The Britannia Hotel Birmingham

I booked this only because it’s close to New Street train station, and I can’t wait to leave. The hotel feels very tired, and as a woman travelling alone I don’t feel safe in my room. The couple next door are loudly arguing and banging things around. There’s no phone in the room, so to reach reception I’d have to call the hotel landline from my mobile. I’ve put a chair against the door and jammed the handle with a hanger. The room smells of old smoke and paint is peeling beside the bed, though the bathroom and bedding are clean. There’s just one pillow. UPDATE: the guests next door played loud music until the early hours. The bed was very uncomfortable. The room was cold, with no extra blanket, so I slept in my clothes. There was only one thin pillow and no spares. Couldn’t wait to get out. AVOID THIS HOTEL.

It’s right in the city centre, and the front desk staff were lovely. The room was perfectly serviceable for sleeping and washing up, though not exactly movie-star quality. The bathroom was very nice and the TV was a bloody good size. There was an odd smell in the lift lobby and another one when I got off on my floor, but the room itself smelled fine. Nothing special, but it probably was in its day.

After reading the reviews, I expected the Britannia Hotel in Birmingham to be much worse. I had a pleasant two-night stay. It’s easy to find, just a short walk from Birmingham New Street. Reception was tidy, and the welcoming staff member got me checked in quickly after I’d booked online. One lift wasn’t working, so I used the stairs to the second floor, though I had trouble finding them and think the signs need work. The communal areas were clean but dated. Room numbers were clearly marked, and my room was clean, warm, and tidy, with fresh bedding, clean towels, a clean bathroom, and a good tea-making kit. I overlooked the Main Street and the German Christmas Market below, but the noise barely bothered me. The room had the basics I needed. The mattress wasn’t great and I could feel the springs, though I still slept well. I could sometimes hear the neighbours, but there was no late noise that kept me up. The curtains blocked the street lights, despite a draughty window, and the radiator kept the room warm both nights.

You can walk to everything from here, and the staff were so well organised that they let us in at 1am without us even ringing the bell. They also kept our bags until it was time to head to the station. The room was plain, but clean and newly decorated, with a modern bathroom, loads of hot water, a great hairdryer, a big TV, kettle and a simple wardrobe. We even had to turn the radiator down. It’s a no-frills place, not a posh hotel, but that’s why I gave it five stars.