Innkeepers Lodge Brighton Patcham

The restaurant and check-in desk looked lovely at first, and I checked in quickly. It’s on the outskirts of Brighton, away from the city noise, but only a 20-minute drive from the seafront. I’d hoped to make this my regular place for my monthly Brighton trips, but I won’t be coming back. Once through the door to the stairs, the decor changed. The carpet was dirty, and my room door handle didn’t work properly. The room was a good size but very dated, with another dirty carpet and a hard, uncomfortable bed. I eventually got the TV working after putting the wires back into the back of it. The bathroom was clean, but up a high step and freezing. The heated towel rail didn’t work, and I couldn’t get hot water from the tap, though there were plenty of clean towels. The walls were extremely thin, so I could clearly hear the neighbours talking, as well as noise from the restaurant downstairs. There’s nobody at reception overnight, so you have to call a central number if something goes wrong.

The staff were friendly, and the room was spacious. It was a shame about the strong mouldy smell in there.

I was unsure after reading some reviews, but the stay turned out much better than I expected. The room was roomy and spotless, the bed was comfy, and the shower was great. Nothing to complain about.

The staff were really good. We had a good-sized family room, plus free Wi-Fi and parking.