Cambridge House Hotel - Cambridge

EVA S.

I booked a room for my cousin and his wife who would be visiting from Germany (I live nearby, but don't have space to put up guests). They were attracted to the hotel because of its convenient location, and a charming photograph of one of the rooms on their website. N.B. I am writing about the Cambridge House Hotel in Tenison Road, Cambridge, UK (not to be confused with other hotels with similar names elsewhere).| My cousins weren't sure how to pay using Euros, so I prepaid everything for them in £ sterling (it was not cheap), and they repaid me in cash. Almost everything at this hotel is automated, but there was an employee there when we all arrived – who wouldn't allow us access to the room without payment of a further £50, as "damage deposit". This already made me uneasy, but I paid up. We were then led to the room, which wasn't anything like the one in the picture, not nearly as nice.| We had booked for three nights. The first two went well enough, but at about 4 am on their last night, my cousins were woken by the sound of rushing water: the cistern in the tiny bathroom had snapped, or burst and sprung a leak, or something while they were sleeping, and water was gushing down, and through, spilling out of the bathroom into the bedroom. The wife of the couple started mopping up with towels, paper handkerchiefs and anything she could lay her hands on, while her husband tried phoning the manager. No reply. (N.B. the website says the hotel staff are available 24/7, but there was no sign of this at the time). It took THREE HOURS before anyone arrived to take over. My cousins checked out shortly afterwards.| My cousins then asked for a refund for the last night, to which the hotel agreed. Of course, as I had paid in the first place, it fell to my lot to arrange this, which was difficult as I myself was about to go away. But I communicated with the hotel with texts going back and forth from my other destination. Finally, they notified me that the money had gone into my account, "but [would] take a few days to clear". It never cleared and I am convinced it was never paid. Not only did we not get the compensation, I never even got my £50 "damage deposit" back. I have written to and texted the hotel several times since, and never got a reply: hence this review, which I warned them I would write if they didn't sort out the refund.| I consider this hotel a fly-by-night operation, charging market prices for a shoestring DIY service: fine if all goes well, appalling if anything goes wrong. The complete automation of everything and absence of human beings on the premises is geared for young people; anyone older could struggle.| In addition, the room furnishings looked as if they had been thrown together in a cost-cutting exercise: the "air-conditioning unit", for example, "vented" to the outside via a big jagged hole in the plaster and brickwork that had never been made good.|I am still furious with the hotel owners (whoever they are – it's not at all clear!) – and would urge other visitors to steer clear of this shoddy destination.

George P.

The room itself was OK and fairly clean, but the bathroom was tiny. That's not the real problem though. The customer service was appalling. A "virtual key" had to be provided, and it didn't work. Had to chase up to get it sorted. Also, the way the deposit was taken felt like such a scam with apps "glitching" or so they say. Will keep an eye on the refund to make sure it gets returned properly. Avoid.

graeme F.

Bed was comfortable, the room,though small, was nice,clean and warm.The shower was great but the toilet was a little too close to the door and the trip to the kitchen and back every time I wanted a tea or coffee was a pain. All in all it filled it's purpose for some where cheap to stay near the station and bus stops. (I had an appointment at Papworth Hospital).Thanks G.

Kylie M.

I wouldn't even give this 1 star. AVOID AVOID AVOID ....really bad communication, tried to book via booking.com the hotel kept saying they couldn't take payment so I had to pay them directly. I then had some questions and tried to call them and every time there was no answer either via phone or email. I started to become suspicious at this point and something didn't feel right. After numerous attempts, my husband decided to call on his phone and they answered!!!! I then questioned our booking and they said our room we had booked had gone and they only had a budget room left which we didn't want. So I asked for a refund. I eventually got an email to say they will refund our room rate and nearly 2 weeks on and still no refund. SCAMMERS!!! Absolutely appalling customer service.

Tom D.

This Hotel is the most disappointing that I've ever stayed in.
I was wrongly accused of staining a bed and urinating on it-both UNTRUE and without explanation or proof. If it will do this to me, it is my belief that it can do it to you.
The hotel unjustly deducted £50 from my bank
account without notice despite sending a photo of the bed cover which seemed unmarked.
I am now having to go to court to get justice, as well as to the Press and Office of Tourism to warn the Public.
I would ADVISE you to avoid the Hotel and I will be be posting a further notice on Internet to alert the Public.

Florence T.

Really nice sized room in a good location. An easy walk to the train station and into the main town centre. Very clean and a smooth check in and out

Will S.

Great location only 5 minutes from the train station and about a 15/20 minute walk from the city centre.

Access is all done on codes which worked fine so didn’t actually see or speak to anyone involved with the hotel.

Room was fine and clean, nothing spectacular but had all the facilities needed and was well priced.

Mark E. A.

Easy to find near the station in a refitted old terrace. Clean rooms, comfy enough bed and nice hot shower, and literally a 'room only' business to keep the base price low (for Cambridge!) - ie hot water machine, coffee/teabags/paper cups and a snack vending machine in the shared kitchen though not in the actual rooms (there were hardwired hairdryers though). I added an extra night at last minute due to weather so I had to check out and check in again later into a second room but the door codes worked ok once I had done both online pre check-ins. You can buy a code for a combi locked little cupboard if you need to in such a situation. Heating was not working in one room but nice and toasty in the other, company responded by message the next morning about the heating to say they'd send someone to fix it.