London Plane Backpackers

I got locked out of my house and needed somewhere for the night. I arrived after check-in time, but the receptionist and night guard were kind enough to help me get in. The place was really clean, and the bed was comfortable. Thanks for a great stay.

After being told to “figure it out,” I ended up sleeping on a doorstep for three hours before heading to work. It all began when I needed 15 minutes past the 10:45pm kitchen closing time to finish up. The receptionist decided to ban me immediately, but didn’t tell me first. Instead, police were called to evict me. I asked if I could sleep there and leave in the morning, then collect my bags after work, but was repeatedly told no. They said they could see me on camera and would call police again if I came back for any reason, even to pack or sleep six hours. I’d already gone out to buy a bottle of water when police first arrived. I spent two hours outside with the night guard, trying to reason with the receptionist. The receptionist wouldn’t give me the manager or owner’s number, but kept calling the guard and asking him to phone police about me sitting outside, while I was desperately trying to work out how to get my belongings and work things for a 7am Saturday start. In the end, I went in to pack because the situation was madness. I had just enough time to get my things together at 2am. Within 40 minutes, they watched me on CCTV and called police again. Police entered the building to remove me, and only then was I given a piece of paper saying I was banned. To me, being handed a scrap of paper with a banning order by a policewoman, without being able to speak directly to the manager or receptionist, was an illegal process and a misuse of the Police Service. The receptionist’s behaviour seemed psychotic.

Lovely place, very clean, reasonably priced, and the staff are friendly.

Don’t even set foot in this hostel. No comment.