Silurian Hotel

A basic hotel at a fair price for one night. It’s very central, with lots of bars and places to eat nearby, and the staff were pleasant. Our room was clean. There’s a nightclub next door and we could hear a little music, but it didn’t really bother us. We didn’t stay for breakfast, so I can’t comment on it, though it was priced at £11.

The rooms are spacious, the beds are comfortable, and the staff were helpful while we were there. This was my second stay, though the Mojo club underneath kept me awake until 4:30am. Earplugs are a good idea. I know the club noise is outside the hotel’s control, but a warning would’ve let me bring some. Since leaving, I’ve spent a week trying to reach the hotel about a lost item. Nobody answers the phone, the voicemail is full, and I can’t find an email address, so I haven’t been able to get through.

The location is excellent, right in the city centre and a two minute walk from Newport train station. My room was generous in size, with the accessible toilet and bathroom handrails I’d asked for. The mattress was very comfortable, so I slept easily, except on Friday night when the club noise kept me up until 4am. The club was right outside my window, and I later found the outer sash window was open and couldn’t be closed. The hotel also has a loose emergency call button beside the bed, and one foot came off the toilet handrail when I tried to lift it. Housekeeping hadn’t put a protective sheet over the mattress, so I had to sleep directly on it. The front desk wasn’t always staffed when I needed help, although most staff I met were friendly and polite. There was also carpet peeling up on the main stairs, which seemed like a serious trip hazard.

I got a bad feeling about this place from the start. It felt odd and not very nice, though not outright horrible. Then we were told someone had died on our floor and that we should go around the room, but nobody explained how. We ended up walking right past and smelling a body that had been dead for a day before it was found. I understand the hotel couldn’t control what happened, but some clear directions to avoid the area would’ve helped. Locals also said they weren’t surprised a body was found there and called it practically a halfway house. I probably wouldn’t stay here.