Meadows Way Guest House

The absolute basics should be a clean room and fresh linen, and it seemed neither had been done. I feel robbed of my hard-earned money, and thinking about the place still makes my skin crawl. Please don’t make our mistake. Avoid it at all costs. The room was revolting. Wallpaper was ripped, there was thick dust and cobwebs everywhere, mould, a filthy floor, and bits all over the carpets. The bed and towels had hairs on them; the sheets were creased as if someone had slept in them. Coffee was still on the cups and spoons, the TV remote had thick grime, and the light switches were filthy. There was hair and dirt on the bathroom tiles, no hot water from the sink tap, and no hand soap. The mattress was awful, and we were given just one single blanket for two people. The “double” bed was two singles pushed together, with old mattresses, a gap between them and huge dips in the middle. It was impossible to lie together and share the one blanket, so I slept in my coat. There were only towels for one person, and they were stained and hairy, so unusable. The woman who let us in didn’t say who she was or how to reach her or anyone if we had a problem. I saw her only on arrival. The door’s closing mechanism had been removed, so it wasn’t compliant with regulations. We only passed through the communal area, but that was filthy too, with a disgusting amount of food on the carpet. Customer service was nonexistent and the standards appalling. I don’t know how the woman wasn’t embarrassed to let people pay to stay in such a horrendous place. I can’t believe I paid for it. People I showed my photos to said they wouldn’t stay there even if they were paid.

We arrived in the evening as booked and found the doors shut. The phone number on the door and the street sign were wrong; we only got in after searching an email for the correct number. The room was freezing. The shower was the opposite, with only very hot water, and my sister scalded herself. After walking across the room I felt I had to wash my feet. There were stains on the bedclothes and towels, half-eaten chocolate in the corner, empty snack wrappers behind the headboard and crumbs all over the carpet. The shower was stained, and there was no soap. The shampoo bottle looked as though a previous guest had left it. We dubbed it The Horror House of Uttoxeter, the most appallingly filthy place I’ve stayed. Older reviews make it sound like it may once have been a great place, but we found no sign of that, apart from perhaps the professional kitchen that must once have been used to make breakfast.

Meadows Way is very well placed, with the lovely town centre just a few minutes’ walk away. There are plenty of shops, cafes and bars, and the square is beautiful, with a war memorial, flower displays, cast iron memorial benches and a couple of cast iron statues honouring the town’s war heroes. The retail park is two or three minutes across the road, and there’s a KFC within walking distance at the other end of the street. Uttoxeter races and Alton Towers are both a short drive away. We came with family for the VJ Day service at the National Arboretum and booked four nights. The driveway was a lovely surprise, full of well-tended flowers. The instructions made it easy to find our rooms after collecting the keys. Filling out a form each evening to choose breakfast for the next morning worked really well, and I had a very nice full English every day. Rooms were clean, beds comfortable, and room service came daily. The fans in our rooms were handy in the hot weather. Graham and his mum-in-law Margie were both very welcoming. There’s also a fantastic, huge park near the leisure centre, just a two or three minute drive away. It has a brook, lots of parkland, trees and wildlife, dog-walking paths, gardens with benches and play areas at both ends. It’s so pretty and clean, and one of the best maintained parks I’ve seen. Meadows Way guest house is a fabulous base for amenities that suit all ages. I’d definitely recommend it. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Graham was very accommodating when we asked for a late check-out so we could get ready for the wedding nearby the next day. We stayed one midweek night. Breakfast was tasty and a generous portion, and we enjoyed walking around the market square with its scattering of pubs. Supermarkets were close too. We enjoyed our stay overall. The room was clean and comfortable, though quite small with tight space around the bed.