The Number 11 by the Warren Collection

Clean and tidy, and a nice stay for the price. The room is small, though, and there’s no lift up to the third floor. If stairs are difficult for you, ask for a lower floor.

We paid for two nights but left after the first. The shower was the one decent thing, though it flooded the floor. Otherwise, room 1 smelled damp and had no window to air it out. It was hot and stuffy, and the little desk fan they supplied was very noisy. The bed had one of the cheapest, most uncomfortable mattresses I’ve tried to sleep on. We’d booked a deluxe triple with a sofa bed, which felt like a joke. Parking meant using some dodgy back streets beside the property, and there was nobody at reception to complain to. I can’t recommend Number 11 by the Warren Collection. Belfast must have better places to stay.

The room and location were genuinely good, but the way the stay was handled left me feeling unwelcome. I paid £237.78 for one night after using a coupon, so I expected a smoother experience. Before we could even get inside, the front door was locked and there was no staff member in sight. I rang the buzzer at least three or four times before someone answered. It seemed to ring an external person’s mobile or something. Later I was told a door code had been sent through WhatsApp before arrival, but I never got that message. That communication failure set things off on the wrong foot. At check-in, the staff member challenged me for arriving with my partner and a friend, saying she could “physically see three people” and that I’d need to pay £50 for the third. I’d called the hotel days earlier to confirm that only my partner and I would stay. I explained that our friend was just accompanying us during check-in and would leave straight afterwards. He had no bags, wasn’t staying, and wouldn’t come back. I had to repeat this over and over. It felt like an interrogation, and the whole exchange was tense and humiliating. The check-in still dragged on after that, including updating my email address even though I’d already provided it. Sending the door code ahead of time could have avoided the whole ordeal. Even afterwards I felt uneasy, having just had that standoff with the woman over nothing. When we’d only just reached the room, the same staff member knocked and told us not to make noise or smoke. We hadn’t broken any rules or done anything to suggest we might. Those are obvious expectations, already covered by common sense, the T&Cs, and signs around the building. It felt intrusive and targeted. As a younger guest travelling with people my age, I couldn’t shake the sense that I’d been judged from the start. I doubt I’d have been treated the same way if I were older. We caused no problems, but I still felt unwelcome after paying so much. The room itself was spacious, clean, and comfortable, though the shower needs redesigning. There’s no floor lip, door, or proper screen, so water goes everywhere. In nearby stays at The Warren Belfast, Vagabonds, and The Harrison, I’ve been met with hospitality, professionalism, and trust. Number 11 might look the part, but I got suspicion instead of a welcome. I likely won’t return, which is a shame given the room and location.

Room 5 was very spacious, despite comments I’d seen about the rooms being small. The beds were comfortable, and we had access to the balcony/fire exit. The bathroom was clean and modern, and breakfast suited our needs. Staff were friendly and keen to help. The WiFi was weak and unreliable in our room at times. Also, breakfast from 8-10am felt late when we were heading out first thing for a day trip. An earlier start would have helped.