The Oakland Hotel

The Oakland Hotel was well situated for us as we were attending a family party and the venue was in walking distance. The staff were very helpful and attentive and we couldn’t fault them. The room, a “premium double”, was, on the whole, clean and a good size. The bed was comfortable and clean. The bathroom was clean. The rooms were warm. There was a large wardrobe with some hangers and there was a dressing table with a hairdryer. There was a tv in the room with free view. The cooked breakfast was hot, nicely presented, cooked to order and was tasty. There was a good range of cereals and plenty of fruit juice. Coffee was instant and there was plenty of on tap hot water. The bar had a good range of beers and spirits which were well priced.

The whole place is tired and old and the lower floor including the pub area and the first floor smelt of cigarette smoke. The carpets were old and felt dirty. The stair well was dark and poorly lit. The main door to the residential area had no lock and the reception was not manned for much of the time, particularly in the evenings, when anyone could walk in and upstairs. In the evenings it felt a little unsafe and although there were cameras on each floor the monitors were not manned. The first floor was occupied by long term residents and it was clear that they were smoking on this floor. All short term guests were accommodated on the top floor and there was no lift. The corridors smelled and they tried to mask this with “plug-in” air fresheners. The decor although refreshed at some point was poor. Rooms were tired with old decor and fixtures and fittings, even in the premium double, it was the same. Curtains had holes in them. Although there were plenty of lights in the room they were dimly lit. It was noisy at night as the hotel is situated in the centre of town and there were events in the bar that went on til midnight. They were smoking in the bar in a room just off the main bar area. Parking is very limited behind the hotel as it is shared with local residents. Other parking is a 5 minute walk away in a public car park.