Jonas Hotel

For the price, it did the job as somewhere to crash after a gig, but I wouldn’t want to stay several nights. The mattress was just firm furniture foam and really uncomfortable, and the bed looked about four feet wide, somewhere between a single and a double. More than one person would struggle to get comfortable. It also felt a bit like a private room in a youth hostel, without the amenities. It was hot enough that I had to leave the window open, and the student accommodation nearby meant noise carried through all night. I needed to sleep even if I was only using it as a crash pad. The room had a small basic TV, a desk with an Ethernet port I wish I’d known about beforehand, and a basic chair with a worn-in butt-shaped mark. WiFi was fast, which mattered because my signal on both 3 and EE was poor. You have to log back in repeatedly, though, which could be a problem if you’re relying on WiFi with no mobile signal. Staff interactions were brief but pleasant. I skipped the free pastry and drink because I wanted to get out ASAP. It’s cheap and okay in a pinch, but the heat, noise and bed made it an uncomfortable stay.

The staff were friendly, and I liked getting a complimentary hot drink and croissant in the morning. It was really hot in the room, so bring a portable fan if you’re staying. I was glad I’d packed one. I also found a pretzel behind the mattress, which put me off. There’s an electric charging point at the Halifax Hall hotel next door, but someone had parked there, so we couldn’t use it at night.

They gave me a full refund without any questions, which is why I’ve given two stars. But after just one night I had more than 100 bed bug bites, and several days later my whole body is still itching badly. The room must have been completely infested. Please check every room so nobody else has to go through this. It’s a health hazard, and with so many severe bites I’m really hoping I won’t be left with scars.

The room was small and clean, but the double bed was pushed against the wall, making it awkward for two adults to get out. In the early hours I woke up soaked through: heavy rain was leaking from the ceiling through the smoke detector, and the bedding was drenched. They moved me to another room, but after all that disruption I couldn’t get back to sleep.