The Barrel Store - Hostel

On arrival, the receptionist was quite rude. He kept going on about us being Australian and treated us as if we were stupid. The room at the end of the hallway was tiny, like a jail cell. Google an Australian jail cell and you'll see what I mean. When we barely opened the window, there was rubbish and waste outside, along with an overweight man smoking. I'd recommend staying no more than two days at this hostel, and don't bring children. They really need to improve their standards and hire a new receptionist or educate him.

The hostel was comfortable, clean and well maintained, right in the town centre with shops easy to reach, so my stay was positive overall. One of the managers I met was welcoming and helpful. The manager on another night was a bit rude and could use some work on his customer service manner. That let the place down. Otherwise, it was a decent place to stay, and I'd have given it a higher rating.

A very nice hostel in a handy location. The sleep was comfortable, everything was easy, and it was very good value for such an expensive part of the country. I hadn't stayed in a hostel for many years, and this was our first time with the kids. It was just what we wanted.

The main thing is how clean everything is. The location is also handy, five minutes or less from everything you want or need in the centre of cirencester, and the price is good. We booked for a school trip, and the staff were super helpful and made everything easy. You do need to contact them yourself rather than going through YHA. The rooms are very small, but they do the job. The games room could use a few more bits and pieces, but it's a fantastic space if you bring your own.