Friars House, Stafford by BELL Apartments

We’ve returned to Friars House three times, which says a lot about how much we like it. It’s kept in great shape, and our rooms have been peaceful despite being just minutes from Stafford town centre. Kate and her team made check-in and checkout easy every time. I’d happily stay there again, and recommend it highly.

When I’m in Stafford, Friars House is usually my first choice. It’s quiet, comfortable, and well looked after, and getting checked in is simple. As someone travelling alone, I feel safe there. There’s parking at the property, and both the town and local park are an easy walk away. I’d recommend it.

I’ve been staying here regularly since August 2022 for long-term work in the area. The apartments have been reliably clean, tidy, spacious and comfortable, and the owners are friendly and willing to help. Stafford station is about a five-minute walk away, with the town centre also close by. There’s a large Tesco right across the road. Parking depends on the apartment. Most have off-road spaces at the back. If yours doesn’t, street parking is usually free overnight from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Tesco nearby offers three hours free, with paid parking for longer stays. It’s a great place whether you’re here for work or leisure.

We stayed three days for a local conference, and the service won us over after a rough start. The shower temperature control was stuck on hot, making it too hot to use once the water warmed up. I called the emergency number around 7:15 on Sunday morning over the Bank Holiday weekend. The agent apologised and said they’d try to send someone, though we both thought the timing made that unlikely. When we came back mid-afternoon, the shower had been fixed. I’d gone from expecting to leave a poor review to feeling we’d had excellent service, and yes, we’d stay again. The apartment itself was spacious and clean, with a kitchen that had what we needed. The building felt secure and had designated off-road parking by the property. We were on the ground floor, which worked adequately for my wife’s significant mobility issues. The street entrance door closes quickly by itself, though, and was a bit tricky for her to manage. My first impressions had been very good.