PubLove @ The Great Eastern

I stayed one night in a hostel bed. The free breakfast was simple, just a twist with jam or butter and some cereal. Cleanliness in the room and bathroom was average. There weren't individual power sockets, so I chose not to charge anything overnight because of security concerns. Bag storage could be handled more securely: there were no lockers in the room, and when I asked for my bag back, nobody checked that I was taking my own rather than someone else's. The location felt a little far from downtown. You can get there by tube, which takes roughly 45 minutes depending on where you start. Nothing really stood out about the hostel, so I'd recommend looking for somewhere more central.

We just wanted a cheap weekend in London and a base for our group of 10, and it did the job for what we paid. If you want a bit of luxury, spend more. The hostel area and each bedroom had coded doors. Everything was very basic: lockers only fit valuables, not bags, and the separate shared toilets and showers could use a spruce-up, though they worked alright. It's right between two DLR stations, so getting to Canary Wharf or Bank is easy. My main gripe was the bar shutting right at 11. We could have spent a lot more there if it had a later licence and been a bit more hospitable.

The showers were mostly flooded, and the toilets were mostly blocked and leaking. I've never experienced hygiene like that. I complained to the staff a few times. They apologized and seemed a little embarrassed by the state of the place, and tried to clean when I asked, but it was unbelievably dirty and run down. I don't mind a basic hostel if it's clean. This place was unlike anywhere I've stayed, even in countries where incomes are very low. Even at this price, I'd rather stay awake all night than set foot there again. It's also a long way from most attractions, with an expensive trip by Tube and DLR.

The pub's in a great location for enjoying London, and the night shift staff were really good and lovely. The bedding was clean, but the rest of the place wasn't. The first-floor shower had no hooks or anywhere to put your things, and its shower curtain was disgusting. Seriously, wash it. Breakfast is cereal and toast, but I didn't get any because they gave me the wrong time. I would've given more stars if not for that. Two guys in my room snored all night, so I hardly slept and was exhausted. If you value sleep, a hostel may not be for you. A couple of tips: choose a bed near a socket so you can charge your phone at night, and bring your own locker lock. You get what you pay for.