Old Victory House Homestay

The bed was unusable: its base sagged so badly that it tilted, and I could feel the wood pressing into my back through the mattress. The headboard wasn't fixed to anything, just wedged between the bed and wall. We chose this place because the photos looked good and the location suited us. At check-in, we had to collect the keys from the sister hotel. That was manageable, but nobody was at the front for about ten minutes. They said they'd call in an hour when a parking permit was available. No call came, and there was no parking at the property. The room door wouldn't shut unless we forced it, and the inside handle was loose, which left my partner worried about security. There were stains all over the room. The shower door came off its rollers and landed on my partner's foot, cutting it. Water sprayed around the bathroom, including over the top of the shower. Hairdryers were listed, but there wasn't one. The communal fridge smelled awful and had moldy food in it. I have photos and videos showing the state of it. I'm extremely disappointed and feel I wasted my money. The lack of care here creates serious health and safety concerns. I strongly suggest staying elsewhere.

The included breakfast was the one bright spot. It’s served elsewhere, in a lovely restaurant, and the staff there were friendly. There’s plenty I could criticize about the accommodation, but I’ll leave those points aside here.

The room itself felt awkward and generally unclean. The TV was tucked away in a corner where someone on one side of the double bed couldn't see it. There was just one window seat and a stool, so there wasn't a comfortable place for two to sit together. The nightly rate was about £82 before breakfast, even though the advertised available price was £63 on 7/7/2024. For that cost, I didn't think it was worth it for a couple. The train noise wasn't mentioned in the description. It starts screeching past at around 5am and, thankfully, stops around midnight. I know the railway can't be moved, but it should affect the price. Housekeeping was inconsistent: day one was as expected, day two brought no cleaning or fresh towels, and on day three the bed was roughly made with no new toilet paper or towels. They did replenish the tea and coffee, but left dirty cups.

The bed was comfortable, the sheets and towels looked clean, and the location is handy, right beside the shopping centre and lots of attractions. It might suit someone who only needs a place to sleep for a night. Still, getting the keys at the lady Hamilton felt awkward. Everyone inside seemed to be staring and judging us, and the atmosphere was uncomfortable. Parking cost extra, and we had to drive around residential streets and lanes for quite a while before finding an empty space in an approved zone. The carpet looked dirty, there was mould in the alcove behind the wardrobe, and the shower door was hanging off its hinges. Black things came up in the toilet when we flushed. The shared fridge had mouldy, spoiled food, and we had to buy our own toilet paper.