Premier Inn Newhaven

The reception staff, Michaela and Jake, were so friendly and lovely with our autistic son, who was overexcited because it was his birthday. My partner had forgotten to mention her disability when booking, but they switched us to a ground-floor room. It was clean, and the beds were comfortable. For the price, I really can't complain. Breakfast was the one weak spot. The food was fine, but the girl working in the restaurant seemed to be on her own. She did a great job.

The free breakfast was a nice bonus from a special email offer, and even though we'd seen some poor reviews, we had good food and service at the Brewer's Fayre. I'll review that separately. I'd stay here again, and the Premier Plus room only cost a few pounds more, so it felt worthwhile. It's a handy spot for the ferry port, with a Sainsbury's and fuel station within walking distance. I had a Premier Plus room for the first time, and it was very good, with comfy chairs, a coffee machine, a mini fridge with water and upgraded toiletries. Just note that the rooms are upstairs. There was plenty of free parking, once you register at the hotel. The general cleaning was good, but a deeper clean would help around the bath taps and the shower screen strip, which were really black. The spare pillows looked mouldy or dirty, so I couldn't use them. I reported that in the morning. The TV said it had a weak signal and wouldn't work at night, though it was fine the next morning. It was too late to sort those issues out when I found them, and pillows should probably be checked weekly.

It's handy for the ferry because it's so close, but I doubt we'll come back. The bathroom was dated and really grubby, and the window was dirty and covered in mold. For two people, we were given just one large towel and one small one, which wasn't good.

The room was clean and comfortable, and I had a very pleasant stay while visiting for the Brighton match and walking in the South Downs. It's about a 10-minute walk from the train station, with regular buses into Brighton and further afield. Rain caused a TV problem on the first night, but the friendly, efficient staff gave us a WiFi code and free breakfast to make up for it. I'd definitely stay here again when I'm in the area.