Boutique 25

I never actually got to stay, so I can’t give a full review of the hotel. I was in Skipton for a wedding and had arranged by phone to meet a staff member earlier that day so I could leave our bags and collect the room key. Nobody answered when I arrived at the agreed time. I knocked and waited 25 minutes, then called the number 20 times without getting through. We were going to be late for the wedding, so I had to leave. I was the MC and couldn’t step away later to reach the hotel. After standing in the rain earlier with no one there, I had no confidence anyone would show up later either. The hotel called that evening, but I couldn’t answer then. A very disappointing experience.

We still had a decent stay in this cheap-and-cheerful top-floor apartment. It had three clean, comfortable rooms. The stairs were very steep and narrow, with no gate at the top to stop a child falling down. The bed was very low, and the well-used mattress could do with replacing. We couldn’t get any hot water.

For the £90 we paid, the place did its job for one night while we were passing through, and I slept okay. The bedding was clean, and the building has a fine location in a lovely town. It was clearly once grand and has an interesting history. I didn’t see any staff, though Mark said the man who handed over his keys was pleasant and helpful. It was clean, but the furniture was cheap and worn, and the room felt tired rather than shabby chic. It wasn’t stylish, quirky or boutique, even if the furnishings had been new. The description promises six individually designed stylish bedrooms and deluxe touches like king beds, flat-screen TVs, music players and roll-top or jacuzzi baths. My husband booked based on the name and description without reading reviews, and might have known what to expect if he had. The shower was lukewarm, I couldn’t get the TV working properly, and we couldn’t find the parking entrance. I don’t know whether breakfast was included. Nobody mentioned it, and everything was dead when we came downstairs. It isn’t really a hotel, just a building with rooms to sleep in. I rarely leave a negative review because I don’t like being unkind to people trying their best. I probably wouldn’t have written one if they hadn’t described the place as they do. Be honest, call it a basic, clean place to lay your head and charge accordingly. Don’t sell rooms by talking up things that aren’t there. I can’t recommend it as it is. It could be lovely with fresh decor and new furniture, but until then I’d steer clear.

I paid £130 and felt it was far too much for this room. The photos on Boutique 25’s website and brochure don’t match what’s there, and look like they were taken a long time ago. The carpet, towels, sheets and pillowcases were clean, and the shower was good, but the rest of the room was dusty and tired. The very old mattress wasn’t clean. The man who checked us in was polite but didn’t mention the basement club, which parties until 1am. It was really loud. I phoned to ask for another room and was told they wouldn’t move us. They said the website lists the club’s hours, so they were legally covered and I couldn’t do anything about it. I just wanted to sleep, not hear what the law says they don’t have to do. It’s not boutique. If every other hotel in Skipton is full, I’ll sleep in the car next time.