Ramada Loughborough Hotel

We had a quiet room, number 97, and it was spotless. The double bed was big and comfortable, the sheets were clean, and the bathroom was very clean with two large towels. The only little annoyance was that there was no remote control. Reception said they'd sort it, but it still hadn't arrived later that evening. By midnight I didn't really need it anyway.

I've stayed here several times and have always found it good value. The staff I've met have all been really great. The decor is a bit tired, and on my last visit both the curtain and its liner were badly torn. The bathroom was spotless and the bed comfortable, though, so it's ideal for a short break.

The only thing I can praise is that the staff we encountered were friendly. The hotel itself felt decades past its best, with stained walls, ceilings, carpets and surfaces, frayed fabrics, and a desperate need for refurbishment. Even the radiators were blasting away in the first weekend of July, so we had to leave the windows wide open. Maybe that helped attract the flies: coming in from the rear car park, I had to cross a corridor full of them. Our room had no crumbs or stray hairs, but the bed looked bad enough that I didn't dare pull back the covers. The young receptionist was pleasant and efficient, and the cleaners and staff seemed to be doing what they could, but the place was in such poor shape. Locals laughed and screwed up their noses when we told them where we were staying. Getting back after dark was a problem too. On both nights we returned just after midnight, and there was no way to open the door or get anyone to answer the bell. The first night one of our group climbed in through a first-floor window; the second night, someone used a ground-floor window. Even at this price, it was vastly overpriced. I wish I'd read the reviews first, which is why I'm taking the time to write this. I felt like wiping my feet on the way out.

The room was in poor condition, with stained curtains and walls, a damaged carpet, and a broken light fitting. It badly needs a refurb. Worse, when we checked in at 4.45pm, the room hadn't been cleaned: the toilet was stained, the floor hadn't been hoovered, the teaspoons were dirty, and dirty sheets were left on the floor. Reception were trying to sort out and clean rooms that hadn't been done, and from what I overheard, ours wasn't the only one. The staff on duty were apologetic and eager to help, and they discounted our room. Check-in was supposed to be at 2pm, though, so the stay was poor. The staff's efforts are the only reason I'm giving two stars.