Hotel Royal

Breakfast was good, wide selection, bright airy space, though facing the road so with associated noise.

On our first night we returned at 22.30 from dinner & fancied a nightcap the bar - it was closed although the night reception staff agreed to serve us a drink ‘as long as it was a simple beer or wine’. Went to room after to find was very hot & a/c seemed to be blowing hot air. Night reception staff said they’d try to reset and to try again after 10 mins. We turned it off & opened the windows to cool room as much as poss. After 10 mins tried a/c but was still hot. Night reception brought up mobile ‘swamp cooler’ & sent a man to set it up. He charged in in a very annoyed manner shouting that he was not God & how could we expect a/c to be fixed at nearly midnight. Why didn’t we just open the window? I told him we had just closed them again in order to retry a/c as recommended. I asked his name - Anton. He muttered on as he set up the machine. Night reception had told us no spare room but this guy chucked a key at me & said there was an empty room if I wanted to look. I couldn’t find the room & returned to our room where he seemed to have calmed down a little & machine was working (tho outlet pipes meant door & blind had to stay open) He then showed me alternative outside ground floor room - it had no a/c at all & again he said just leave door open. Not acceptable. Bad night sleep due to noisy machine & too light in am. In am I complained to reception staff about Anton only to be told he was the owner of the hotel. I was appalled. Reception staff offered another room that was not yet ready but we went to look. Tried the a/c, was blowing hot air. Told reception who went to check system only to find that someone had put the temp up! Once turned down all a/c worked. We stayed in room 205 but didn’t feel welcome nor particularly enjoyed our £140 per night stay. Pleased to leave. Hotel seems geared to coach/tour parties. Also only x 1 pillow per person provided. I asked for another.