Citadel House Hotel

The host was pleasant and welcomed us, but the hotel was in a complete shambles. The bed was held together with parcel tape, there was only one double socket near the sink by the window, and none beside the bed. Shelves were coming off the walls, the decor was tired, and the paper was cracked and hanging loose. The shower head was filthy and rusty, and there were only enough tea bags for one cup each. The bathroom pictures had melted and buckled in their frames from the heat and were just left there to rot. It’s a nice building but very neglected, including the shared areas. The WiFi was confusing, so I used my own. I felt grotty and cancelled another trip I had booked there. The signs say the hotel is being improved, but that doesn’t excuse the state of our room and the general areas. Expedia refused a refund and offered me £25 credit. I’m fuming.

The location is great, but for £10 more we could have stayed at the Duke of Cornwall. I wish we had. The place needs a deep clean and shouldn’t be let out in this condition. I can cope with somewhere tired that needs TLC, but this was filthy, and the advertised photos don’t reflect it. If I’d had the choice, the money, or a way to get a refund, I would have left. The lady who greeted us was lovely and friendly, both at check in and check out. I would have liked to discuss the review with her, but other reviews mentioned hostility, and I didn’t feel like risking that during what was meant to be a special weekend with my daughter. There was a dirty cup and saucer, brown splashes on the wall by the toilet paper and brown 'stuff' under the toilet seat. Dust covered the lampshade and toilet roll holder, the shower screen was filthy, wallpaper was coming off, and the plug hole I saw while brushing my teeth made me feel sick. Not good at all.

I was in Plymouth for one night and just needed somewhere to sleep and leave my bag. That’s exactly what I got. The room was simple and comfortable, a short walk from town, and the price was great compared with other guest houses nearby. The lovely owner was happy to help. I’d use it again for a cheap visit, 10/10.

The staff and service were really nice. It’s close to all the amenities, and the cheap parking permit was helpful. Good value too, with a clean bed, fresh linen and a comfortable room. The shower was small but had plenty of warmth and pressure.