Stewart by Heeton Concept

The central location is good, and it’s an alright, cheaper option if you want to cater for yourself. The rooms were clean, but the decor and appliances felt tired, with the atmosphere of a student hall. Getting inside was the real problem: I hadn’t been sent the required code, and there was no staff on site. Luckily another guest arrived and let me in, otherwise I’d have been stranded. I wouldn’t recommend it. Roomzzz in St. James is a much better alternative.

The central spot is the best thing about the place, with good cafes and restaurants nearby. I stayed in Room 14 and was disappointed. The walls looked as if they hadn’t been painted properly for a while, and the dark orange colour made the room feel even darker. There was also a very loud fan coming from the bathroom. I asked to move, but no other rooms were available until the end of my stay. Maybe I just drew the short straw, since I don’t think every room was like this. With a fresh coat of paint, it could be lovely. I’d expected something different from the pictures and wanted to love it.

The family room felt like a youth hostel, with a big bunk bed shoved in front of the window. I hadn’t even been looking for a family room. The dishwasher didn’t work, cups in the cupboard were dirty, the window wouldn’t close because of where the safety latch was, and the walls were damaged and grubby. The key cards were filthy too. I arrived before 5, and a woman at reception ignored me while trying to leave. I only realised she was the receptionist after seeing her lock the office. Basically, don’t bother. I’ve stayed in plenty of places in Edinburgh and have never said that before.

The room was extremely dirty, from the floor and walls to the kitchen. Even the plates and cutlery hadn’t been washed properly. Behind the couch, where the kids were sleeping, we found bits of rubbish, including clothing tags and empty sweet bags, plus a woman’s shampoo. The location is great, and the room is spacious for a family of four, with basic cutlery in the kitchen. That’s about where the good points end. Check-in was awful: you have to do it yourself at a computer, and ours malfunctioned when we arrived. We called the suggested number several times without an answer, then had to find a cleaner who helped us locate someone to check us in. I can’t imagine what would have happened if we’d arrived after 5pm, with no one there and the machine still broken.