Talbot

For the price, it was worth it. The room was clean and an okay size, the bed was comfy, and we had no issues. It’s very basic, but you can’t complain at that cost.

This was our second stay at the Talbot, after the first in late summer 2024. At the moment the pub side is closed and meals aren’t available. There was local gossip that the hotel was being used for asylum seekers or immigrants, but I saw no evidence of that; the guests seemed mostly to be couples and business travellers. Dad and I had a twin room with a large shower but no bath, a desk and a TV. It wasn’t in hotel mode, so using a streaming stick was easy. The room was slightly bigger than my sister’s double. The WiFi worked well for streaming a film while browsing the web and social media, and the staff were helpful. Remember to enter your car details at the reception terminal and set your stay duration to avoid charges. My only complaint is that the bathroom needs a towel rail or holder.

The rooms are badly decorated, and the double beds are only 4ft, as the website says. That’s not great for a family, and the beds were very uncomfortable. One pillow each wasn’t enough. Cleanliness was below standard: dust had built up on the light switches and sockets, there were poo splashes on the bathroom tiles, and the mirrors were hard to see through because of dust and smears. The shower had dirty marks, scum and limescale. We were first given a room that had clearly been slept in, then moved to another room with all these problems. I complained at the desk and was told the manager would be notified, but we never heard anything back. We only had to sleep there for one night, and got out as quickly as we could in the morning. It was also very loud, with a domestic disturbance at half past two in the morning. I reported that too, but it wasn’t taken any notice of. I wouldn’t recommend staying here, even if you were desperate. I’d give it zero stars if that were an option.

The building itself is lovely, and it’s sad to see what’s happened to such a historic place in Stourbridge. It used to host weddings and parties, but now it feels filthy and neglected. The restaurant is no longer open to the public, and about half the rooms are occupied by what the reviewer calls “government inhabitants.” They argue and fight at all hours. It comes across as a corporation focused on filling its pockets, so I’d stay at the Premier Inn across the road and save your money.