Topaz Guest House

We didn’t feel safe at all, and with the children there we stayed up all night in case something happened. If we’d driven instead of taking the train, we would’ve left during the night and gone home. Our bed was badly stained and the bathroom was dirty. The room walls were paper thin, so we could hear people drinking, smoking weed and arguing in the street until 6 or 7am. The place was full of undesirables, and it was obviously being used as homeless accommodation by the council. The location is handy for Coral Island, but it was very noisy, with banging from the shopping centre warehouse opposite from 6am. We’re fine with basic and cheap, but this place was horrendous. Worst place we’ve ever stayed.

We were refused a refund and had to travel three hours back home. That’s how bad it was. There weren’t any staff to oversee what was going on in the building, outside or by the doorway, so the hotel couldn’t reassure us that we’d be safe. The people they were allowing in were another level. We were greeted at the entrance by people smoking and drinking, and the place looked like a halfway house for the council’s waifs and strays. There were bags of rubbish, and the sweat smell from the person living next door nearly made us sick. We’d been put in the “angelic room,” which was laughable, and we didn’t even bother going in to see its supposedly luxury mattress. The whole place felt unsafe and unsanitary, like an infested rat pit. If you value your health and safety, stay away. It’s no place for your family, your partner, your children or anyone you care about.

We booked a week, but when we arrived the room was dirty and unsanitary. Housekeeping hadn’t been done, both beds had hair on them, the walls were greasy and grimy, and the broken floor was dangerous. With a child with us, we had to book another hotel because we couldn’t sleep there. The hotel refused our refund, so we lost a lot of money. It’s a disgrace, and shame on Booking.com for offering accommodation in that condition. Avoid this hotel.

The beds were comfy and the service was lovely and friendly. The location was nice too, with McDonald’s and an arcade down the road. In the tower suite, there were no windowsills, but it did have a mini fridge, TV and complimentary hairdryer. We heard a drilling noise from the radiator on two of our three nights.