The Cotteridge Inn

Thankfully, we only had to put up with one night. We got home from an overnight stay at The Cotteridge Inn, and all I can say is that it was filthy. It felt unsafe and unwelcoming, more like a HMO or hostel than a hotel, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, let alone families. The bathroom was awful: the toilet lid came right off, there was black mould in the shower tray corner, and the toilet brush had white and brown waste on it. The shower door handle was broken, so it didn't feel certain you'd be able to get out once inside. Even the toilet roll holder was awkwardly placed behind you. In the room, the light switch was damaged, the walls had black greasy hand marks, and the window wouldn't shut properly. At least the heater worked, though we had to keep it on. There was nowhere to hang clothes, only a narrow shelf for bags, and it didn't feel clean enough to walk around in socks, so we kept our shoes on until bed. The corridor smelled of weed, with big carpet stains and walls that looked as if tables and chairs had been smashed against them. The rooms were noisy, too. The walls shook when other guests banged doors, and we could hear everything from the pub downstairs. We couldn't get breakfast, as the chef wasn't there at 8am. At checkout there was nobody to take the keys, so we left them in the room. When we first arrived, a pub full of workmen stared at us and made us uncomfortable. We asked about food and were told the chef only comes in when called and wouldn't arrive until 6:15, so after a long journey we ate elsewhere. Later, two pool league players were arguing and challenging each other to a fight by the entrance, not what you want with a family.

The location was perfect for my two days of training, which were nearby, and I'd travelled almost two hours to get there. That's the only good thing I can say. The photos speak for themselves. To my disgust, there was an empty Coke bottle left in the room. It wasn't up to normal cleanliness standards, the walls were dirty and marked, it was very noisy, and the TV didn't work at all. I asked for a free cancellation at the so-called reception, which was actually a bar in the pub. They refused a refund without even hearing the problems with my room. I'm here for two nights of all-day training, and I'll try to find somewhere else, but for now I have no choice because I can't afford another place without a refund. They wouldn't allow a free cancellation, and there was no manager or anyone authorised to sort it out. I want to speak to the manager, who I believe is called Louise. Drunk people were coming and going, and school-age children could still be heard shouting and screaming after 10pm. Completely unacceptable.

The staff were lovely and helpful, and we had a great time. We hired the function room for a 40th birthday, and it was a great space with everything you need for a party. A big shout out to Louise and her team. I'd definitely recommend the room. Thanks again!

We were out until 2am for a group 18th birthday in the city centre, so we mainly wanted somewhere affordable to sleep. For that, it was fine. The staff were welcoming and accommodating, and the basic rooms were clean and comfortable. There weren't even tea-making facilities, but the bed was comfortable and the shower hot, with good pressure and spotless. The bar has plenty of seating and a good drinks selection, plus a room with snooker and pool tables. The kitchen was being refurbished during our stay, so food wasn't available. There was a DJ set up for the evening, so it might have been noisy, but we were out and it didn't matter to us. Think of it as a pub with rooms rather than a hotel. I'd recommend it as a cheap stopover. Don't expect the Ritz, but you're not paying Ritz prices.