The Grapevine Hotel

For £111 for two nights, I was satisfied and couldn't have hoped for much more. The location is great, and I mostly just walked instead of taking transport. The place has been renovated, so it looks better than the old Google pictures. I had room 15, which was big enough for me, with a shower and sink in the room and a private toilet on another floor. Cleanliness was okay. The staff were friendly, and the hotel was quiet. The only bother was the street lights shining into the room while I slept.

I was on a tight budget, so to be fair to management, I guess the value for money wasn't the worst. That said, this was hands down the worst hotel I've ever been to. The room was tiny, and I was given a building key but told the doors had no locks, so they could only be locked from inside. I booked two nights and didn't see cleaning staff at all. Those are just the first things that come to mind.

The rooms were in mint condition, though there wasn't much space in either the room or bathroom, and they were really warm. Apart from that, I had a lovely stay and would recommend it, especially if you're on a tight budget. The location was perfect, about a 12-minute walk from the train station and handy if you don't want to use transport. Staff were very friendly and welcoming when I arrived.

I was looking for a budget room on a weeknight with decent transport links and nearby facilities, and needed an en suite bathroom. This place had what I wanted and felt like good value for money. It's convenient for Victoria Coach station and the rail and Underground stations, with a good choice of pubs and restaurants within a 10-minute walk. My room was small but compact, with a 3/4 bed and what felt like a memory foam mattress. The bathroom was also compact, clean, and had a good shower, though the plumbing was reversed: turning the dial toward cold gave warm water, and vice versa. There was little room between the toilet and sink, but that was a trade-off I could live with for one night. I had two towels plus one for stepping out of the shower, and an alcove with a wardrobe rail and enough room for my overnight case. The bathroom fan was noisy at first, then settled after 2-3 minutes. Reception is in the next-door hotel, the Sheriff. I got an electronic key card for the Grapevine entrance and my room, with no trouble using either. It looked like renovation was still going on, but I heard no construction noise. As other reviews suggest, perhaps I was lucky or they had fixed some things after the feedback.