The King's Head Hotel

The accommodation was shabby and the pub totally grotty and run down, the worst I've seen in years. The shared bathroom was dire, with a communal sponge in the shower I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. Even with the window open for hours, the room smelled of stale sweat. The door was very hard to open and needed shoving or kicking, and the lock was fiddly. The town area was crummy, and as a woman travelling alone I wouldn't have set foot there if I'd known before booking. It was cheap, under £42 for one night, but still a total waste of money. DO NOT WASTE YOURS, avoid this place like the plague.

The Brontë Bus stop right outside makes it easy to get around, and town is a short stroll away. There's also fantastic Harvey’s next door for breakfast. I loved staying at the Kings Head. It's my sort of place, friendly, functional, clean and comfortable, and fantastic value. The electronic passes (fob) make it easy to come and go as you like.

The room was spacious, with a big TV that worked well, and it seemed fairly clean. Staff were pretty friendly. There's a small parking area behind the pub, which can get cramped but is better than leaving the car on the street. The neighbourhood feels quite run down, and the busy street is noisy by day and at night, as can happen with town pubs. I didn't really feel safe, though nothing bad actually happened. On the first day there was a strong smell of “illegal substances” in the hallway, probably from another guest. The second night was karaoke night, so be warned, they go hard and sing loud. If noise, a slightly dirty bathroom and the chance of encountering slightly odd guests don't bother you, the place isn't that bad. Maybe don't bring your kids.

The aggressive knock upstairs was enough to unsettle us, especially after I’d accidentally tried the wrong door while looking for the shared kitchen. We’d booked a room as two friends in our early 20s, but left without spending the night and went to the local Travelodge instead. The bar had been full of older men staring when we arrived. Then a woman working there told one of them, “THEY’RE staying here tonight,” in a tone that gave me implications I really didn’t like. The whole place felt creepy and unsafe. I’m not fussy about where I sleep and have stayed in places that looked much worse, but I didn’t feel safe here.