John Wayne Lodge

The Lodge is a lovely, peaceful spot about a 10-minute drive from busy Brighton, so you get both settings. We stayed in the huge, comfortable teepee, which could easily fit my family of five, though like any tent during a heatwave it was stuffy in the morning. The house was nicely decorated and cared for, and the facilities were clean. John was friendly and sociable, and makes an incredible fire. We liked the relaxed, sociable feel, and had a great time. It seems ideal for friends, sociable couples, or people travelling alone. Looking forward to coming back. Naz + co

We paid £215 for two nights, and it definitely didn’t feel worth the money. The listing promised a double room with a private bathroom, jacuzzi, and entrance, but we got a room in the house attic. There’s only one jacuzzi, out in the garden under a wooden cover, with no real privacy, and it wasn’t included as advertised. We were given 30 minutes on the first day as a complimentary session, even though we thought it was part of the price. The advertised private beach also wasn’t there. The bathroom smelled mouldy and the sink was blocked. People were drinking and partying constantly, like it was a frat house. Ash, the host’s brother, greeted us very drunk, barely able to stand, which felt completely unprofessional. We tried to socialize on the first night and give it a chance, but were shocked by what we’d ended up with for the price. Definitely not for us.

The whole house was unclean, which was shocking given the price for a single night. John kept pushing us to use the hot tub. When we politely said no, he offered us shorts to borrow and tried to persuade us to stay in instead of going out.

The garden was lovely, the room comfortable, and Ash was a great host. It had such a friendly, welcoming and informal feel, almost like staying at your best friend’s home. The location suited me really well.