Clift Guest House

We were exhausted after crossing the country and arrived in Bristol to a friendly man who suddenly turned sour. He sent us to our room to find the keys on the table, but they weren't there. Within five minutes he was accusing us of taking keys we'd never had, questioning us and threatening to cancel the booking and put us out on the street after midnight. It was really upsetting. Maybe it's an option if you need a cheap place and don't mind being talked down to.

I came in to find police and paramedics there, and things went downhill from that point. The stairs aren't lit, and the emergency lighting doesn't work, which is a health and safety concern. There was no Wi-Fi password and no TV remote, so all we really had was a bed. I booked two nights, but I'll stay one and ask for a refund. Absolutely awful place.

The host was friendly, and I have no complaints about him. The room itself was good, though we felt it should have cost less. We booked a triple room with a shared bathroom; the bathroom was fine, but the shower was old and took a while to get hot. The place is a bit dated, although it has a kitchen and complimentary tea and coffee in the rooms. It's a long way from the city centre, but close to the Ashton Estates, and handy for the Bristol Balloon Festival, about a 20-30 minute walk from the hostel.

Tea, coffee and biscuits were provided, and the location worked well for us. The room was tidy and clean, with fresh bedding, and it was just as described. The bathroom is shared and opposite the room, which seems fair for the low price. The place is dated, but it's cheap, cheerful, clean and felt safe. Staff were lovely, always smiling when we saw them and happy to help. I really don't get all the negative reviews. We had no complaints and would come back for a no-frills overnight stop.