Sleep Eat Love

There were some downsides, but for what it costs, it’s a decent stay. The hostel’s café and bar downstairs has a modern feel, and the bar staff were accommodating. My first impression of the hygiene was satisfactory, and check-in was friendly and quick. The lockers were impressively large. In the dorm, I could hear general conversation from the stairway, and street noise came through the single glazed windows. A few guests arrived in our room around 2am, which I hadn’t realised was allowed and disrupted things a bit. My keycard also kept needing to be rebooted. At least I was on the first floor, so reception was a short walk, and other people in the dorm had the same problem.

I found the bed very comfortable, and they left me a fresh, clean towel each day when they cleaned the room, much like a hotel. The hostel seems fairly new, and it shows. Staff were friendly and helpful. There’s a kitchen, though no stove, with two microwaves and two small fridges. Even with only three or four floors, there’s an elevator. The TV room has a smart TV with free Netflix and other streaming services, plus there’s a games room and a small gym. One of the better hostels I’ve stayed in.

The breakfast was very good, and the staff were nice. But the lack of soundproofing was my main problem. Drunk, noisy guests were slamming doors and talking in the hallway, waking me at midnight, 2 and 4. With slow maintenance, a broken lift and little room issues too, there were a lot of small problems, though I suppose that’s to be expected at a budget hostel. Sadly, I wouldn’t stay here again.

For a cheap place to crash after a night out, the location is brilliant and it’s close to everything. But I was disappointed overall, and wouldn’t use it again because it didn’t meet my needs or expectations. I’d have booked the YHA this time if it hadn’t been full, and I’ll choose that next time. This was a last resort after our previous hotel let us down, as we were in town to see Jack Whitehall. It might suit other people, and looking at the existing reviews, I know I’m in the minority, so judge it for yourself. The photos suggest there are lots of facilities, but in reality there isn’t much available to use. The staff were polite. Our private en suite room was surprisingly tiny, and although we booked a twin, it had bunk beds, which felt a little odd, though I guess that counts as a twin. The room was basically tidy, but the carpet wasn’t very clean. It also got very loud, especially in the evenings. The broken shower was partly detached from the wall, and there was a screw on the bathroom floor that my daughter couldn’t see against the mottled grey floor and stepped on. Around 5:30pm I took the screw and photos of the shower to reception. The staff member was polite but didn’t offer a fix or apologise, just said we’d have to manage because maintenance had gone home. I told them I wouldn’t use the shower in that state, since it wasn’t usable. I guess you get what you pay for.