Bridgefield Guest House

The shared areas and entrance looked lovely and were clean, which made the neglected state of our Merlot suite all the more baffling. There was thick dust around the room, especially on the filthy curtains, cobwebs everywhere, and a spider even crawled onto my bed. The toilet also showed water damage. I hated having to leave a bad review, but this was the most unhygienic accommodation I’ve stayed in around the South West. Noise was another big problem. We were beneath another room and could hear every step. The guests came back late, slamming the front door and stomping upstairs. A woman screeched until 2 AM, so we barely slept. I told the front desk about her, but got no real response. The mattress was extremely firm and had no support, and I woke with a sore back. The windows looked as if they hadn’t been cleaned in ages, and the view outside wasn’t pleasant either. My money felt wasted. If you want to avoid spider bites and a very uncomfortable, rough night, this isn’t the place.

The MERLOT Queen room/Suite is in a handy spot, a couple of blocks from the city center, and the 1922 hotel has a charming old-meets-new look. Still, I wouldn’t stay again or recommend it. The shower kept shifting from warm to cold instead of holding its temperature. Motorcycles and other vehicles were loud outside from dusk to dawn, and I woke with a spider bite on my back. The mattress felt hard and uncomfortable, like it might be from 1922 too. The older gentleman who checked us in wasn’t welcoming or friendly. In the morning I told him he might want to spray the room for spiders because I’d been bitten, and he scoffed.

The location is close to the city centre, but that was about the only plus for us. The old building had a woody smell, and the place was far too noisy to rest after a day out. The restaurant was much closer to our room than I expected, and we could hear the diners and kitchen noise until midnight. The visitors’ toilet was near our room too. For the money, it wasn’t worth it, and we couldn’t relax. Next time I’ll find somewhere else. The receptionist was a bit snooty on the phone and in person, and didn’t make us feel welcome.

The host was friendly, and there are washing facilities and plenty of useful amenities. It’s easy to walk to everything in town, including cafes, restaurants, a bookshop and IGA. The old house has loads of character. It gets cool in winter, but the electric fireplace warms it up, and the electric blankets are a godsend.