Helix Hotel

The Wi-Fi was excellent, and the shower was hot and powerful. The friendly receptionist showed me to my ground-floor room after I called the number to be let in. She was great, but I wouldn't stay again because the mattress was so lumpy and springy. I ended up using the duvet from the small bed and half of another duvet just to avoid feeling the lumps. For a room costing £130, I expect a mattress I can sleep on. There was no car park, just street parking and a shop car park around the corner. The hotel looked very run down. There was no fan, hair dryer, evening food, breakfast or bar, and there was no blind in the shower room. The curtains let the sunrise in, so I woke early. The view from the window wasn't scenic either, as the photo shows. Shops in the small town centre are nearby, with a few restaurants within a 15-minute walk.

I went to look at the hotel before paying for a double room. It looked nothing like the online pictures: there were wooden boards up, the place was very run down, and the area seemed awful. I turned around and left without staying. Absolutely disgraceful.

At 5 am, two people with needles in their arms woke me up. When I went to ask them to keep it down, one woman chased me with a needle that had just been in her arm. I highly recommend that people do not go.

Our company put us up at the Helix for the second time, and we love staying here. The restaurant serves generous portions made with fresh ingredients, and the breakfast is phenomenal. If you can't have a cooked breakfast or the continental because of time, they can make excellent breakfast rolls to take away. The staff are helpful and friendly, and know how to make you feel welcome and comfortable. Would recommend.