Brook Red Lion Hotel - Colchester

Mike C

I booked a room, breakfast and dinner several weeks in advance, but when I arrived I was told they don't do dinners! I was advised to go and look for one nearby. Their website is out of date, but nobody has bothered to change it! There is no parking, even for offloading. I had to park ten minutes walk away in the Osborne Street NCP and wheel my suitcase uphill to the hotel and then up three flights of stairs. I'm nearly 72, but fortunately still reasonably fit. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who isn't. I ordered a pot of coffee at breakfast, expecting fresh coffee, not bog-standard instant coffee in a pot! There was meant to be a hairdryer, but there was none to be seen after I had a shower. The back of the bath taps had not been cleaned for months/years (see photo). I showed the photo at Reception, but did I get an apology? Not impressed.

Mark R

If you are planning a two nights stay in Colchester and this is the only place you can afford then I would suggest you do not bother to book a hotel come to Colchester. The town is beautiful full of history. Get yourself arrested and have a free night in custody The bed will be better. The custody staff are more polite and to be quite honest the food will be better.||Whilst one acknowledges, this is a very old building soaked in history I’m afraid thats it’s only benefit||It’s Dirty with lack of care from staff|There were extra charges expected in this dog friendly hotel that went from free to wanting £15 per night for a registered disabled persons working dog. ||Location excellent |Everything else poor ||Cracked sinks |Filth everywhere |Shabby paint |Wallpaper falling off |Free WiFi - The receptionist was unable to link my phone to it after many attempts by me same error incorrect password ||Have a walk round the reception and lounge discarded food in lounge fire place cobwebs and dead bugs can be found everywhere ||Truly was grim |There was a homeless person in a sleeping bag and he looked more comfortable than me ||AVOID

Sanoor A

It’s horrible, awful place to stay. I woundnt call it hotel it more like piggery. It’s very filthy room full of USED condoms. VERY noisy and scary place. Shower it very cold n water is very slow bed is slanted. Sleep in a car better than washing your money in it. Staff still using papers very old and they’re not friendly probably because low class people they deal with.

Tracey T

To be fair this hotel has very helpful staff who booked us cabs to where we wanted to go. However, the let downs were having to park in the very full NCP car park which was definately not just 5 minutes away. Having to walk with luggage across town was not easy! There isnt a lift to rooms so struggled with the stairs and luggage. The rooms were on a slope which was probably due to the age of the building but not good for anyone a little unsteady on their feet. The mattress and pillows were poor quality, very uncomfortable and the nightclub opposite was not mentioned on booking and did keep us awake until the early hours.|The bathroom had a strong smell of stagnant water and the sink and shower had a job empting.|When the toilet was flushed it threatened to over flow quite a few times. The whole of the main sleeping area was dusty and without fresh air as the window would only open about an inch!|All a big shame, this is a beautiful historic building that needs some tlc to make it amazing again..

A.k Ku

The shower room is terrible. The shower head is like a child peeing. It is completely powerless and the water temperature is difficult to adjust. One part is too hot and the other part is too cold. Moreover, the alarm goes off at 6 am. It is very, very disturbing. Please think carefully when booking, but the price is really affordable.

Matt

Great location with cheap parking a 5m walk (Osbourne street ncp)
Breakfast was nice but all cheapest bulk bought ingredients.
Room was basic and in dire need of TLC, and a fan. I get that it's an old Tudor building but the paintwork was tired with so many marks and scratches. The bathroom was cramped and unpleasant. The room was sweltering and just needed something to help air flow. I would never expect AC in an old building but a fan would be amazing.

Staff were pleasant and helpful but as it is, it's over priced. You purely pay for the location. Bed was solid too, like rock hard

Mary C

This hotel was pure filth.The room was tiny,the mattress had blood and urine stains on it,like ot was pulled from a skip.|It wasnt fit for human habitation.|Curtains were ripped,windows wouldn’t close,they were rotten,I was told they were 600 years old?|Carpet was stained.|A kettle was there but no other tea or coffee provide|Bath had cracks and mold in it.|It’s right in the centre of the town and no double glazing so you’ll either freeze or be kept awake all night by the local drinkers.|When we got there we asked if they had a better get room,they showed us one on the top floor,that was no bigger and just as dirty. |Staff were rude and beligerent.|I took photos and asked booking.com to step in.They did nothing.|No refund,no sorry from the hotel.|I even showed them the mattress.|They don’t care,they just want your money.|We left as we couldn’t stand the thought of lying on that bed.|Avoid this hotel like the plague.|I would have given zero stars but no function for that.

Peter Hill

Stayed at this hotel after some surge pricing at a better known chain made it unaffordable. The hotel is a "character" hotel, but has a truly excellent location in the centre of Colchester's High Street and is remarkably close to the main historic attractions of Central Colchester. The staff were also fantastically friendly and really went the extra mile in trying to help us and make the stay enjoyable.

But.... the room! I'd forgive a lot of things since it is such an old and historic building (such as uneven floors and the odd squeaky floorboard), but some things are just too much. Like:
- The mattress on the bed was appalling. You could feel the individual springs whilst you tried to sleep.
- The TV only seemed to connect to random stations, but it listed everything.
- The heating had 2 settings: off and volcano.
- The window would not close or open properly.
- The shower was like trying to wash under a dripping tap and the bathroom in general seemed to need a general upgrade. (Including a thorough, deep clean)

I wish I could give this hotel a higher score. The staff were a genuine delight and the location was fantastic. It was just so badly let down by the tired and uncomfortable room.