No24 Ventnor

The bar downstairs was cosy, and the place is in a handy spot on the high street. I came in February, when things were quiet, and the owner seemed surprised to have a guest, but was happy to get a room ready for me. It was clean, comfortable, and well equipped.

The host was lovely, and the bar downstairs was really nice and very good value. The stay was decent value overall, so I’d come back if I was in the area. I was there for Isle of Wight Festival weekend. The room was nice, though the bathroom could have been cleaner. We had the top-floor room, where the sloped ceiling meant anyone over 5 foot couldn’t stand upright in the shower. It was also quite warm, but the fan helped a little.

The only thing going for it was the central Ventnor location, though there’s no parking. I had a thoroughly unpleasant overnight stay and wouldn’t spend another penny there beyond what I had to. We’d struggled to find a one-night booking because so many places required two or three nights, and choosing this place was a big mistake. Our tiny attic room had very little headroom, something the website hadn’t mentioned. The bathroom was so cramped that a full-grown adult couldn’t stand properly, let alone bathe or shower. I’m 6'2, so I asked the proprietor if we could move to a lower-floor room. He seemed not to care and bluntly told me those were the rooms we’d booked and we were only staying one night, so we should deal with it. He barely looked up from his phone. There was mould throughout the bathroom, the toilet needed four flushes to clear, and both the bath and sink taps kept dripping all night. The kettle was mouldy too, so we couldn’t make tea. I can’t comment on the bar because I refused to give the place any more money.

Brian made our holiday, greeting us warmly and taking care of everything. He’s proud of the place, has a great sense of humour, and poured a lovely pint of Guinness along with the other drinks. Nothing seemed like too much trouble, and the locals in the little downstairs bar were colourful company, happy to share tips on places to eat and visit. The five-bedroom boutique hotel has a quirky feel, with rooms full of character, narrow stairs, and walls covered in art, from cartoons to metal sculptures that catch your eye. We had one of our best UK holidays in a long time. Thanks, mate, see you again soon!