Melville Hotel - London, United Kingdom 

An awful experience
Posted: Sun, Jun 08 2008
I stayed in this hotel a few years ago now but the experience will stay with me for a lifetime. I booked a double room with en-suite for the Albion House Hotel also on Argyle Square. When we arrived at the hotel a sign on the door instructed as to cross the square to the Melville Hotel to check in. During the check in process, I was asked to pay in advance for the room and my credit card disappeared to a back room for about 10 minutes which was worrying. We were handed a key and told our room was on the first floor so we made for the door to head back over to the Albion House hotel. Imagine my surprise when the receptionist started to laugh and told us that we were staying in this hotel, not the Albion. I was slightly puzzled about the change of hotel but was informed that the Albion had no spare rooms. I had booked the hotel online over a month in advance so couldn't quite understand why my booking was accepted if there was no room there. We made our way up the stairs to the first floor to discover the room from hell. The double bed took up the whole room and I couldn't even open my suitcase fully to unpack. The cupboard door was hanging off it's hinges but you couldn't fully open the door anyway due to the bed being in the way. The TV only tuned into BBC2 but the picture was green and fuzzy. The decor was disgusting, old and in need of a total revamp. The room was so small that two people couldn't stand in the room without touching. And where was the en-suite? The 'en-suite' was just outside the door and serviced four other rooms as well. There was no toilet paper in the WC and the shower was disgusting & only provided cold water. We didn't bother with the complimentary breakfast as you had to cross the square to another hotel to sample it. Early on a November morning with the traditional English rain, it's the last thing you want to do. The staff were rude when I complained about the standard of the room. It then became very obvious why I was charged for my stay before I had seen the room. Due to finances we had no choice but to stay in this awful room for the full three nights we had booked.

A bargain hotel
Posted: Wed, Dec 19 2007
I was really worried when I read these reviews after I had booked myself and my parents into this hotel so we went there expecting the worse, but it was absolutley fine! It was clean and newly decorated with fully functioning locks on all bedroom and bathroom doors. The staff were friendly and helpful and although breakfast is basic, I think it's an added bonus for the price. The only criticism we had were that the rooms and the beds were quite small. I would recommend this hotel for anyone who needs somewhere cheap and cheerful to rest their head for a night or two.

Dishonest, terrible service
Posted: Fri, Oct 26 2007
I booked Albion House but you have to check-in at Melville Hotel which is 1 minute walk. I booked a twin en-suite room for two nights at Albion House and the guy at the reception of Melville Hotel asked me to pay all my room charge first, which I did. Then he showed me to Albion House. On the way, he told me that tomorrow I have to move to another room. He said he has given me a bigger room. The way he said that as if he has done a big favour for me! I stayed two nights only but have to change room every night. I felt this hotel very dishonest. I made reservation in July, if you cannot accommodate my request for a room for two nights, you can reject my booking but they confirmed my booking. I felt they are dishonest because the guy at reception never mentioned to me that I have to change room before I paid my room charge. If I knew that, there were >40 hotels in that district, I maybe able to find another hotel. It was so troublesome as I have to pack and unpack. Besides, no bath soap and shampoo provided in the room, only a tiny piece of soap. The alarm in the room is not working. Breakfast is very simple, they give you 2 slices of white bread. On the counter, there is boiled egg, two kinds of cereal, orange juice or apple juice, some canned fruit, coffee or tea. I strongly suggest you do not stay in this hotel or other hotel under this group which is Excelsior Hotel and Melville Hotel.