Basingstoke Hotel

The food was tasty, well priced, and came with a good choice. Janet knows the guests and helps make the place feel welcoming, and the staff in general were incredibly friendly. The rooms are spacious and comfortable for a very reasonable price, and everything was clean and tidy. The pool can get busy, sure, but it’s still a pool! I nearly didn’t book after reading the negative reviews, which honestly baffled me. Some seemed like vendettas, so I ignored them. I’m really glad I booked, and had a comfortable, pleasant stay.

I was only there for one night on a work trip, but I’d recommend avoiding this place. The room was in very poor shape. Its dated look might have been fine if it were maintained, but it wasn’t. The door didn’t close on its own, so you could leave without noticing it was still open, or go to sleep with it open. There was a fold-up bed right by the entrance, old and unsightly, with no floor space to use it. It felt more like storage, perhaps hiding a damp wall where the paint was flaking. Black mould was on the bathroom mastic around the bath, and the toilet ran constantly into the pan. The bathroom vent was dusty, and there were seven dead, squashed mosquitoes on the walls. The ironing board was propped against the wardrobe, with two holes in the wall where I’m guessing a bracket had been. The TV remote didn’t work, one bedside table didn’t work, the wardrobe hinge was broken, and the curtains barely covered the window, so you were up when the sun came up. The heating was broken too. They gave me a heater, but it didn’t do much. Use of the spa and gym also costs extra.

We tried their Sunday carvery for the first time today and really enjoyed it. Such a bargain, with friendly staff and great service. We’ll definitely go back, and I’d recommend it.

It felt like a homely hotel, and everything was clean with nothing looking shabby. The furniture and bathroom suites could do with updating, though. There was lots of choice at breakfast, but the cooked buffet food wasn’t very hot. It was warm enough to eat. All in all, it was fine and I’d stay again.