Barrington Lodge

We had to be up at 5am for an early flight, and it was late, we were ill and tired, so we stayed the one night despite how bad the room was. The nearby family was very noisy, with shouting and children laughing or crying. We don’t know if they were the owners. The room supposedly had no working TV, which didn’t bother us, but that turned out to be the least of it. It was old and worn, with dirty upholstered chairs, a sloping table, broken drawers and a dirty kettle area. There was some kind of fluid on the walls. The main light was hanging by a couple of broken wires, and the pillows looked dirty. They were dirty, but I couldn’t bring myself to inspect them closely. The bathroom seemed as though it had never been cleaned and smelled awful. My ten-second shower in the morning was enough, and I found someone else’s hair in a big knot inside my folded bath towel. The building is in the middle of an estate, and the reception was dishevelled, dirty, dated and far too hot. This was the filthiest hotel room I’ve ever had to enter. Please don’t stay here. It’s one of the worst experiences I’ve had in 60 years.

Stayed one night before heading to Gatwick the next morning. The shower pressure was poor and the sink didn’t drain properly, but it was a good place overall. I didn’t have much interaction with the service, so no complaints there.

We arrived easily after a late flight, about a 15-minute drive from Gatwick, and the entry instructions worked fine. The room was perfectly okay and the bed was really comfortable, though the place could use some care. It was peaceful and we had a very relaxed night. We appreciated the coffee station and two bottles of water. The building is beautiful, with the car park downstairs. Good value for the price.

The warm room, clean bedding and location suited us, and I only expected basic accommodation for the price. Still, several things made the stay unpleasant. The fire door was propped open when we arrived and during our stay, which alarmed me. The room had been sprayed so heavily with air freshener that it was overpowering. Overnight, once the smell faded, it seemed clear it had been used to cover a smoking smell. The main surfaces and bedding were clean, but there was dirt and dust around the skirting boards, bed, curtains and walls, as if those areas hadn’t been cleaned for a very long time, if ever. There were also hairs on the small bathroom ledge, damaged walls and broken light fittings. I can’t recommend it.