The Avenue Lodge

I’d been a bit worried after reading the reviews here, but I enjoyed the stay and thought it was good value. My room was tidy, and the staff were friendly and efficient. There’s also a good bingo hall not far away, which was a plus for me.

I came to Birmingham to visit my grandad in hospital and had booked three nights, but I didn’t stay. The windows wouldn’t close or lock, there was mould in a corner of the walls, and the room smelled of stale smoke and stains. I booked a standard double, but got two poorly made single beds instead. The mattress was so bad I felt it alone could have killed me. The quality was shocking, and I definitely didn’t get what I paid for. I told them I have cancer and need a clean, safe environment, and explained why the room wasn’t fit for purpose. I asked for a refund, but management said no, even though I had to pay for another hotel for all three nights. The smell, cleanliness, and quality were embarrassing to have to point out, yet management seemed completely unbothered. Their lack of concern was worrying. There was no empathy or goodwill, and the whole thing was very disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend booking here. I hope they make the changes they need to.

The staff were friendly enough and tried to help, but the experience overall was poor. Several dishes weren’t available on the evening menu. I ordered a beef burger that was listed as available, then was told they couldn’t make that either. At breakfast, there was just one slice of bacon left. In room 9, the bed needed a new mattress, the shower temperature control didn’t work and the water was scalding hot. The TV remote was faulty, and the room lighting was poor.

The woman who checked me in was lovely, friendly, and polite. That was the only good part. In my opinion, this is the worst hotel I’ve ever walked into. It seemed to be an extension of a local social club, like Phoenix nights without the funny side. The place smelled dreadful and was dirty, and aside from the woman at check-in, the staff weren’t hospitable. I was gone within an hour and won’t return. The hotel section had a strong musty smell and felt really dated. In my room, the mirror was smashed, the blinds had a brown stain, and what I assume was old food was stuck to the laminated flyers. I asked to check out. The lad who seemed to be the supervisor insisted I look at another room or let them clean the one I had. He offered me a drink while that happened, but I had no confidence in the hygiene, so I declined. The second room was a little better, but still dirty, with what looked like black mould around the windows. I left without staying. The guy running the place said he couldn’t issue refunds and that it was up to head office. He gave me their details but no email address, which felt like a bad sign. Luckily, after I explained what had happened, the excellent staff at Expedia got me a refund. I drove around for a few hours before finding somewhere basic but clean. That was all I wanted. The Avenue needs a massive overhaul, starting with a good scrub. I’ve since read some horrific reviews on other sites and wish I’d seen them earlier. This is bad for anyone, and I’d definitely avoid it, especially if you’re in a vulnerable group.