ibis budget London Bromley

Breakfast was a letdown. It was listed as “continental,” so we expected a buffet with cereal, pastries, and similar options. Instead, each “breakfast bag” had a croissant, fruit, and juice, with some bags also containing a cereal bar or porridge pot. It felt like a school trip. For £120 a night, that’s definitely the budget in Ibis Budget, and I won’t stay again. We were six people in three rooms for two nights, and had problems throughout. At one point we were moved out of a room partway through the stay because of a staff mistake. The staff often seemed unsure how to help. One said he was “new,” and others said they needed a manager to handle things, but we never saw one. They couldn’t answer our questions. The hotel looked worn, with old, stained carpets. Our rooms were reasonably clean and not too bad, but the rest of the place felt dirty. The shower curtains also let water spray onto the floor, leaving it soaked.

We cut our stay short after the first night. The room was horrible, the beds were very uncomfortable, and there was no wardrobe. Our bags ended up on the floor, while the only place to hang clothes was above the bed, practically over our heads as we slept. We booked a family room, but breakfast didn’t cater for my children. The room and breakfast cost an outrageous amount, especially since breakfast came in paper bags with prepacked drink sachets and stale pastries. Arriving was unpleasant too, with awful parking and nowhere decent to unload. The receptionist was juggling several things and was hardly ever at the desk, though his politeness was the one bright spot. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The bathroom was especially gross. The bath plug stank, and the water wouldn’t drain properly, so I had to stand in water contaminated with whatever was blocking that foul drain. The rest of the place was grim too: stained towels and carpets, dust, footprints on the walls, peeling paint, and a general bad smell. It felt like a crack den. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Jess at reception is the nicest staff member we’ve met, and we stay here each month for work. She’s happy to do anything for you and makes you feel that nothing is too much trouble. The rest of the staff could learn from her. The hotel itself is a standard budget place, but it needs updating. The carpets in the rooms are a strange colour, and the walls need repainting. They’ve started making improvements, and updating the rooms should be the next step.