Clarence Court

The bedding in our guest room was filthy and appeared to have been used before. The sheets, pillowcases and duvet cover were creased, covered in fluff and had human hair on them. We’d asked in advance for feather-free bedding and were told at check-in that this had been arranged, but the pillows were feather. The feather-free duvet was stained, dirty and smelly, and staff didn’t know when it had last been washed. The sealed replacement bedding we were given was clean and ironed, which made it clear the original set had been used. There seemed to be just one staff member on duty, covering management, the bar and general tasks. Reception was shut when we arrived, so we had to ring a bell and then look in the basement bar for someone. The basement bar and restaurant played loud pub music and TV, and the menu was mostly precooked pub food. It was so late that we stayed, but if we’d arrived earlier, we would have gone to another hotel in Cheltenham. I can’t stress how horrible and uncomfortable it felt to stay somewhere this dirty.

They made us very comfortable, especially as I was eight months pregnant. The staff upgraded us to the Wellesley suite, and when I wasn’t feeling well the next morning, they let us stay past check-in without an extra charge. The room was clean and nicely decorated, and the hospitality was incredible. I’d highly recommend the hotel. There’s parking available, and it’s a five-minute walk to the town centre.

The staff were friendly, and the rooms felt modern and elegant. The linen was soft and inviting, though the bed was too hard and the pillows far too soft. One teabag each for both a night and morning felt stingy, and there was no tissue box or bathroom glass. The cocktail bar didn’t have the ingredients. Breakfast was above average, but with an extra guest it wasn’t worth £18. The car charging rate of 80p per kW is outrageous, more than motorway rapid charges. Home charging costs less than 9p off-peak and 27p per kW during the day. The hotel is profiteering unnecessarily, so I’ll think twice before returning.

The cooked breakfast was the best part of our overnight stay, easily 10/10. We also had a warm welcome, a great room, a lovely atmosphere throughout and a relaxing bar. We really enjoyed it all. 👏👏👏