The Unicorn Richmond

The location is great, right in the middle of the old town, and the room was decent and mostly clean. The windows, though, were coated in old dust. On several nights each week there’s a DJ playing until 1 am, and the whole house shakes. It’s quiet after that. The price is very steep: I’ve stayed in better pub lodgings for less than half as much. There’s no breakfast.

The woman who runs the place was really helpful and let us into our room early. It’s right in town and close to everything, and being dog friendly was a bonus since we brought two dogs. The room was quite dated but very clean, with comfortable beds and a separate bathroom with a shower just for us. We had a key to the back door, so we could come and go as we liked. Not one complaint, and I can’t wait to go back.

Getting hold of reception was very difficult because the phone was out of service. We arrived late and hadn’t expected the hotel to be above a pub. It felt like staying in a pub from Lord of the Rings. Drunk people downstairs, and women giggling, flirting and laughing until 1:30 am. The woman did warn us it could be loud, which was fair, and as a traveller you might think it’s okay. But with family or children, I wouldn’t recommend this place. Travelodge is much cheaper and includes breakfast. The toilet and shower have very old plumbing, so be careful not to flood the place or you could be charged. The whole place needs updating.

It’s a pub with four bedrooms upstairs, so expect music and noise until closing time. I had the back room upstairs, which was quieter, though I could mainly hear loud talking from the garden below. I stayed three nights and found it good value, with a basic room containing a double bed, wardrobe, drawers, shower and toilet. The Wi-Fi wasn’t working, but I was out all day and only came back to sleep. The location is great, right in the heart of Richmond.