Duke Rooms Hotel

The rooms are clean and comfortable, though a little shabby, and the curtains could use attention. But the hosts are so welcoming, and the pub is full of friendly, fun people. That warm, congenial atmosphere mattered more to me than the wonky curtains. I'll come back next time I'm in London.

Room 303 was very dirty. The towels for showering were the only clean things. The toilet kept leaking and wouldn't flush, and several electrical sockets were hanging off the wall.

The main problem in room 302 was the loose plug sockets beside the bed. I had to prop up my charger to keep it connected. Otherwise, the room and bathroom were pretty clean, and the bed and pillows were exceptionally comfortable. There isn't an elevator, so pack light, though the bar staff are happy to help with luggage. The hotel is conveniently placed, about a 10-minute walk from a subway station and a regional train station, and the bar has nice drinks and food.

The location was good, and being able to leave our luggage was useful. But the stay was upsetting, especially as it was a weekend gift for my partner and I hadn't paid a cheap rate. I felt misled by the soundproofing claim. The first night, on Thursday, was manageable: I could hear loud car engines now and then, and the pub downstairs closed around 11 pm. The second night was awful. At least three drunk people in the next room talked loudly, banged doors, and came and went until 4 am. We could hear everything as if they were in our room. They ignored us when we asked them to be quiet. There was no phone number in the room to call for help. A notice with a number was outside, but I didn't take a photo and didn't feel safe leaving the building in my pajamas to find it. I was exhausted the next day, and our plans were ruined. The room needs more care. There was a lot of dust on the phone, bed frame, and bedside lamps, a large dirty mark on a side table that might have been from an electric toothbrush, very dirty bathroom corners, and mold on the window frame. The hair dryer handle was coming off the wall. The bedding was badly creased and looked as though someone else might have used it, or nobody cared about ironing it. I wondered whether rooms are cleaned after each guest, and, if so, whether anyone checks the work. We booked a room for three, for two people, hoping for a sofa and extra space. The sofa was made up for sleeping and took up most of the free floor area. There was barely anywhere for luggage, just a small open wardrobe with two hangers, probably for coats, so we had to walk around a suitcase on the floor. At checkout, we were only asked if we wanted to leave our luggage, then told bye. Nobody was polite or asked how our stay had been. The room has potential, but it needs better maintenance and cleaning. New windows might help keep pub noise out, and the soundproofing description should be corrected so guests know what to expect.