Church Street Hotel by Belvilla near The Oval

I've stayed here many times over the past 15 years. Camberwell is improving, with a wine cafe and lots of excellent restaurants, but the hotel needs more care than it's getting. My room had an excellent bath, though the taps were literally falling apart. The radiator didn't work, but they gave me an electric one as soon as I mentioned it. The loo seat needs fixing, and the windows need a thorough clean to get rid of the mould. Dear hotel, give yourself some TLC.

The location was excellent, close to public transport and key London attractions. I stayed for a few days and found the room clean and comfortable, just right for relaxing after a long day. The staff were friendly and helpful from check-in through check-out. Great value for money.

The bed was comfortable, but the room was much more worn and dirty-feeling than I expected from the quirky, interesting look that drew me to the hotel. I usually prefer unusual places to generic hotels, but this time I wish I'd resisted that instinct. The sheets and towels were clean, though there were stains on the curtains, floor and walls, and the bathroom looked dirty, had hairs on the wall and smelled odd. The temperature kept swinging between too cold and too warm, with no comfortable middle. There was a huge crack in the window and a string left hanging above the bed where it looked like a picture was meant to be. The room needs a good scrub, fresh carpets and paint. We also had a strange visit from a staff member checking whether the TV worked.

For London, the rooms are pretty cheap, and the fresh, clean linen was as expected. L'Occitane shampoo and soap were a nice touch. The road nearby is busy, but it didn't bother me. The automated entry worked well when a change of plans meant I arrived late, though you do need to sign up on WhatsApp and get the codes in advance. The Mexican theme is still there and looks good, though it could use a little TLC. The bar shown on the website has closed under the new management. Tea and coffee are in the restaurant area, not the room, and breakfast is a little sparse, but there are plenty of other options nearby. It's a functional hotel. It's not on the tube, but the 176 bus goes straight to Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road. I suspect it was even better under the previous management.