Gateway Hotel

I've stayed before, and the ground-floor room at another nearby property was much bigger and cleaner, with a modern shower. This time I had GF room2 in the main hotel by reception. It was smaller, and the shower needed some care: the cubicle was tiny, the tray scuffed and tarnished, and the water pooled instead of draining smoothly. The WC button and cistern were damaged too. The room was clean overall and had modern conveniences, including a kettle, tea, coffee, TV, microwave and mini fridge. Breakfast was nice and personalised. The Auntie taking orders and preparing the hot food, tea and coffee was quick and productive.

Great location, clean and tidy, and a good price. The woman cooking breakfast made what I think were the best poached eggs I've had in a long time. The people are good and will go out of their way to help you have a great break, so why go looking for faults? My partner and I would 100% stay again next time I'm in Newport.

I was here to visit the passport office the next day. My single room was tiny, though the TV was a good size and the shower was good. The room was clean, but the smell was awful, like stale, musty, sweaty bodies. I couldn't tell whether it came from the mattress or carpet, but it never went away and I couldn't get used to it. It really affected my stay. The hotel is on a busy main road in what felt like a dodgy area, and as a solo female traveller that bothered me.

I only spoke to two members of staff, but both were really friendly, and breakfast was simple and perfectly adequate. The place itself is a difficult one to rate. It feels like a work in progress, and where renovations have been finished the modern design and little touches, like USB sockets by the bed, look good. Then there’s an old TV with no HDMI that looks poor on the wall. It’s two neighbouring old houses converted into a hotel, an interesting but not unusual setup. The area feels like a run-down spot outside town, and the busy road is something the owners can’t help. If you need total quiet to sleep, you’d be better somewhere outside town. It seems the refurbishment has been going on for a while, with little work happening. I wonder if the owner began with big plans and ran out of money. The negative comments people have made are true, though you can also see what they’re trying to achieve if you use your imagination. It just needs more time, which is a shame. I’d give it 3.5 if I could, but had to pick 3 or 4, so I went with 4. For a work trip where I need a base, I think I’d stay again. For a break with my partner, probably not just yet. Maybe once the refurbishment is done.