Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns

The staff were welcoming and helpful, and there was a relaxed feel in the bar with a good choice of drinks. Our room was clean and comfortable, with exposed beams and lots of historic character. We slept well despite the pub being downstairs. For what we paid, it was very good value, and The Crown Hotel in Alton has plenty of personality.

The staff are naturally friendly, and the bar downstairs has a nice atmosphere. We ate there too, and the food was great, especially the range of pies. Prices for both food and drinks were good, with plenty of ciders and ales. The room was basic but spotless, with a decent shower and coffee-making facilities. The TV was small, though I wasn't there to watch it. At £80 for two nights, I thought it was a bargain. I hadn't stayed anywhere other than a big hotel in years, but I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area. Before check-in, a plumbing problem in my room meant a plumber was needed. They called to let me know he was running late. I was out playing trains on the nearby Watercress Line, so it wasn't a problem, but it was a thoughtful update. I can't remember another place putting that much attention on a customer's stay. It says a lot about how well run it is.

There's a warm, cosy pub downstairs, with room to sit and have a drink with mates. You can even play pool if that's your thing.

The beds were awful for my back and hips, and I barely slept during my two nights here. The windows are old and make it sound as if they're open, even when shut, so people in the smoking garden felt like they were right in the room. In the morning, traffic noise came through too. I stayed midweek and was still kept awake past midnight by people walking and talking. I can only imagine the weekend is worse. The room felt very tired, and I wasn't confident about the cleanliness. The sink had no working hot water and its tap just spun. There was mould in the shower corners, dirt around the plughole, and the toilet roll holder and towel rails were coming off the wall. An alarm woke me each morning. It was turned off quickly the first day, but on the last one it kept beeping for at least 45 minutes. Even the emergency lighting made sleeping harder, with its green glow lighting up the room when the main lights were off. I don't recommend it and definitely won't stay again.