The Portland Hotel

The worst part was being locked out. After a walk and some food, we came back and couldn’t get into the hotel through the side door because the fob wouldn’t work. We tried every door and were outside in the freezing cold for over an hour. I’m an insulin-dependent diabetic and all my medication was in the room. We didn’t have our phones to call for help. We only got in when another guest arrived, and even he said the fobs were an absolute nightmare. I left early because I just wanted to go home after the whole experience, especially as this was booked as a birthday surprise. The room was dirty too. Thick white dust covered the top of the headboard, coffee machine and spa and menu leaflets, with cobwebs by the TV and in most corners. The toilet seat wasn’t attached, and the toilet wasn’t clean. There were stains on the orange bed cover and black marks on the quilt cover. I’ve been honest in my review, and everything that happened at the portland has left me genuinely scarred by the experience.

We stayed here before the Great North Run. The staff and service were excellent, and the restaurant food was really, really nice. The room could use a freshen up, though. It smelled a bit musty, and the spider webs in the shower were so thick they were like rope.

The staff were absolutely fantastic, friendly, welcoming and always helpful. Bar food was reasonably priced for the quality and portions, and drinks were sensibly priced too. The rooms were basic, as you’d expect for a cheap room, but ours was clean and well maintained despite having a strong damp smell. Breakfast was poor, with little choice and not worth £15 per person. We skipped it on the second morning since there are better, cheaper options nearby. We stayed at The Portland Hotel for a couple of nights. Parking costs £10 per night, which seems excessive when there’s free parking nearby. Even after paying, we couldn’t get a space when the pub was busy. The staff and good value bar food are the strongest points, but the breakfast, parking cost and damp-smelling room made the overall value disappointing.

The beds were big and comfortable, and the deluxe room had tea, coffee, a kettle and a fridge. The room was a bit hot, with no air conditioning. The shower had good pressure and got very hot, maybe too hot, so be careful, though it did leak. The bathroom was clean and fine, but the sink sat a bit close to the toilet. Rooms are spacious and pleasant, and The Portland is a nice enough place for a night. Parking is available, but it costs £10 overnight and a space isn’t guaranteed. Breakfast was too expensive for us. It’s a decent hotel for the price, with a few quirky little issues that could make it much better.