The Aspire

The only good thing here is how close it is to the Winter Gardens. The shower had cold water, a light was broken, and there was no reception or way to get a drink. The breakfast was served two doors away, not in the hotel. It was awful: rancid, plastic-wrapped croissants and rolls, nothing edible, and not even cheese or a boiled egg. We paid for it and ended up going out to eat every day. Housekeeping didn't change the towels or make the bed. What a disgrace. Every coin spent here was too much.

The room was far too hot. There were two fans in the closet, but one was completely covered in dirt, and the tower fan was missing a button. The shower was hot and easy to use, but it needed a much better clean around the drain where water runs out. There was dirt and debris along the bathroom skirting, and the cup had water and a nasty-looking green substance in it, as if it hadn't been cleaned or replaced after someone else used it. The toilet brush still had residue from use, which raised hygiene concerns. The TV was mounted quite high, which could make it hard for shorter people to watch. On the second day I had to ask for toilet paper because housekeeping hadn't replenished it, and I also had to request collection of the bathroom towels. On my first night, I could hear kids making a lot of noise in the garden on the basement floor. That wasn't great after I'd travelled five hours.

A great little guest house. The rooms are small but fine for a few nights, and it's a two-minute walk to the Blackpool seafront.

The staff went out of their way to help us with our bags and get a cot. Our room was clean and tidy, the beds were comfortable, and the showers were good. We would definitely stay again and recommend it. The location is excellent, just a stone's throw from the tower and most attractions. The train station isn't far either, and there are some really good nearby restaurants. We found Polish, Caribbean, and Indian food very close by.