Firstly, this isn't a hotel...it's a B&B. The owners/staff were lovely, but they need to take a long hard look at this place and the prices they charge. My sister and myself wanted a twin room, but on booking there were only doubles or family rooms, so we went for the family option, which was a 'dorm style' room with two doubles and a sigle lined up against one wall. The middle double was a low slung 'put you up' affair. Our room wasn't in the main building but in an annexe, so a walk outside to get to breakfast, reception, the bar. This is okay....but let people know! We were quoted £100 on booking the room, but this was reduced to £80.00. However, this is still an awful lot for the quality of the room and breakfast compared to a national chain such as Premier or Holiday Inns (which would be cheaper and cleaner) We selected the Victoria Park because of the central location as we were attending a concert in the town centre. The room was chilly on arrival and the radiator in the bathroom only ever heated up at the very bottom. We thought of having a bath to warm up, but after running the tap for while realised it was going to take at least 20 minutes to fill up from the trickle and we just didn't have the time. To give the staff their due, a heater was requested and this was in our room for our late night return. The beds were comfortable (we slept in the 'proper' double' and the single) but the room was really basic with cheap bedcovers, curtains and flat pack furniture. The bathroom was spotless in terms of cleanliness of bath, basin and loo, but the carpet (who still has carpets in bathrooms....particularly with so many peoples wet feet passing through!) was filthy as was the carpet in the bedroom. Not just general grubbiness, but big black stains. Uggh! The upholstered chair was also badly stained on the seat (we put a towel on it before sitting down) To be honest.....it was tatty and down market. I stay in many hotels of all types and price ranges in the course of my work, both overseas and in the UK and this was an example of doing things as basically as possible without thought or anyattention to comfort or style. What a pity, as the building could be made into a fabulous 'cool' boutique hotel. The breakfast was cheap and cramped with what were obviously very economical ingredients (no locally made butchers sausages or organic farmers eggs here, just cereal filled tasteless things) Salty dry bacon, overcooked egg with hard yolk and doorstep toast (selection of local bakery bread....granery? wholemeal? Certainly not!) Little plastic containers of marmalade which were devoid of any orange taste or texture. No, this place is not up to standard, which is a pity as it is is run by lovely people who were eager to be helpful. If I visit Leamington Spa again, I certainly wont be returning here.
- Hotel Victoria Park