ibis Portsmouth Centre

The room had a comfortable bed, but the shower room was cramped and tiny. The interior decor is quite dark, including in the rooms. At check-in, a young woman was very slow and made no eye contact with guests. I think she was Southeast Asian, and English seemed to be a second language for her, as it did for some of the staff. The bar was all right, and food quality was mixed. I had a really nice burger when I first arrived, but the £12 full English breakfast was a self-service buffet and not worth the price. The scrambled egg was dry and bland, there were no fried eggs, and the bacon was dry and lukewarm. Sausages and mushrooms were decent. Later, I ordered a toastie at the bar, but it came overdone, with black toast squashed flat.

We came to Portsmouth to see family and a production, and ended up needing to stay overnight. The atmosphere was just right, not too much or too little, and it wasn't noisy. Staff were welcoming and helpful. We were in a shared twin room with an unexpected accessible shower, which was worth its weight in gold. The room was clean and comfortable, with a TV, bedside lights, a full length mirror, a desk and chair, a small coffee table and a bench. I liked the quaint naval style of the windows, which unlatch like portholes. The beds were a bit narrow and close together, but we didn't fall out. I'd avoid putting a punchy sleepwalker next to you, or you could sleep head to toe. A fan, hairdryer and spare pillow were available, and you could ask reception for more tea, coffee, sugar or milk. Booking ahead made it good value, especially with breakfast added at booking. It was mostly self service, and I wasn't keen on the sausages. I accidentally pressed the help alarm, which I'd found behind a pillow at the back of the bed. A staff member came promptly, knocking politely and calling through the door. I hadn't realized the alarm was there, but it was reassuring to know it worked. There are lifts. I really enjoyed the night. After the visit, the photos were all tidy and tucked away on arrival.

We stayed for one night on Boxing Day and found the hotel pleasant and clean. The bedrooms are small but comfortable and tidy. We skipped breakfast and had dinner in the restaurant instead. Service was slow, but the food tasted good. We'd definitely stay again.

My colleagues and I lived at this Ibis for a couple of months. The staff were so friendly and kind, and it was a memorable stay. We accidentally left a piñata at reception under Megan Wilson, and we don't need it anymore. If anyone wants it, please take it and enjoy. Thanks again! Love x