West Beach Hotel Brighton

The location is handy on the seafront, though the hotel sits between two busy roads. Inside, sound carries everywhere. The single-glazed windows barely cut the traffic noise, and the thin room door let corridor noise from guests and staff through too. We slept very little, and were also woken around 4:30 or 5 by someone dumping lots of glass bottles. I couldn’t tell whether it was the hotel or another business nearby. If you need a quiet night, this probably isn’t the place. I’d bring earplugs if I stayed again, which I might if it stays this cheap. Our “eco” room was large, nicely decorated and very clean as far as we could tell, apart from some scuffs and damp spots on one wall. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was big, and there were plenty of sockets. Oddly, there was no main light, only a few lamps, so the room felt dark. The bathroom stayed freezing all night, and its extractor fan sounded like a helicopter taking off. We found that funny, but it could bother someone else. They also require debit or credit card details at check-in. I’ve stayed in lots of hotels around Europe and hadn’t come across that before. It may not be a security risk, but it felt sketchy, and apparently you can’t check in without providing them. The hotel isn’t the best quality, with noisy rooms and battered, scuffed walls.

The sea-facing room was lovely, with colourful decor, a great view and a very comfortable bed. It was cold in there, though I stopped noticing once I was under the duvet. Noise was the bigger issue: you can hear people walking upstairs, and heavy footsteps could wake you at night. The bathroom looked nice, but it took a long time for the water to warm up. Once it did, it was very hot. Breakfast was very basic, with croissants in plastic wrappers rather than fresh ones. I regretted paying for it and ate elsewhere. The photos showing ham, cheese and bread are out of date. Even so, I had a great stay.

I was in a six-bed dorm and found the beds comfortable. The shower worked well, with decent pressure and easy temperature control, and everything was extremely clean. There’s a large toilet and shower room inside the dorm, which is a big plus. Staff noticed I had a disability and moved me to a bottom bunk without me asking, and the lift was working well. I didn’t try breakfast, so I can’t comment on it. Fantastic for the price, whether you think of it as a budget hotel or a top-end hostel. The location is about 50 metres from the old burnt-out pier and the 360 "ride", and maybe 120 metres from the GRAND HOTEL.

Reception really went above and beyond to make our stay great. The rooms were clean, the beds comfortable and there was an elevator. It’s right near the sea, the pier and the Lanes. One of my best hostel stays, and I’d definitely come back.