Budget hotels are set to benefit from the recession.

And now the best offer a lot more than the basics, as Mike Connolly discovers on a visit to Derbyshire.

A NEW Jurys Inns hotel, which has just opened in Sheffield, provides an ideal base for visitors to the Peak District and the Derbyshire Dales.

This three-star budget hotel – the largest in the city – is also convenient for shopaholics, with the city’s Meadowhall centre close by.

The 259-room hotel, in Eyre Street, offers extra luxuries for a budget hotel, including king-size beds, flatscreen TV with Freeview, internet access, and self-control air conditioning.

The advantage of being just a few minutes walk from the city centre means the hotel is convenient for restaurants. It is also ideal for snooker fans with the Crucible theatre, which is the venue for the World Snooker Championships, only minutes away. Jurys also provides a good base when the British Open showjumping competition takes place, as well as the English Squash Open.

However, one of the hotel’s biggest advantages is that is only a 40- minute drive from popular tourist attractions in the Peak District, such as Bakewell. This picturesque town has lots of shops, places to eat and a large park with paddling pool for the children.

The spa town of Buxton is also worth a visit. Buxton Opera House always has great line-up of events, and the town also stages its annual arts festival in June.

For those with children, the estate of Chatsworth offers a playground and farmyard, and there are tours of the stately home and gardens.

Another popular tourist spot is Matlock Bath, a spa town described as “the Switzerland of England”.

Lying in a steep-sided valley, it is bounded by the River Derwent to the east, with the limestone crags of High Tor and Wild Cat Tor rising almost vertically from the river’s edge in places. Reminiscent of a seaside town, there are plenty of shops, pubs and tearooms. An unusual sight is that of the cable cars which carry visitors to the popular Heights of Abraham tourist attraction.

After returning to our hotel following a hectic day touring the Peak District, Jurys Inn provides guests wanting an evening meal a good selection of food in the Il Barista restaurant.

I enjoyed duck and champagne terrine (£6.55) for starters, while my partner chose Thai fishcake with sweet chilli dressing and salad (£5.50). For the main course I had lamb shank in redcurrant sauce (£14.95), while my partner opted for a 10oz prime ribeye steak (£17.95).

There is also a good choice of puddings, starting from £4.95, including red fruit charlotine served with fresh berry coulis, as well as tempting cheesecakes.

As the credit crunch takes its toll, more people are looking at their budgets to get the best deal possible when it comes to a weekend break, or an even a longer stay. The Jurys Inns chain is benefiting from the current climate, being able to offer comfortable accommodation at reasonable prices.

The chain continues to expand, with other hotels opening this year in Watford, Exeter, Swindon, Derby and Aberdeen. And visitors travelling abroad will also be able to use Jurys Inns hotels in Prague and Budapest, which are opening shortly.

Room rates at Jurys hotel in Sheffield, are £59 from Sunday to Thursday, and £49 on Friday and Saturday, with family rooms, standard double and standard triple. To book online, go to jurysinns.com or call 0114-291-222.