I last stayed at this hotel in January 2007 but had also stayed a few months before.

First visit I was lucky to be upgraded to a large ground floor room with doors onto a courtyard - which compensated a bit for scruffy decor, v. lumpy bed and mal-functioning shower.

When I went back in January I was shown to a very depressing cell like room full of cobwebs. I asked to change and ended up in an upstairs room which had just been 'refurbished'. It had been painted but the old and scruffy furnishings had just been put back. The bath was not very clean and the bed was uncomfortable, but worst of all the room had not been ventilated and the paint fumes were really overwhelming. The room was very very small.

The staff are quite friendly but the hotel is in a bad way - I changed to a different hotel next day and won't be going back, I hope!

I beleive this hotel is now under private ownership and is no longer owned by hanover international well what a difference you couldnt stay in a nicer hotel with friendly helpfull staff nothing was to much trouble and i for one will definately be returning to this gem time and time again and i definately will be reccomending it to all my friends and colleuges

My colleagues and I stayed here for 5 days during July and had a really pleasant stay. I am surprised to see that in a different review this place did so badly, as I honestly can't say anything bad about our time here! I was informed that the hotel is now under new private ownership however, so perhaps they've really turned it around since!

The staff were all really pleasant and practically fell over themselves to help us - we were commuting each day into London, however when we needed somewhere to have a small evening 'de-brief' they were more than happy to show us to one of their function rooms.

The rooms were comfortable, maybe a little out-dated, but again, I was told about re-furbishment plans in the near future by one of the enthusiastic receptionists!

I'd definately recommend this hotel - I might even come back and bring my family one weekend too!

We were booked in here for 4 nights whilst on business in the area, we booked out after just one night. That tells you something! The choice for hotels in Harpenden is very limited, there are only two hotels, needless to say we went to the other one instead and were very pleased.

The Hanover International (very grand name!) is a poor poor hotel, in need of a lot of investment, rooms small dark dingy, noisy, very old fashioned decor, in need or a comeplete refurb. Bathrooms no better, I would not recommend this hotel. Poor service and poor value for money. Give this place a miss.