Thomas James Hotel

It’s cheap and right in the town centre, which made it handy for a night out. The staff were friendly, the room was clean and the shower was good. But I booked a four poster bed and didn’t get one, the toilet flush was broken, and the bathroom door either wouldn’t shut or got wedged closed. The mattress was incredibly lumpy. Street noise came through the windows: on Friday it carried on past midnight, then traffic started before 6am. There were no blackout curtains, and checkout is at 10am. If you’re staying out late, sleep heavily and don’t mind being out by 10, it’s fine for the price. Had the room matched its description and the toilet worked, I’d probably have given it four stars.

A huge disappointment. The mattress was so soft it felt like a water bed, and the sink was blocked. I couldn’t leave the water running long because rank hair came up through the plug hole. I didn’t try breakfast and wasn’t in the mood for food after that. At weekends, extremely loud music and karaoke go on late, louder than the TV in the room. Don’t book then unless you love that noise.

We paid 47 with breakfast, while the other main Premier Inn and Travel Lodge in the centre wanted 140, so it was well worth the money and I’ll stay again. The centre is only a four-minute walk away, and a little breakfast with coffee was included. The room was small, but the bed was comfortable. The bath was a bit small for me, though deep, and the water was very, very hot. There’s no lift and the stairs are steep.

The single room was tiny, and the corridors looked a bit shabby. I had 54 steps to climb to get to it. Still, it was clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful.