White Lodge

The room didn't match what was shown. There was a tiny heater behind the sofa because the radiators weren't working, and the socket it was plugged into was damaged and burnt, which looked like a serious fire hazard. The TV was broken, and there was building work outside the room. When we raised those issues, an owner rudely told us to check out and leave. We were there for less than two hours and were asked to leave four times. He came across as arrogant, and it felt like he wanted to rent the room to someone else that night. The photos I took show damage, and for a place meant to be a 4 star hotel, I'd say it doesn't even rate 2 stars. We left and booked a guest house that was much nicer, with friendly owners who made us feel welcome and did everything they could for us. I wouldn't recommend White Lodge Hotel to anyone. It was shocking and poor, and I left angry. I don't know how they're still in business.

The room was cramped with nowhere to put our bags, and the bed linen looked unclean. There was dirty bedding on the stairs too, and the sheets in our room seemed to have been reused from the previous guest. My wife and I had booked four nights but left after just one. Jenny, the owner, promised a refund, but more than six months later we still haven't received it, and she doesn't answer or return my calls.

We had to cut our stay short after the manager or owner made a fuss about a guest whose friend was trying to help him get back to his room. The poor guy had clearly had too much to drink, and it was late. We've all been there, and the complete lack of empathy and professionalism was disgraceful, all because his friend wasn't staying at the hotel. As a mother, my heart aches thinking what might have happened if his friend had left him while the manager was causing a scene.

I felt singled out and unwelcome. I was the only clearly Black guest at the hotel, and the day after I arrived, a shirtless, bald man who looked out of shape questioned me for about five minutes about what I was doing there. At first I couldn't tell if he worked there or lived there. I would have removed this review if he'd just been a tenant, but he turned out to be connected to the hotel and is probably the owner's husband. The next day, white members of my family came to collect a phone I'd mistakenly kept after being given it for safekeeping. The same man let them in without asking them anything. The TV in my room was broken, and there were only two power outlets in the whole room. In my opinion, £357 for two nights was a complete ripoff given the conditions and service. If you're a person of colour, or just expect basic hospitality and professionalism, I'd strongly recommend avoiding this hotel.