Jonas Hotel

For a cheap stay while visiting my uni student, the place worked well and brought back a bit of nostalgia. It’s probably not for everyone, but it was ideal for us. Breakfast was a complimentary cup of tea or coffee and a croissant, or you could book breakfast at the Halifax Hotel next door. The rooms are converted student accommodation, with a small but comfy double bed, an ensuite sink and shower, and a TV that I could connect my phone to. Shared kitchens vary by floor: some are tiny and mainly suited to a microwave or simple food, while others have more room to cook. Plates and bowls were provided, but cutlery was often missing. You’ll need to bring things like oil and tea bags or eat out. It’s especially convenient for visiting University of Sheffield.

Everything was very clean, and the rooms have the basics for a night or two. Staff were really friendly, and the price is amazing for this area. Parking is limited, but there are plenty of spaces a few minutes away, including some free street parking.

The internet was fast, which helped since my signal on both 3 and EE was poor. You do have to log back into the Wi-Fi repeatedly, though, and that could be a problem if you have no mobile signal and need to stay connected. The staff were nice, even if my interactions with them were brief. I skipped the free pastry and drink because I just wanted to get out of there. It was cheap, and that was the main benefit. I was only in town for a gig and needed somewhere to crash, but even for that purpose the stay was uncomfortable. The room was too hot, with no fan, so I had to leave the window open. It turned out to be among student accommodation, where people partied all night, and the open window made the noise hard to shut out. I still wanted to rest, even if I was only using it as a crash pad. There was a basic little TV, a desk with an ethernet port (I wish I’d known about that beforehand), and a basic chair with a very worn, butt-shaped imprint. The mattress was awful, just firm furniture foam rather than memory foam. I couldn’t have managed several nights on it. The bed seemed about 4ft wide, somewhere between a single and a double, so sharing it would make getting comfortable difficult. In a pinch it’s okay because it’s cheap, but the noise, heat, and mattress made it an uncomfortable stay. It felt a bit like a private room in a youth hostel, without the amenities.

The room was small and clean, but the double bed was pushed against the wall, making it awkward for two adults to get out. Heavy rain came through the ceiling smoke detector, and I woke in the early hours soaking wet, with the bedding drenched too. They moved me to another room, but after all that disruption I couldn’t get back to sleep.