Fownes Hotel - Worcester, United Kingdom     

Stating with the positives - the location is pretty convenient, and the receptionists that dealt with us couldn't have been nicer. They also allowed us to have drinks after the bar was closed in a pretty courtyard just through reception which was good. Finally, the (second) room that we were given after complaining was at least a good size, if still rather shabby particularly in the bathroom (badly fitting and ancient lino, shower head bizarrely placed as if for a midget, fag burn in the dirty net curtains...) - it was also very stuffy and hot due to lack of aircon. However... there are many more negatives. The whole hotel looked shabby and severely in need of a refurb. The first room we were put into was appalling - miniscule, airless, filthy (dust on all the surfaces, stained and burnt carpet and cracked lino), all accessorised with knackered old junk-shop furniture and right next to the road - it made me wheeze just being in there for 5 minutes. And they had the gall to charge ?90 a night for it! So we were moved by the receptionist and as I said above, this second room was a bit better, but still nowhere near the standard you'd expect of even a 3-star hotel. The cooked breakfast buffet was also pretty nasty and the staff who were in the dining room each morning were some of the most unprofessional I've seen in a hotel - giggling teenagers talking loudly about waxing people's eyebrows off with sellotape amongst other things, and consequently failing to give any thought to offering tea and coffee or toast, which weren't available at the buffet, to paying customers. Basically, if they were charging sub-Travelodge prices, you'd be happy with sub-Travelodge accommodation and service (bar the receptionists). However frankly, at these prices (almost the same as the fantastic Stagg Inn at Kington at which we had stayed 2 weeks previously - only half an hour down the road!), I would find somewhere else to stay instead.

I only stayed for one night at ?60 for the room, when the nearby Travelodge [a chain of basic hotels] wanted to charge ?55, and it was a very reasonable price to pay for what I got. The room was clean, the service friendly, and the breakfast very reasonable, at least by English standards. My minor quibbles are: 1) Room service is only available during mealtimes, which is a little useless! Only sandwiches can be ordered at any time, but when I tried at 4pm on a Saturday I was told there wouldn't be any "on the premises" until 5pm; 2) No free wifi, although there is a T-Mobile-run service advertised in the room, which I decided not to use; 3) The shower head is not detachable or otherwise adjustable, and set much lower than the average. I'm only 5'9" (173cm) in height myself, and I almost banged my head against it. Overall, though, this seems to be a good hotel, at least for basic stays, and especially at the discount I received.