Britannia Aberdeen Hotel

We were on a party coach trip, but that doesn’t mean everyone was drunk or wouldn’t notice the state of the place. The hotel was dirty, and the staff looked miserable and overworked. The first room we were given was filthy, with mouldy window sills, a strong damp smell and no heating. The corridors smelled damp too. We were moved to another room where the smell wasn’t as bad. The sheets were clean, but the rooms need gutting, and really the whole hotel needs a serious makeover. The food was another major problem. I never saw staff checking temperatures, and fresh food was piled on top of what was left. I watched someone replace the pâté, picking pieces that had fallen off an earlier plate from the chill cabinet and putting them on top of the new batch. There should be someone supervising the food service and making sure items are replaced and mess is cleaned up. Only one toaster worked, and even that’s generous: the bread had to go through once, then you had to turn it over and toast it again because only one side worked. We waited 30 minutes at the bar because there were no glasses. Someone needs to step up and manage the teams. I could say more, but I don’t expect these comments to change anything. Since it was a mystery trip and we didn’t know where we’d be staying, I certainly wouldn’t have picked this hotel.

We booked at the last minute after I went into early labour, so we could wait things out before heading to the maternity unit. The staff were very accommodating and said we could book extra nights if we needed to. That was about the only positive. When we got to the room, there was a whole birds’ nest behind the door, with feathers and droppings everywhere. The windows were closed and there was no bird in sight. We were told the room had been cleaned that day, and I can’t see how the nest could have been missed. Feathers led out into the corridor, so maybe there’s still a bird wandering around in there six months later. To be fair, they changed our room straight away and seemed genuinely shocked. I was about to give birth and waddled around the hotel in a fury. We also arrived in the middle of what seemed like cult karaoke. I’m sure it might have been fun if I’d been in a different mood, but I wasn’t, and that wasn’t anyone’s fault. We didn’t use the facilities, given the circumstances, so I can’t comment on them. But I still can’t get over walking into a room with a bird’s nest. What a bizarre sight!

People have plenty of complaints about this place, but I can only go by what happened to me. The issues in my room were sorted out decisively, and I wasn’t looking for compensation. I know some people want blood for very little. The restaurant deal was fantastic: very tasty tomato soup to start, then steak and chips with a beer for £16. That’s incredible value, and I really enjoyed it.

I was there with my friend Fay for New Year on the 30th of December, and it was fantastic. The entertainment was amazing, the room was lovely, and both the service and food were great. Rian and Scott were wonderful, looking after us and keeping us entertained. The rest of the staff were lovely too. Great New Year. We’d go back. Thank you all, you were amazing!