THE new Travelodge at Colchester Northern Gateway was officially opened last month. 

The 90-room hotel has created 28 new jobs for the area and boasts the brand's "new premium design."

We went along to see what it had to offer.

The premium design includes a redesigned reception, next-generation rooms and a number of sustainable design features.

Room - The room at the Travelodge had everything you need for a satisfying stayRoom - The room at the Travelodge had everything you need for a satisfying stay (Image: Credited)

Checking in on the Friday night, I was greeted with a lovely modern reception and bar area.

As I got to my room, it was a cooling temperature thanks to the air con already in operation, which was much needed on a hot day.

The room was spotless, and it had everything you need for a comfortable overnight stay.

After checking out the room, I headed down for dinner.

I found a good selection of food from the menu, including pizza, burgers and a number of classic mains such as pies and pasta.

Delicious - The Travelodge pizza was just what was neededDelicious - The Travelodge pizza was just what was needed (Image: Credited)

With dinner being served from 5pm until 10pm, it gave me plenty of time to relax and then head down for dinner.

As the night came to a close it was time to head to bed.

The bed was very comfortable and the room even had extra pillows which was a great addition for a satisfying sleep.

Buffet - The breakfast buffet at the Travelodge has so many options to cater for all guestsBuffet - The breakfast buffet at the Travelodge has so many options to cater for all guests (Image: Credited)

One of the positives about the hotel is that there is someone on reception throughout the day and the bar is open until 2am.

The next day, after a fantastic sleep, I woke up and went to get breakfast from the unlimited breakfast buffet, which offers English and Continental options along with coffee and fruit options.

Dining - The dining/bar area has many seats and a television to provide entertainment for guestsDining - The dining/bar area has many seats and a television to provide entertainment for guests (Image: Credited)

The only issue I ran into was the lack of parking.

I paid for parking outside the hotel, but when I left the hotel and came back, there was no parking and I had to pay further money at the Northern Gateway car park.

Despite the parking I felt it was an all-round good stay which was cheap and cost efficient.

It is a great option whether you are just passing through or spending some time in the city of Colchester.