Kipps Brighton Hostel

The beds were comfortable and the WiFi worked well. The location was great for the station and beach, but there's no lift, so we had lots of stairs to climb. We were on the top floor and the room was much hotter than the hall. We propped the door open, opened the window and ran the fan full blast, and it only got down to warm. The top-floor bathroom was extremely cramped. The toilet blocks the door, so I practically had to climb in. Fine for one night, maybe two, but I wouldn't stay longer.

The owners communicated clearly and efficiently, and were friendly too. There's no reception staff because everything is online, but that caused no problems; check-in and check-out were simple. For the price, it's really good value, and the location is spot on. We were very happy with our stay and would gladly recommend the place.

It's right in the centre, which is a good location. There was a £50 deposit, and a week after my stay I still hadn't received it, though apparently it's on the way. The room socket was broken and the window stuck open; they sent someone quickly to fix it, which helped with the noise and cold. The automatic light on my floor didn't work, so I had to use my phone. None of the email addresses or phone numbers in the booking confirmation worked, and contact is only by email. If you're not fussy and just need one night, I've stayed in worse places, but I've stayed in plenty of places.

It's a basic, functional guest house, but clean, tidy and well maintained, with a peaceful, comfortable room to sleep in. The price is great for a central spot. Kipps Brighton is right across from the Royal Pavilion, and the Lanes, Pier and seafront are all an easy walk away. Staff are consistently friendly, welcoming and helpful. It's self check-in, so have your entry codes ready before you arrive. A great value base for exploring Brighton.