Wetherspoon, known for its affordable pints, has now been recognised for its budget hotel rooms. A Which? survey of 8,000 consumers ranked Wetherspoon Hotels as the best hotel chain in Britain, tying with Premier Inn for the top spot.
The study evaluated 34 hotel chains on cleanliness, comfort, service and value. Wetherspoon received praise for its 'huge stylish rooms' and value for money, with stays starting from £39 a night. However, it fell short on cleanliness and communal areas, receiving only three stars in those categories.
Premier Inn, which had topped the list for the past four years, was marked down for facilities in shared spaces and food and drink options, but scored well on 'good quality' and 'competitive price'. Hilton Garden Inn, Radisson Blu Edwardian and Hilton Hampton also made the top five.
At the other end of the scale, Britannia was ranked the worst hotel chain for the seventh consecutive year, with 31% of guests rating it poor for cleanliness. A Which? investigator reported 'damp smells' and a 'grubby' bathtub at the Britannia Lodge in Gatwick, and an ultraviolet light revealed stains on bed sheets and walls not visible to the naked eye.
EasyHotel and Ibis Budget also fared poorly. EasyHotel's chief executive Guy Parsons disputed the findings, stating that Which? 'rehash criticisms of our hotel that has changed beyond all recognition' and that their rooms, starting at £19.99 a night, represent 'style, comfort, value and affordable city centre access'.
