Darroch Court

This was my daughter’s halls of residence, and at 725 pm you really don’t get much for your money. The room was large, with a decent bed and desk, and the building was very secure and extremely well located. After that, things went downhill quickly. Only one of the two shared showers ever worked properly, and it looked a lot like a portaloo. The corridors between flats were dark and dingy. The oven never worked right despite being reported several times. The flat is so well insulated that mold is a real issue because the ventilation can’t keep up. Heating was a mystery and had to be switched on 24 hours before you thought you’d need it. In my daughter’s room it was broken for about a month. The kitchen was the only common area, and the bookable common room never seemed available. Finally, the Student Union is closed for two years because it’s grade one listed and needed renovation.

The location worked really well for a Fringe visit. It’s student accommodation, but it was clean and had everything we needed. I’d definitely stay there again.

You get a roomy place for a low price, with a kitchen, living area, desks and cupboards. It’s student lodging that opens to outside guests in summer, and it can fill up during holidays, so book early. Just keep expectations modest for hotel style service: there’s very little in the way of toiletries, no room service, and no daily cleaning.

Fine for a single night. Staff were around to answer questions, and the beds were clean, though the bathrooms needed more careful cleaning. My room door was hard to open from inside because it had no handle, so I had to use a coat peg. A towel rail was also attached to the back of the wardrobe door, with a loose fitting still on the door. The place is open 24 hours.