City View Hotel

Arrived at 13.15hrs to be told check in is at 14.00hrs, fair enough, I went for a walk and returned to check in, my room was on the first floor up the filthiest stairs I have encountered. Thinking that cleaning was in progress, I assumed they would get vacuumed, not in this case. It had the feel and appearance of a hostel rather than a hotel as described on their website. The room they allocated to me – which I had to find myself – had not been serviced, the bed was unmade, pots everywhere. On alerting reception, the ‘housekeeper’ came to see for herself, huffing and puffing and another member of the team showed me to another room another floor up. The public hallways cluttered with linen trolleys and bins. At this time one would expect housekeeping to have finished given the check in times. I entered the room with some trepidation – and was pleasantly surprised to see clean crisp white bedding only to be spoiled by a filthy stained headboard. To say the room was basic without decent hotel provision required and expected is and understatement. The furniture was rickety, hanging a dress up the wardrobe rod fell down! Two office style chairs and a bed were the only comforts in a dingy room backing onto a train track – the sound of the DLR running every three minutes or so and the shaking of the walls and furniture made for a restless stay. The TV, on the fridge, had the worse reception – hard to believe with two sky dishes as my room view! No tea/coffee tray or cups, why then, would I need the kettle (just as well, wires hanging out of plug and certainly not PACT tested). No desk/dressing table to sit at. The room was exceptionally hot but no thermostat to turn down the heat – no way was I going to turn on the fan, the dust gathered would have blocked my nasal passages. The showerhead and taps were a disgusting mess, although the bath and had basin were clean. The WC WILL NOT CLEAN ITSELF if you just squeeze toilet duck around the rim and leave it. Dubious stains on the shower curtain. Basic housekeeping is not what these people are good at. There was no lampshade on the ceiling light so a 100watt bulb glaring out – bad move, one can see all the dust gathered in the corners, the toe nail clippings from previous guests. An absolute disgrace. I should have complained but for a quiet life and the fact the location was perfect I stuck it out. Breakfast: Such as it was – God – I sound like a grumpy old lady, but as a regular traveller to London this has to be my worse experience ever. Four large tables crushed together, sharing with random guests. Dirty linen, dirty cruet. Juice, palatable, no choice – just baked beans, snotty eggs, margarine soaked thin toast, and two jams and er, well, that was it. On asking the surly ‘waitress’ if there was any kind of meats, i.e. bacon, sausages or even mushrooms, I was met with a stern NO. Tea was served with tea bag floating in cup and communal milk. I’d lost my appetite so headed off to pack and get out of there asap.

10

Diane G.