Haymarket House

It feels like having your own flat for the night. There’s more space than a hotel room, it’s cheaper than most local options, and it’s very clean with great facilities.

Right in the centre of Basingstoke, the apartment puts everything within walking distance. I can’t fault the location, accommodation, cleanliness or standard. Check-in was clunky because the pre-arrival email asking for ID and a deposit went astray, but once that was sorted the service team handled everything efficiently. I’d stay again if I’m in the area.

I’ve been staying at Central Point for a while yet. For a single person, the studio-flat-style apartment works well as somewhere to live, lockdowns notwithstanding. It’s clean, well equipped and nice to look at, with a vinyl or laminate-type floor, a comfy bed and enough storage. The town centre, Festival Place mall, shops and relevant business spots like nearby offices are within easy walking distance for anyone able-bodied. Cleaning is weekly, though I have to confirm the same Covid declaration every week, and taking out the bin is the tenant’s job. The maintenance operative responded promptly after I first posted this review. They replaced the shower head, tried to improve the wobbly bracket, replaced the dishwasher door spring, looked at the window and replaced the failed LED lights. The window may be marginally better. Thanks, HoF team! There were a few maintenance issues before that visit. The shower head was partly blocked with scale and sprayed haphazardly, and its bracket was wobbly and missing a screw cover. The screw fixings weren’t sealed, which seems to invite trouble. Some kitchen LEDs had gone, and one window didn’t seal properly, letting in more outside noise than the others. At 6am, you could hear either the bin lorry or the local shop’s delivery truck arriving. The chest of drawers is in the wardrobe, leaving almost no hanging space. There’s no shaver socket on the wall for an electric toothbrush or shaver. The one on the mirror light is too high to use, and I think it only comes on with the light. One corner of the rug won’t lie flat, making it a trip hazard. The dishwasher door spring had gone, so the door was very heavy with the covering unit door and clonked my knee more than once. The WiFi is very good, with a router in every room, and Ethernet is available. The flat TV is showing its age, but its HDMI sockets are accessible, so you can connect a computer to watch Netflix on a bigger screen. Lighting ranges from functional overhead to more relaxed. Heating is barely needed, but two wall convectors are there if necessary. There’s a timer in a cupboard, though it doesn’t look as if it’s ever been used. Parking booked via HoF is a bit haphazard, but adequate and easy to find just around the corner from the main door. Adding extra cars was no trouble. You no longer need a paper permit, just tell the team the details of any car using your space. Staff I’ve dealt with have been friendly and helpful, shared plenty of information and answered questions quickly. Despite the niggles, I’d recommend HoF Central Point as a good-value alternative to hotels, especially for longer stays.

It’s a self-contained place to stay, spotless and usually cheaper than a hotel. It’s the best place I’ve found in the area over the years, and my first choice every time.