OYO The Rivenhall Hotel in Witham, Chelmsford

The owners, Shamim and Khaled, came by to check that everything was in place for our wedding the next day. That thoughtful gesture made us feel really looked after. My family and I had booked 21 rooms at the Rivenhall Hotel for November 7th to 8th, ahead of our wedding at the Rivenhall wedding venue. The hotel felt secure and was spotless, which mattered with so many relatives staying together. Mr. Iqbal at reception was attentive and professional, and helped us from check-in through check-out. It was a relaxed start to the celebrations, and we had a great stay. Thanks to the whole team. We’ll recommend you to everyone.

Work brought me to the area, so I stayed at the hotel for four nights each week over six weeks. There were a couple of small decorating issues, and the shower temperature was sometimes inconsistent. Still, the staff were friendly and accommodating, and I felt I got good value. I’d gladly stay again if I’m nearby.

I gave it a 2 after thinking about a 3. The hosts were friendly, but the place felt more like a B&B with no breakfast than a proper hotel. It looks as though a major refurbishment is underway, possibly turning it into some kind of OYO hotel. Maybe the refurbished rooms are better. Mine seemed unfinished, and I left without sleeping or eating there. The room was cold, with the heating off and no AC or electric heater. I woke up shivering and had to put on a jumper and trousers. I was in room 607, at the corner by the A14, and the traffic noise was unbearable even with earplugs. The bed itself was okay. The bathroom looked decent at first, but most of the floor tiles were cracked or lifting, the towel rail wasn’t connected, and the mismatched white units and fittings looked patched together. The room also had wall holes, missing light fittings and broken parts. The taps only dribbled, so a bath was out of the question. The shower had two controls, supposedly for on/off and hot/cold, but I had to fiddle with them for around 30 seconds before water came out. Then it was either scalding hot or nothing, so I gave up. The door worried me too. You need a key to get in, but the inside lock was lacking, the latch didn’t fit properly, and pulling or pushing hard enough seemed like it could let someone in. I took a photo to upload. There was a smart TV, but no live TV aerial or account access, so I didn’t use it. I’d been emailed the night before to say the restaurant was closed, though off-site food could be eaten there. After picking up a takeaway, I found the restaurant dark and locked. I went round to the bar and found lawn mowers and building materials there. The corridors had no lights on at night either, and getting back meant navigating the dark, stairs and two doors. Clearly there’s work going on. Make of my stay what you will.

The building has an old-fashioned charm, and they’re renovating the grounds. My room was clean, the staff were friendly, and the bathroom suite was brand new. There was a smart TV too. The price was very reasonable. Job done, I’ll be back.