Premier Inn Winchester

If a good night's sleep is what you want, the beds are amazing as always, and the hotel was lovely and clean. Staff were lovely too, though there didn't seem to be many of them. The town centre is a pleasant 20-minute walk away, and there are shops like Tesco a couple of hundred yards up the road for supplies. Breakfast wasn't great. It had been sitting out for a while, and the sausages prepared fresh for us certainly weren't premium as the literature claimed.

The room was comfortable, and the man at reception was friendly, though he was slouched in his chair and seemed to find checking us in a chore. He asked if we wanted breakfast, which we declined, but didn't tell us we needed to book a table for dinner. We came back in the early evening hoping to eat, only to be told we needed a reservation even though lots of tables were free. We ended up getting McDonald's. Also, would it be possible to have one of the glass mugs from the room? Regards, Simon & Helena Herbert.

The bed was fine and the water was hot, but the stay was still a grim experience. The building feels crumbling, with grime worked into the fabric even if it isn't obvious in the dimly lit areas. The rooms had a chemical smell, apparently covering a range of problems, and the windows wouldn't open. The lifts were faulty, parts of the walls were rotting, and the whole place was very dirty. Reception had a revolting, overpowering smell of stagnant water. There were few staff, expected to do everything on a laptop for very little pay, so service was slow. I think they're being exploited, and it's not their fault. I really don't understand how people rate this hotel well.

The staff were so attentive, and nothing felt like too much trouble. The rooms were clean, the bed and pillows comfy, and everything was well equipped. It’s also excellent value, and very handy for walking into Winchester. I’d happily come back, though the rooms could do with redecorating, so I wouldn’t give it five stars.