Mystay Brixton

Getting around was easy: the O2 is about a seven-minute walk away, the tube is even closer, and buses stop along the main road. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and shop. I liked that the entrance stays locked and you need a keycard or have to ring the bell, which made me feel safer. Our double room was spacious, with a decent-sized bathroom, and the staff were friendly and easy to find when I needed help. There was a kettle and complimentary tea bags. The shower had a fixed head, so I bought a cap to keep my hair dry. The toilet paper was more like thin napkins from a dispenser than proper toilet paper. The windows don't open, and it got quite hot overnight. The air con worked well, but switched itself off after a while. We were there for two nights for a concert.

The bed was wide and really comfortable, and the pillows were great too. Our basic room had what we needed and looked clean. Staff were very friendly and helpful. There was a restaurant that looked good, though we didn't eat there. The corridors looked lovely and clean, but smelled like they could use a good airing. The room felt stuffy because the windows wouldn't open, even a little. It was a cold day but the air conditioning was on. We switched it off and the room got hot, then tried turning it back on, but the instructions didn't work. The wetroom had a strong dirty-dishcloth smell, and the pull-down seat looked like it hadn't been cleaned in some time. I'd still recommend it for the value and prime location.

Breakfast had plenty of choice and tasted good, and my room was spotless and comfortable for a good night's sleep. I stayed at the Premier Inn on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton on 5th January. The gentleman at reception was welcoming, genuinely helpful and so friendly that check-in felt effortless. Great location and service. It exceeded my expectations, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone visiting Brixton or LonDon.

I keep seeing comments like the ones I made before about the same problems. I've contacted the hotel several times and mostly got what seemed like copy-and-paste replies. The smell, quality and air con issues I had over NYs still don't seem to have been sorted. A family member stayed next door and had exactly the same complaint. They got £93 back from the extortionate £250 rate, while I wasn't compensated at all. For that quality of stay, the price was ridiculous. It was awful, and I wouldn't recommend it. Don't pay a premium, it feels like you're being ripped off. Be warned, and find another hotel instead.