PubLove @ The Green Man - Hostel

I asked to switch rooms, but staff said this was the only female-only room. There were no privacy curtains, so I didn’t feel comfortable moving to a mixed dorm. That left me stuck in an awful situation unless I wanted to leave in the middle of the night and find another hotel. The bathrooms were constantly busy and not cleaned promptly. Staffing seemed thin across the pub and hostel, and staff didn’t handle the conflict well. I strongly recommend avoiding this location. I’d booked a bed in a women-only room, hoping for a basic level of quiet and safety. The price is very low and it’s next to a major station, which might explain the sort of guests it attracts. This was by far my worst hostel stay in London, a safe homeless experience. In the room, the person in Bed 7 kept muttering profanity and sometimes shouting while watching her phone with headphones on. I tried to ignore it, thinking she’d quiet down after 11pm. Around 10:30pm, a guest in Bed 9 arrived, objected to a large suitcase beside her bed, and demanded it be moved and the window kept open all night. Bed 7 refused. They shouted back and forth until about 11pm, without regard for the rest of us trying to sleep. Bed 7 then continued muttering angrily and sometimes hitting the bed frame. Bed 9 said she had heart problems and insisted UK law required hostel windows to stay open all night if there was no mechanical ventilation. That isn’t true. Regulations require ventilation, such as windows, not that windows remain open regardless of temperature, noise or security. Other London hostels, including other Publove locations, don’t enforce such a rule. Staff eventually came upstairs, but instead of mediating properly, they turned on the heater and backed the demand to keep the window open. They clearly didn’t understand the legal requirements or know how to manage things. The window faces a busy main road at a major junction, as you can see on the map. All night there were sirens, traffic, music from cars and people talking. There’s virtually no sound insulation. It was warmer and technically safer than sleeping on the street, but that was about the difference.

The rooms and facilities are basic, somewhere between good and bad. My room got really hot, with no AC or fan, and the beds had no privacy curtains. The bathrooms were fairly dirty, though I’d blame the other residents more than the cleaning staff. There’s no fridge or microwave for food you bring, but you can buy food and drinks there. If you want a cheap, no-frills place for a night while you’re out and about, this could suit you. Huge thanks to Zach and Sydney for looking after me so well during my stay, and they definitely didn’t bribe me for this review ;). I’d accidentally booked the wrong day, and they were very patient and helped find me a last-minute room on the day. Zach even changed my assigned bed and put on fresh linens after somebody had used it when it wasn’t theirs. They offered me a drink as soon as I arrived while I waited to check in. I love that kind of personal touch.

I stayed in a women-only dorm with nine beds. If you’ll be out exploring London all day and just need somewhere to rest, eat and sleep without fuss, this is a good option for the price. The bathrooms are spacious, and the staff member at reception or the bar counter, even if there’s only one person, was very helpful. Be aware there’s no lift. The staircase is narrow, so carrying large luggage up is a bit of a challenge, but I thought it was worth the price.

There was no heat anywhere in the facility, which made my November stay uncomfortable. The hosts seemed okay. I was excited to try The Green Man after reviews described it as one of the better hostel options. If that’s the standard, I’ve learned hostels like this aren’t for me. I booked six nights but left after the first because the rooms weren’t as advertised. I reserved a three-bed all-female room. The website photos made it look as though the shared or communal bathroom was inside the room and shared by those three guests. The full description does say the bathrooms are outside, but I still found the photos misleading. In reality, two bathrooms serve all the occupants. The room was smaller than I expected, the small lockers didn’t lock, and there was visible mold in the bathroom. The bathroom setup was especially poor. The soap dispenser was broken and stuck out awkwardly, taking up the only place for toiletries, with no shelves to help. There were just two hooks for wet and dry clothes, towels and toiletries. A damp, mildewy smell lingered in the bathroom and spread across the floor. Hot water and pressure were decent, but the bathroom door opposite my room was jammed and wouldn’t lock. It kept slamming, and I was woken around 6 a.m. by guests repeatedly trying to shut it.