Hemel Guesthouse

I’ve just checked in and already had to go back downstairs for clean bedding. The bottom sheet had blood stains, and the duvet had curry stains. The laminate floor is coming apart and lifting, the shower is rotten, and even the picture on the wall is upside down. I’ve worked away in some pretty grotty places, but this is the worst. I’m going to wait until I’m back at the site tomorrow to shower in the work cabin. Avoid like the plague!

The guesthouse isn’t signed, and there’s nothing to indicate it’s part of the Boxmoor Steakhouse building. At reception they said we owed money, but I proved I’d already paid in full. We booked a double and a single room, reached by going outside and climbing a metal staircase at the back. At first they seemed okay, but a closer look showed plenty of problems. The kettle wouldn’t fit under the tap, so we had to fill it using cups. The cups were dirty and about the size of a large thimble. There was a big uncovered hole above the entrance door, and the floor sank in places, so I assume the wood is rotten. The toilet doors couldn’t be pulled shut from inside, and the flush handle was loose and difficult to use. The cupboard under the sink was wet and rotten. One door was attached by just one hinge, while the other wouldn’t budge, and the stainless steel hinges had rusted. The bed had an old spring mattress that had clearly seen better days. In the single room, the tap handles fell off, and paint had been used to cover mould on the walls. At 9:30 in the morning nobody was around to take the keys, so I put them through the Steak House door. I wouldn’t recommend this place.

The lodge accommodation was really bad. The shared toilet was dirty and had no toilet paper, and the room’s shower barely worked. The room itself smelled of stale cigarettes. The carpet was badly stained, and the pillows, sheets, and bed cushions were dirty. Honestly, I’ll never go back.

I called at 10:30 pm to ask about a room for that night, and the woman said one was available, but she needed to check whether staff would stay for my arrival. She said she’d call back in 10 minutes, but didn’t. When I rang again, they said nobody wanted to stay an extra half hour, so I couldn’t have the room. I stay in hotels and guesthouses a lot, and this felt like poor customer service. They’ve lost a very loyal customer: I would have booked a week after the first night. Instead, I stayed at the Premier Inn across the road, where the customer service was outstanding and the experience brilliant. I won’t be going here again.