Mulgrave Lodge

The room was clean and a great size, with big, comfortable double beds that had good support, though they weren't soft. Of the places I stayed over three nights, this was easily the best. It is pricey, but nice.

The outside looks cute, but the inside was awful. The house felt musty, with too many cramped rooms. The tiny so-called kitchen had only a dirty sink. My bedroom was so small that opening the door hit the single bed. There was a small locker on the other side, and a shelf at the foot of the bed with a kettle and cup that I had to sidestep to avoid knocking over. The bathroom was even tinier, with walls tight against the toilet, and I knocked the toilet roll off when sitting down. There was plenty of toilet paper, at least. The shower was tiny and grubby, so I couldn't use it. I wasn't expecting the Hilton for the price. I'm usually fine with cheap and cheerful, but this was the worst I've come across, and I was glad I'd booked just one night. The next morning I realized I'd been bitten. Bed bugs! I still feel sick and upset about it. Forget parking. The on-site spaces mean driving up a narrow lane and steering around serious corners, if you can find the lane and there aren't work lorries blocking it. Don't be in a hurry. Street parking was nonexistent. I never want to see this place again.

The town and nice places to eat are just around the corner, and the house is in a quiet part of town with no noise pollution. The utilities were well maintained, and the hosts kindly provided the amenities we needed. I had a lovely weekend stay. I also needed to update my booking because of the ID check. My name change is still pending through a deed poll, so it hasn't been legally changed yet. I had told the hostess beforehand, and she kindly agreed to use my old name. Mina, you are a saint, and I deeply appreciate how kind you were throughout the whole situation.

I booked another three nights after my first two, which I'd arranged at very short notice. I was welcomed and told to call if I needed anything. When I couldn't work out the shower switch, someone helped me almost immediately. The room was cleaned and the bed made each day, and I found it comfortable and quiet. For £70 a night very close to Christmas, I thought the lodge was a good standard. If you're after more luxurious decor, the Royal Marine hotel is an option, though it's much more expensive and was full at that time of year. I honestly think some earlier reviews were really mean.