Brentwood Hotel

I left the next morning and booked into the Premier Inn. The photos on hotels.com didn't match what I found in room 2: the worn, stained carpet smelled so bad it made me feel sick. The bed was uncomfortable, and being above reception meant the noise woke me early. The bacon smell from breakfast was the one thing that helped cover the room's odor. I couldn't get away from it in the lobby lounge because it was locked. After I checked out, I was offered a look at another room and a chance to speak with the manager. I declined and asked why I hadn't been offered another room earlier. Staff had been friendly and let me check in 15 minutes early, which I needed because otherwise I couldn't arrive until 23:30 after work. I'd chosen the place based on the photos, expecting a clean, modern two-night stay, free parking and a two-minute walk to Brentwood Elizabeth Line Station. Very disappointing. I wanted to support a smaller hotel, but wouldn't recommend it when the price is the same as a Premier Inn.

This is my new go-to when I'm in the country. The location makes it easy to travel pretty much anywhere in southern England, with the Lizzy line just steps away, plenty of parking for a hire car and the high street a five-minute walk away. It was also much better value than the chain hotel less than a block away. The staff were great and the service was awesome. I had a great double room, and there was even a small fridge that wasn't mentioned in the description.

My partner had to check out instead of staying, and the hotel didn't offer an apology beyond insisting the room was clean. I'm disgusted they let it out in that condition. The walls were filthy and marked, the carpet was dirty, full of holes and stank. It was old, dated and not fit for purpose. There were crusty curtains, a TV from the 90s and a dangerous ledge leading to and from the shower enclosure. The lobby was locked off, so she couldn't leave the room to get away from the smell. She was stuck between a property sale and needing to work, which is why she'd checked in. The advert pictures didn't reflect room 2 at all. It cost the same as a Premier Inn, yet I've stayed in cleaner, better-kept hostels. The only good thing was being near Brentwood station, so she could get away quickly. A refund was requested and dismissed. Please avoid this place.

We got a last-minute upgrade to an apartment in the building next to the hotel, and my wife and I both felt we could happily live there indefinitely. I don't know what it would normally cost. That upgrade is why I rated the rooms so highly. On our previous stay in the main building, the room left a lot to be desired.