.

Living on past glories

Great location on the Grand Place, except the hotel backs on to the square so no terrace to watch the French go by.

Compared to other Lille options; expensive and a bit faded.

Stay in the Mercure and spend the savings on a good dinner at L'ecume des mers

Very disappointed

Very disappointed with this hotel. It was dirty, both in the rooms and the halls. The mattresses were beyond firm and to plain hard. The doors to the rooms were not snug and you could see through the doorjam on one of the rooms. There was a very unpleasant smell throughout (cleaner or pesticide over dirt). On the plus side the bathroom was beautiful (and clean!), the elevator charming and the staff helpful. However, it was not enough to make up for the problems. We stayed in other Best Westerns in France on this trip and were very satisfied. This one was clearly the exception and I would not stay here again.