Tom Parker Bowles tests the budget hotel chain that just beat Premier Inn in Which? rankings, finding ‘astonishing value’ at £58 per night despite some surprising flaws
Robin Cottle Assistant Editor Trendswatch
15:57, 11 Jan 2026
The Hatchet Inn in Newbury, Berkshire(Image: Wetherspoon Hotels)
Queen Camilla’s son has experienced some of Britain’s most swanky hotels, but now he’s put a Wetherspoon establishment to the test.
The budget pub chain has been a firm favourite among millions of Brits for years, and has recently broadened its offering to include 56 hotels dotted around the UK.
Wetherspoon has just overtaken Premier Inn in a Which? survey of chain hotels, with the consumer watchdog now hailing it as offering “great value” accommodation.
Following such high praise, food writer Tom Parker Bowles – one of Queen Camilla’s two children – decided to experience a Wetherspoon hotel first-hand during a stay at The Hatchet Inn in Newbury, Berkshire, reports the Express.
Despite confessing he’s usually a “five star bore”, Tom admitted he was genuinely impressed by what £58 per night delivered.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he praised numerous aspects of his accommodation, highlighting a “sparkling clean” bathroom, generously-sized towels, a shower boasting excellent water pressure, and reliable Wi-Fi.
He notes: “I’ve stayed in far worse places, for three times the price.”
However, it wasn’t entirely plain sailing for Tom. He pointed out that the bed, which could be larger, is positioned directly above the pub’s entrance, meaning he attempted to drift off whilst the venue ejected customers at approximately 1am.
A few hours later, he was rudely awakened by the noise of an extremely early marketing meeting taking place nearby. He also noted that the shower floods if you linger too long, and the extractor fan roars like an “angry chainsaw”.
Despite these niggles, he concluded: “But for £58, it feels churlish to complain. Astonishing value, of course, made better by its proximity to the pub.”
The overwhelming majority of these hotels are located directly above existing pubs run by Britain’s largest pub operator.
Tom observed how drinkers in the pubs were enjoying Worthington’s for just £2 a pint and jugs of Pornstar Martini cocktails for under a tenner. He noted: “Say what you like about Wetherspoons, you can’t beat those prices.
“God, I love a Wetherspoon’s, not in some trite, archly ironic way – rather for providing cheap beer, bottomless coffee, warmth and no-nonsense succour to great swathes of the British public.”
This comes after a couple revealed their experience staying at a Wetherspoon hotel, where they instantly spotted something peculiar.
YouTube content creators Ash and Kels, who’ve travelled to 65 countries worldwide, had never before checked into one of the budget pub chain’s accommodation offerings. In fact, Ash confessed that until recently, they had no idea Wetherspoon even ran hotels across the country.
This discovery led them to book a room at their closest branch, The Wyndham Arms in Bridgend, Wales. Upon arrival at the venue, they observed the pub was “really busy” before picking up their keycard for the room upstairs.
Stepping away from the bustling pub environment, the pair were pleasantly taken aback by what they found. Ash observed: “Straight away the noise of the pub has gone.”
A journalist who spent a night in one of Blackpool FC’s hotel rooms claimed he was told there would be a fine a jaw-dropping sum if he opened the curtains during one key moment
A man was warned he could be fined £2.5 for opening hotel curtains (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
A man who spent £137 on a hotel room was shocked to discover that he might be fined £2,500 if he simply opened the curtains.
Said hotel room is inside Blackpool FC’s Bloomfield Road ground and sits behind one of the goals at either side of the team’s pitch.
However, the individual staying in the room, journalist Ben East, was warned that if he opened the curtains during a match, he could be fined £2,500.
Baffled by the instruction, Ben said he checked the rules with members of staff downstairs, who said they didn’t police it as a hotel, but that ‘apparently’ guests could be fined if they are caught opening the curtains.
Commenting on the matter for the Telegraph, Ben remarked that keeping the curtains shut during a match rather ruined the experience, especially during Blackpool’s game against Bradford.
He said: “All of which slightly ruins the executive pitch-view selling point, of course – it’s now just an incredibly beige room with a hint of maroon.
“I then hear about Swan’s finish on BBC Radio’s 5 Live Sport, minutes after hearing the roars from outside. It was deft, sure, but it wasn’t worth £2,500 to see in the flesh.
“To threaten people with this sort of penalty for peering out of the window of a room that has been converted from an executive box sounds absurd – or at least conceptually flawed.”
Furthermore, Ben added that other stadiums don’t have the rule, such as Bolton Wanderers, who he said didn’t require the curtains to be closed in their stadium rooms.
A spokesperson for Blackpool FC said: “Whilst the hotel and football club understand any frustrations this may cause, all EFL and FA regulations must be observed. This includes limitations on the consumption of alcohol within sight of the pitch whilst a match is in play.”
Ben’s comments about Blackpool FC’s hotel room came months after data showed the city of Blackpool received a boost in tourism numbers.
The annual STEAM report, that independent measures tourism indicators, shows that visitors to the area were on the rise, with the city attracting 21.5m tourists in 2023, six percent up on 2022 figures.
When the figures were released in March last year, Blackpool Council leader councillor Lynn Williams MBE said: “Blackpool welcomed large crowds thanks to a diverse programme of major events, the launch of new attractions, a two-month extension of the autumn Illuminations season, and the expansion of the hugely successful Christmas By The Sea village.
“All of these factors, combined with strong partnerships and impactful marketing, reinforce our commitment to keeping Blackpool as the UK’s most visited seaside resort and firmly establishing it as a thriving year-round destination.”
WASHINGTON — President Trump is not the first president to want more room at the White House for entertaining, says the longest-serving top aide in the executive residence, offering some backup for the reason Trump has cited for his ballroom construction project.
Gary Walters spent more than two decades as White House chief usher to presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush — a role that is akin to being the general manager of the residence.
“All the presidents that I had an opportunity to serve always talked about some possibility of an enlarged area” for entertaining, Walters said in an interview with the Associated Press about his recently published memoir.
Trump has been talking about building a White House ballroom for years, even before he entered the political arena. In July, the White House announced a 90,000-square-foot space would be built on the east side of the complex to accommodate 650 seated guests at a then-estimated cost of $200 million. Trump has said it will be paid for with private donations, including from him.
The Republican president later upped the proposed ballroom’s capacity to 999 people and, by October, had demolished the two-story East Wing of the White House to build it there. In December, he updated the price tag to $400 million — double the original estimate.
Images of the East Wing being demolished shocked historians, preservationists and others, but Walters said there is a long history of projects on the campus, ranging from conservatories, greenhouses and stables being torn down to build the West Wing in 1902, to the expansion of the residence with a third floor, to the addition of the East Wing itself during World War II to provide workspace for the first lady, her staff and other White House offices.
“So there’s always been construction going on around the White House,” Walters said.
Other presidents bemoaned the lack of space for entertaining
When Walters was on the job, the capacity of the largest public rooms in the White House was among the first topics he discussed with the incoming president, first lady and their social secretary, he said. The presidents he served all talked about the limited number of people the White House could handle.
When set up for a state dinner, the State Dining Room can hold about 130 people: 13 round tables each with seating for 10, Walters said. The East Room can accommodate about 300 chairs — fewer if space is needed for television cameras.
Trump complains often that both rooms are too small. He also has complained about the use of large tents on the south grounds, the main workaround for big events such as ritzy state dinners for foreign leaders. Walters said the tents had issues.
“When it rained, the water flows downhill and the grass became soggy, no matter what we tried to do,” Walters said. “We dug culverts around the outside of the tent to try and get the water.” Tents damaged the grass, requiring more work to reseed it, he said.
Walters admitted it was a bit jarring to see the East Wing torn down, and said he had fond personal memories of the space. “I met my wife at the White House and she worked in the East Wing, so that was a joy for me,” said Walters, 79.
His wife, Barbara, was a receptionist in the visitors office during the administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. The couple recently celebrated 48 years of marriage.
Broken bones alter usher’s career trajectory
Walters owes his place in history as the longest-serving White House chief usher to the misfortune of a broken ankle.
He was 23 in early 1970, honorably discharged from the Army and looking for a job that would allow him to finish college at night. The Executive Protective Service, a precursor to the U.S. Secret Service, was hiring and accepted him.
But shortly before the graduation ceremony, Walters broke an ankle playing football. He could not patrol out of uniform, wearing a cast and hobbling around on crutches, so he was given a temporary assignment in the White House Police Control and Appointments Center. He stayed for five years.
“This injury also changed the course of my career,” Walters wrote in his memoir, “White House Memories: 1970-2007: Recollections of the Longest-Serving Chief Usher.” He gained an ”in-depth knowledge of the ways and security systems of the White House that would ultimately greatly benefit me in my future role in the Usher’s Office.”
A few months after being promoted to sergeant in 1975, he learned of an opening in the Usher’s Office. He applied and joined as an assistant in early 1976.
A decade later, he was elevated to chief usher by Reagan, who gave Walters the top job in the residence overseeing maintenance, construction and renovation projects, and food service, along with administrative, financial and personnel functions. He managed a staff of about 90 butlers, housekeepers, cooks, florists, electricians, engineers, plumbers and others.
Walters retired in 2007 after 37 years at the White House, including a record 21 years as chief usher. He served under seven presidents, from Nixon to George W. Bush.
In that time, Walters saw a broad swath of presidential history: the only president who ever resigned, an appointed vice president become the only unelected president, a president be impeached and stay in office, a father and son become president and the Supreme Court decide the most closely contested presidential election in U.S. history.
He’s often asked what he liked most about his work and “without hesitation I say it is getting to know and interact directly with the president, first lady, and other members of their family. It was an honor to get to know them with my own eyes and ears,” Walters wrote.
It was abundantly clear to actor-director Bradley Cooper that if “Is This Thing On?,” his comedy-drama set in New York’s stand-up scene, lacked authenticity, the film would fail. With the iconic Comedy Cellar at its heart, he found the key to unlocking that — by casting several of the real-life comedians who regularly take the stage there. Among them were two women at the top of their game right now with sold-out shows and substantial social media followings: Chloe Radcliffe and Jordan Jensen.
“Bradley fell in love with the Comedy Cellar and the relationships that go on there,” Jensen recalls.
“Is This Thing On?” is based on an anecdote from the life of British comedian John Bishop, whose career started when he stumbled into an open-mic night in Manchester, England, while temporarily separated from his wife. In the film, Will Arnett plays a fictionalized version of Bishop, Alex Novak, a finance guy, and the narrative shifts to New York.
“The idea was, ‘If we use people who aren’t comics to play comics, there’s not going to be a juxtaposition between Arnett and this super-tight group of people,’” Jensen says. “His character is this stuffy, bored guy, and he enters into this world of people who have day jobs just like him, but they step into this room, and it’s all dirty humor and busting each other’s balls.”
Radcliffe realized early on that Cooper, who also produced and co-wrote the film, understood the level of commitment required to portray the stand-up world realistically. She saw the first signs of him getting it when he screened 10 minutes of test footage for the comedians at his home, just a few blocks from the Greenwich Village club.
Comedian Chloe Radcliffe on stage as her character, Nina, in “Is This Thing On?”
(Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures)
“The second the test footage started, I immediately felt so confident that we are in the right hands,” she recalls. “Any lingering doubt or trepidation was totally washed away immediately, because Bradley just has such clarity of vision and taste. It was clear that he and Will had both embedded themselves deeply in the world of stand-up. Bradley wanted to capture what is real, and he was like, ‘If that means going off script, do it. If that means going to a weird place, do it.’”
Jensen adds, “I don’t think I said one actual line from the script. I would improvise something, and along the way, as I got the point across, it was OK. He might occasionally tell us to say a line, but it was in between 100% moments of improvisation, and he would be rolling camera.
“When I saw the movie, it was really moving. The way he showed it reintroduced me to it and made me be like, ‘Oh yeah, this place is f— magical.’”
Cooper wanted to capture what goes on offstage as well as on, and a significant part of that happened around a particular table at the Olive Tree Cafe, which sits above the underground comedy club. It’s where the acts gather before, after and in between their sets.
“We shot a scene around the comics’ table on the very first day,” Radcliffe says. “About a week or 10 days later, Bradley wanted to reshoot it because he looked at the footage and realized that it looked like a movie. He wanted to make something that looked like the real environment. I admire that so much. Not only is he willing to ask us for our input, but he’s also willing to go back and make new decisions based on new information.”
According to Jensen, in another scene in the cafe, the filmmaker asked whether the comedian’s coats, which PAs had removed from the shot, would be there, and when he was told they would, ordered them to be put back. The level of detail even extended to whether the comics would share fries from a single plate or have their own. It all mattered.
Comedian Jordan Jensen was used to riffing through her scenes on camera while playing her character, Jill, in “Is This Thing On?”
(Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures)
Radcliffe describes Cooper’s reverence for the Comedy Cellar and the comics as an appreciated display of “humility and willing” that extended to both the filmmaker and Arnett, asking for their input on techniques that would improve Novak’s set.
“We wound up chatting about things like where the funny idea is in a punch line, so you might rearrange the sentence so that the most surprising part of it comes at the end. That’s an unnatural way of delivering that sentence,” she reveals. “I would see Will running the set at the Cellar before the shoot, and he is so naturally funny that even if he went off script and started riffing, he instinctively hits punch lines. He has this natural sense of rhythm.”
However, neither the actor nor the director, who also plays Novak’s best friend, Balls, rested on their laurels. To gauge real audiences’ reactions to the material, they ran it multiple times in rooms for months before filming started. It’s something Jensen calls “the ballsiest thing I’ve ever seen a person do.”
“I would be on a show months before the movie was happening,” she says. “They’d be like, ‘Here’s Alex Novak,’ and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ I would see that it was Will Arnett and then I’d be like, ‘F—, he’s bombing. Oh, this is the movie.’”
However, the bombing was intentional, and things would change as the set progressed. She continues, “What I realized is they had written it so that the first chunk in the movie, he doesn’t do so great, the second chunk he does a little better, and the last chunk he does the best, which is how comedy works. I can’t imagine in a million years doing that and not breaking at some point, and being like, ‘Hey, by the way, I’m actually doing this for a movie.’”
While Arnett was on stage, Cooper would stand in the back of the room, taking notes, making changes and doing research. However, Jensen says watching Arnett tank, even on purpose, was “brutal.”
Will Arnett with director Bradley Cooper on the set of “Is This Thing On?”
(Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures)
“These were not open mic nights; they were real shows. It was Will Arnett’s reputation, and he was bombing on purpose, but it totally worked out in the long run. He was operating like a real comic up there.”
There were also little things that Arnett did, sometimes by accident, that made his delivery next-level. One example is when he breathes into the microphone.
“It was totally an improvised thing,” Jensen enthuses. “It was this moment of awkwardness that is so authentic that it makes you immediately empathize with him. You’re like, ‘Oh, man, I know that feeling of the air leaving your mouth, hitting the mic, and now everybody has heard that you’ve let out a sigh of grief.’”
Radcliffe, who plays Nina, and Jensen, who plays Jill, are close friends in real life and read for each other’s roles. Aside from being able to take Cooper and Arnett behind the curtain of the comedy scene, their relationship added an extra level of authenticity to the film and to each other’s performances.
“We’ve been really close since pre-pandemic, and she and I have a lot of similar energies,” Radcliffe muses. “We can both be trashy little gremlins. She has a level of aggression that I don’t quite step into, and I think I have a level of exasperation that she doesn’t quite step into. We play off each other really well. She’s so subversive and transgressive, and she’s got such a magnetism in where she is willing to go on stage that I think is unmatched in a lot of other comics working right now.”
Jensen, who is a big fan of Cooper’s work, recalls being starstruck when he first opened the door to his home when the cast came over to read the script for the film. “He opened the door and said, ‘Hi, I’m Bradley.’ I just looked at Chloe over his shoulder, beelined right to her, and snuggled up next to her on the couch, because I was so intimidated,” she said. “It would have still been great if she weren’t there, but having her there was the best. It’s one of those things where when I’m really old, I’ll tell people, and they won’t believe me.”
I stayed at a hotel that’s been branded one of the worst in the UK and for some reason decided that it would be a good idea to use a UV light in my windowless room
There aren’t that many hotels that charge £10 for windows or are seemingly completely empty the week before Christmas. And there’s only one hotel chain that has been named the worst in the UK for 12 consecutive years. To experience such delights, you’ve got to check yourself into a Britannia.
The chain is the stuff of legend. Fifty years after its first property, the Country House Hotel in Didsbury, Manchester, was opened, it has added around 60 more and grown to stretch across the UK before taking over Pontins.
However, its story is not an entirely positive one. Britannia has been much maligned over the years for (according to some of its unhappy customers at least) turning once grand properties into grimy, unpleasant, and uncomfortable hotels that don’t offer good value, even for their budget price tags.
My first experience in a Britannia came back in 2022, in the heady post-lockdown days when I took the train down to Bournemouth to stay in a hotel that has since been repurposed to house asylum seekers. The stuck fast windows and thick smell of paint ensured it was a hot and sticky night, while the drained outdoor pool, discarded knickers in the courtyard and a scattering of NOS canisters added to the general sense of neglect.
Have you had a memorable hotel stay? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
With such images in my head, it was with trepidation that I headed to my local Britannia to find out whether anything had changed at the UK’s worst hotel chain.
It hadn’t.
Britannia Hampstead is bleak, albeit in different ways to its sister venue down on the south coast. Here’s a breakdown of its key elements, compared to a recent visit to The Manor in Blakeney, North Norfolk. The Manor is part of the Coaching Inn Group, which was named the UK’s best large hotel chain of 2025 by Which? readers, while Britannia came dead last. Here is what separates the wheat from the chaff.
Vibe
On my Bournemouth trip, things were a lot livelier. There was life in the hotel. I knew because I could hear arguing couples and other people’s TV choices through my room walls. What I would’ve done for even the most muffled background characters this time around. The six-storey London hotel, which is big enough to house a 350-person business suite, was completely dead. The fairy lights flickered, but no one was home.
Contrastingly, the Manor was vibey. It may be a good hour’s cycle from the nearest train station, but even in the dead of November, it was busy, friendly, and warm. The staff were happy to chat, as were the guests lined up at the bar, enjoying special weekends away or a quick drink in what served as their local.
Rooms
It’s certainly not going to win any prizes, but my room in the Hampstead Britannia was much nicer than the Bournemouth one. In Bournemouth, a singular dead fly lay on the windowsill next to a deeply stained armchair. A screw stuck out from a picture frame. For several hours, I was unable to illuminate the room as all but the bathroom lights were out of action, leaving us with the deafeningly loud extractor fan until a cheery man on reception explained that the central electricity switch was hidden beneath the kettle.
In North London, the room was just… a bit bland. It was so clean that my UV torch found absolutely nothing. I can only assume that the strong stench of cleaning fluids had something to do with that. The furnishings were old and mostly brown, but inoffensive. At points during the night, the lack of windows did make me wonder if I was in prison. But I slept, woke and then jailbroke to tell the tale.
Over in Norfolk, it’s a different story. The Manor has 36 rooms, the cheapest of which can be booked for £99 next week. It is classic budget hotel fare, albeit of the quality end of the spectrum. A comfortable double bed, a medium-sized TV, and a well-decorated bathroom. Everything is solid, clean and cheerful.
Staff
As my only fellow humans in the Britannia hotel that night, I have no real complaints about the staff. They seemed nice enough, if not a little distracted when I chatted to them. The receptionist didn’t seem completely sure why the restaurant and bar were closed. Otherwise, my interactions with the staff were limited to them looking at me curiously as I read my book in the empty lobby.
Contrastingly, at the Manor, it’s all about staff. Many of them have been there for well over ten years. About half of them seem to be members of the Hill clan, including Tore, Karen, Sophie and Wayne. They were all on hand at various points during my stay to ensure everything was in its right place and to offer insights into the local area. For me, and the chatty returning customers who knew staff by name, such warmth is a major plus. It transforms the hotel from a place to stay and eat for the night, to somewhere homely that you want to be.
Location
This should be one of Britannia’s strong suits. In my mind, its customers tolerate a low-quality stay because of the convenience of staggering home to a city centre joint after a work away day or stag do. The Hampstead hotel offers none of that. It’s neither near enough the Heath nor Camden to be properly in either, and it’s a long old schlep from the centre of town. I can only imagine the disappointment of tourists who didn’t do enough research before booking.
Blakeney, on the other hand, is a lovely place. Just metres from the hotel’s front is the River Glaven, which winds its way through the National Nature Reserve. Nearby Blakeney Point is renowned for its seal colonies, with Beans Boat offering guided tours throughout the year. Most Coaching Inn Group hotels are in similarly scenic and remote rural locations.
Price
Windowless rooms at the London Britannia cost from £55, according to its website. But mine was closer to £90 with breakfast. If I’d opted for the sought-after window option, that would’ve hit the £100 mark.
The average cost of a room at the Manor is £128. While that isn’t very cheap, in the Which? survey, the hotel was one of only two to score four out of five stars for value for money. The other was Wetherspoons. I visited the Spoons Hotel in Canterbury in November, where a room for the night can be yours for just £55 and the average price is £70.
Spoons easily takes the prize for best value in my book, with Coaching Inn Group not far behind. Britannia, however, offers very little for what is a sizeable price tag. The average home price across all its hotels is £84, according to Which?. Even in 2025, that’s poor.
Nothing about my stay at the Britannia convinced me that it’s on the up or going to shed its unwanted ‘worst in class’ title anytime soon. I’m sure it’ll bag the bottom spot for a thirteenth time next year.
Britannia’s model seems to be to buy up grand old properties and flog the rooms for cut-price rates. Such is the size of the buildings, renovating to a modern standard would be a costly and risky venture. Far better, I imagine its executives have assumed, to keep costs low, even if profits remain the same. As a result, it’s a franchise with dozens of worn-out buildings that consistently fail to delight.
Contrastingly, Coaching Inn Group is a company that has done things right. For virtually the same price, customers can stay in one of its charming hotels in a warm, comfortable room with staff that seem genuinely invested in their work. Really, there is no competition.
One of the most frustrating things I encountered when working as a hotel receptionist was guests asking for a room upgrade – but I finally have a solution to this common complaint
(Image: Getty Images)
Before embarking on my journalism career, I spent several years behind the desk as a hotel receptionist. During this time, I honed my skills in anticipating guests’ needs.
We were always more than willing to accommodate any request, no matter how peculiar or extravagant, but there was one that consistently got under my skin.
Regardless of the type of room a guest had reserved, more often than not, they’d be angling for an upgrade. And I completely understand why.
Who wouldn’t want to add a touch of luxury to their stay without parting with a single extra penny? However, one question from guests that never failed to irk me was, ‘Can our room be upgraded?’ Of course, there’s no harm in asking, but it’s generally frowned upon for good reason.
There were countless instances when I’d be on the blower with someone booking a standard room, only for them to immediately follow up with, ‘Can our room be upgraded?
‘ The response was invariably, ‘We don’t provide upgrades until the day before arrival’, but internally I’d be thinking, ‘If you’re after a larger room, book a larger room’.
I worked at a high-end hotel and spa with 35 rooms, where upgrades were typically set aside for those celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary. Furthermore, we’d only upgrade rooms the night prior to a guest’s arrival, ensuring we knew exactly which rooms were free – we wouldn’t bump someone up to a superior room before it could have been booked online.
It’s astonishing how many guests inquire about an upgrade, even when larger rooms are readily available for booking. The second most irksome time to request such a privilege is post 3pm on a Friday evening, during the peak check-in period and when all rooms have already been assigned.
There were countless instances when a guest would bluntly ask me at check-in if their room had been upgraded, as though it was a given. That said, it doesn’t mean we wouldn’t consider giving you an upgrade.
We’re more inclined to offer an upgrade to those who haven’t explicitly asked for one. After all, we’re only human, and we’d much prefer to surprise someone with an upgraded room who will truly appreciate it, rather than someone who feels entitled to it or demands it.
Informing the hotel that you’re celebrating a special occasion is the top strategy to secure an upgrade, just ensure you do so prior to your arrival. Alternatively, checking in early is another clever tactic to help bag an upgraded room, and here’s why.
While upgrades are usually organised for the next batch of guests the night before, with key cards already allocated, situations can change. If we’re feeling particularly magnanimous, and the hotel is buzzing, we might spontaneously offer you an upgrade, even if that means downgrading someone else’s previously upgraded room.
Our guests weren’t made aware of any upgrades until their arrival, so if there were any changes, they’d be none the wiser, and we’d rather get you settled into your room. However, from my experience, these were reserved for guests who would least anticipate an upgrade, not those who impolitely demanded one.
Have you got a hotel secret to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
James P. Pinkerton, former deputy assistant to President Bush,
is the senior fellow at the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh, N.C.
A year ago, Ross Perot began his campaign with his if-the-volunteers-want-me appearance on “Larry King Live.” This evening, he tops off a round of rallies and a medley of talk shows as Jay Leno’s guest on “The Tonight Show.” Beyond the obvious question–when will he do Letterman?–lies an even bigger one: What does Perot want?
He’s already fulfilled one wish, destroying George Bush. Candidate Clinton must have enjoyed watching Perot torpedo Bush last year. After all, the nonpartisan Perot was much more credible attacking Bush for the deficit or Iraq-gate than any Democrat could have been. Now, it’s President Clinton’s turn. Perot’s Will Rogers-style gibes at Clinton’s attorneys-general follies are drawing blood. More ominously, Perot’s support for a balanced-budget amendment threatens to undercut, if not actually nullify, Clinton’s “investment” agenda.
Specific issues aside, Perot has a broad and true message: Washington is out of sync with the country. Does anyone think that the middle class wanted their new President to fill up his Cabinet with yuppies who have more experience dealing with domestics and chauffeurs than they do with nurses and auto workers? Does anyone think that this Congress will pass meaningful ethics or campaign-finance-reform legislation?
Perot’s sweeping critique of Washington’s “arrogance” poses tough questions to the Beltway culture. One such question comes from business guru Peter Drucker: “If we weren’t doing it now, would we start?” In other words, are the structures of the government, from the schools to welfare to the military, the best we can possibly do? If we can do better, what are the obstacles to real reform? Official Washington could find the answer in a mirror, which is exactly Perot’s point. Perot may seem simplistic, but he plays well in Peoria; especially as Clinton seems to have lost his “reinventing government” zest about the time he went to Pamela Harriman’s Georgetown mansion for cocktails.
Sen. Bob Krueger (D-Tex.) expressed the fundamental problem–that government is incompetent–in crisp Perotian terms: “If the government were a store, nobody would buy here. If it were an airline, nobody would fly it.”
A recent Business Week article described “The Virtual Corporation,” the new phenomenon of “temporary networks of companies that come together quickly to exploit fast-changing opportunities.” Global competition forces change. Virtual corporations “could well be the model for the American business organization in the years ahead.” What about government organization? With the current crew, the prospects of applying these profound lessons to Washington are nil. Perot, with his business background and his blunt desire to “get under the hood” and fix things, has reformist credibility no politician can dream of.
So what does Perot want? The average billionaire lives a life of quiet desperation. With every material need satisfied, he has to find something to do. Some buy tabloid newspapers; others, baseball teams. Perot clearly relishes his “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” role. And what if lightning were to strike? Perot must be haunted by an exit poll from last November which showed that a stunning 36% of the voters would have voted for him if they had thought he could have won. With that share of the vote in a three-way race in 1996, Perot could indeed win.
But Doug Bailey, a veteran Republican who foresaw Perot’s rise last year, isn’t sure that Perot actually wants to be President. “I think he really wants to be the First Kibitzer,” Bailey said in an interview. Perot is likely to keep his presidential options open till the last minute. That means 3 1/2 years of “will he or won’t he?” stories, with accompanying heartburn for both parties. The Republicans would love to march in Perot’s populist parade, but Perot understands that his aura would be smudged if he consorted with either party. Clinton can try to co-opt some of Perot’s juice with White House perk purges and call-in shows, but he lacks Perot’s earthy urgency.
Clinton used the wrong system of quotas when he staffed his Administration without a single one of the 19 million Perot voters. Now, he would be wise to call Perot in to the Oval Office for a humble-pie session. And if Clinton’s troubles continue, don’t be surprised if he reaches under the hood of his own Administration and offers Perot a “policy czar” appointment well before the next election.
Zedwell’s Capsule Cocoons in Piccadilly Circus start from £35.82 per night, offering budget accommodation in central London – but it won’t be to everyone’s taste
People with claustrophobia might want to look away now.
A hotel in central London is offering beds from just £35.82 a night, but there’s a catch. Instead of a room, you’ll be sleeping in a capsule or ‘Cocoon’ as they’re named. But does the location and low price make up for the cramped accommodations?
Reporter Christopher Sharp went to stay at the Zedwell Piccadilly Circus, and his first impressions of the space were a little morbid. Writing for the Express, he said: “One thing I do know, is that at some point after dying, I may well find myself in a coffin of some sorts.
“This isn’t my last will and testament, but one of my first thoughts after entering one of Zedwell’s Capsule Cocoons at their Piccadilly Circus venue earlier this month. The ‘Cocoons’ are effectively small windowless boxes that can be yours for as little as £36 a night.
“Stacked in columns of two, they’re an option for someone looking to spend not very much money for a room in the heart of London.”
He was impressed by the location, saying: “The room is located in just a stone’s throw from the likes of Soho, Covent Garden, Regent’s Street, Leicester Square, and a short walk from Hyde Park, Green Park, and the Serpentine.”
He described the experience of checking in, which was straightforward: “Once you’ve found the entrance to the hotel, currently located underneath a lot of scaffolding, it’s easy to check in using your booking number and email address. With your key card, you receive a small lock and key to secure your belongings, along with some compostable slippers. The check-in is 24 hours a day, so whenever you show up, you’ll be fine. If you want to check out at 3am, you can do that as well.
“Once you’ve got your key, it’s off to find your cocoon, which you’ll discover in one of several dorms stretched across several floors. Each set of cocoons is behind a locked door that can only be accessed with your key.”
However, his impressions of the hotel could be summed up by the words: “unfinished and tired”. Christopher said: “I spoke to one regular user of the Zedwell venue, and he explained that building works were still continuing. The bathrooms were not in a very good state when I was there, and the fact that an open lift shaft was visible behind a small hole in the wall didn’t fill me with much confidence.”
He felt, even for the cheap price, it didn’t represent the best value for money: “You might very well argue that for the price one pays, one shouldn’t expect high quality, but ragged toilets, an unfinished building, and an open lift shaft? I expected more.”
Zedwell’s spokesperson said: “Our targeted completion timeline is Q2 2026. When we opened a few months ago, we did so as a soft launch, with a couple of floors still in preparation. These floors have now opened and we’re finalising certain construction elements to better serve guests and optimise the way the spaces are used. This approach allows us to adapt quickly to guest feedback and ensure the hotel meets evolving needs.”
But what was the pod itself like? Christopher described the unusual accommodation: “Looking past the human safe store coffin simulation aspects, the cocoon itself was very roomy, thanks to a light at the end of the room that bounced off a full-length and full-width mirror.
“This sat in front of a ledge on which sat a three-pin socket, a USB-A and USB-C plugs, as well as a dial for the light and a switch for the fan. That fan is quite important as it’s one way of circulating air through the box after the small grills at the entrance.
“Next to said entrance are a couple of hooks for your bag and coat, and all in it’s quite an accommodating place to be and an easy enough space to crawl into. You get a much better sense of the logistical mortality of it all once you pull the shutter door down and turn out the lights and fan. It’s dark enough that you can’t see your hand in front of your face, which, given the shape of the space, is quite unnerving.
“Sleeping was difficult, but not as bad as expected. I got a couple of two or three-hour stretches before my 6am alarm the next morning. The moment the alarm went off I was out of the venue quicker than you can say Lando Norris (Max Verstappen takes a little longer to say).”
Christopher said the cheap price was clearly bringing in the crowds, writing: “The venue is clearly popular. One member of staff told me that businesspeople use it as well as tourists, theatergoers, and members of the military. I still felt there must be better options out there, even if the price is incredibly low.
“The hotel itself doesn’t claim to be the cheapest in London, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anything for less. (If you do, please email webtravel@reachplc.com and let us know). It suits travellers and tourists on a budget, but unless you’re comfortable in such a small space or value your privacy more than dealing with a night of claustrophobia, I would avoid it.
“Was it an interesting experience? Definitely. But that doesn’t mean that I would go again or that I’d recommend it, unless you only want to be in that part of central London and have no more than £40 to spend.”
A spokeperson for the hotel told us: “Zedwell Capsule Hotel Piccadilly Circus is the first hotel of its kind on this scale, not only in the UK but globally. It’s been incredibly valuable to see how guests interact with the space and to understand what features and amenities enhance their experience. We actively encourage guest feedback, especially during these early stages, as it helps us refine the experience and ensure every stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. We’re excited about the improvements we’re rolling out and have some exciting announcements planned in the new year.”
Prices vary by date, with the cheapest rooms currently showing at £35.82. Towel hire is an extra £5. There are also women’s dorms which cost slightly more but include a towel, and have hairdryers in the bathrooms and dedicated female housekeeping staff. Check prices and book a room on Zedwell’s official site.
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
A traveller discovered that paying a small fee to choose your specific room at Travelodge can get you a noticeably larger space in the same category – without upgrading
You can get a bigger hotel room at Travelodge for an extra £3.50(Image: Getty Images)
When booking a hotel, aside from selecting your room category, you’re often left in the dark about what room you’ll end up with. But I’ve stumbled upon a nifty trick that could land you a larger hotel room for just £3.50.
Securing a hotel for any occasion, be it a city break with mates or a romantic weekend getaway, can be a bit of a headache, given the vast array of options available. And even after you’ve picked your preferred hotel, you then have to decide on your room category, which is usually dictated by price (let’s face it, we’d all opt for the premium suites if our wallets allowed).
But what if I told you there’s a way to bag a bigger room when booking through Travelodge, without having to rely on the whims of the booking system? This little gem came to light during a trip to London with my pals earlier this year.
We were staying overnight after catching an evening show, so I booked us into a Travelodge on Central City Road in London. As there were three of us, I opted for a triple family room – the most budget-friendly choice for a Saturday night in the capital.
A few days prior to our stay, I noticed an option in my booking that let me ‘choose my room’ before checking in. Initially, I was a tad sceptical, but I’m chuffed I decided to delve a bit deeper.
For a mere additional £3.50, I discovered that I could handpick the exact room my mates and I would bunk in during our getaway. In the spirit of investigation and intrigue, I coughed up the trifling £3.50 and was directed to a site map showcasing all the available rooms within my category, enabling me to select our quarters.
What took me aback was that, despite all the rooms displayed falling within the specific category I’d booked, a handful were markedly larger as per the floor plan. So naturally, I opted for the most spacious room on offer.
Even at this juncture, I was sceptical about whether we’d actually be allocated this room upon check-in, given that I’d shelled out less than a fiver and it was significantly roomier than the rest. So you can imagine my delight when I checked in on Saturday afternoon and they handed over the keys to the exact room I’d chosen – it was absolutely worth the extra £3.50.
We found ourselves in a sprawling room equipped with a double bed and two single beds, despite never altering the room category. Plus, it afforded us crucial additional space for prepping for a night on the town without having to splurge on an expensive upgrade.
This nifty trick can be employed at over 575 Travelodge hotels, and it’s not just for securing extra room. You can opt to ‘choose your room’ to ensure you’re lodged near family or friends, secure a particular view, guarantee a top or ground floor room, or ensure you’re close to a lift.
Not only does this trick potentially offer the bonus of a larger room, as I discovered, but it also eliminates any check-in uncertainty. However, it’s crucial to bear in mind that this hack depends on the hotel’s availability and layout.
Some Travelodge hotels may not have a bigger room available in the category you’ve booked, but it’s definitely worth enquiring. Furthermore, the cost can fluctuate depending on the hotel, room type and duration of stay, but it’s applicable for a range of Travelodge room categories.
Got a travel story you want to share with us? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
Booking a hotel can feel like a daunting task, especially with the surge in prices, but there’s a simple Travelodge hack to get a bigger room without needing to fork out extra for an upgrade
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
You can get a bigger hotel room at Travelodge for an extra £3.50(Image: Getty Images)
Aside from choosing your room category when booking a hotel, you never quite know what room you’ll be given. However, I discovered a clever hack that can get you a bigger hotel room, and it costs just £3.50.
Booking a hotel for any occasion, whether that’s a city break with pals or a romantic weekend away, can be a daunting task, with a lengthy list of establishments to choose from. Yet, even when you’ve chosen your desired hotel, you then need to select your room category, although the price often determines which one we book (in an ideal world, we’d all book the premium suites if we could afford them).
However, what if I told you that you could get a bigger room when booking through Travelodge, without having to hope that the booking system gods have been kind? I found this out during a trip to London with my friends earlier this year.
We were spending the night after watching an evening show, so I found us a Travelodge in London, Central City Road, to book for the night. As there were three of us, I booked a triple family room – the most affordable option I could find for a Saturday night in the capital.
A few days before our stay, I discovered an option in my booking that allowed me to ‘choose my room’ before arrival. I was a little sceptical at first, but I’m so glad I investigated further.
For an additional £3.50, I found that I could choose the exact room my friends and I would stay in during our trip. In the name of research and curiosity, I paid the mere £3.50 and was taken to a site map of all the rooms available in my category, which allowed me to choose our room.
What surprised me was that, although the rooms shown were all in the specific category I had booked, a few were noticeably larger as shown on the floor plan. So naturally, I selected the biggest room available.
Even at this stage, I was questioning whether I’d get this room at check-in, considering I had paid less than £5 and it was noticeably larger than the others. So when I checked in on Saturday afternoon, I was delighted when they handed me the keys to the exact room I had chosen, and it was well worth the extra £3.50.
We were treated to a sprawling room with a double bed and two twin beds, despite never changing the room category. Plus, it gave us vital extra space when getting ready for a night out without having to fork out for a pricey upgrade.
This handy hack can be used at more than 575 Travelodge hotels, and it’s not just for extra space. You can select to ‘choose your room’ to ensure you’re staying near family or friends, have a specific view, ensure you have a top or ground floor room, or that you’re near a lift.
Not only can it provide an additional perk of a bigger room, as I found out, but it also avoids the uncertainty at check-in. However, it’s essential to note that using this hack is contingent upon the hotel’s availability and layout.
Some Travelodge hotels may not have a larger room available in the category that you’ve booked, but it’s certainly worth checking. Additionally, the price can vary by hotel, room type and length of stay, but it’s available for a selection of Travelodge room categories.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
My name is Jon Halperin. I booked and managed Chain Reaction from 2000 to 2006. It started by accident while I was running a one-person record label. I went to the club to see the band Melee perform and the prior talent buyer for the club had just quit that day. I told owner Tim Hill I’d do it (having only booked three shows ever at a coffee shop). We slept on it, and I was hired the next day.
I joined Ron Martinez (of Final Conflict). He was booking the punk and hardcore shows. I booked the indie, ska, emo, screamo and pop punk stuff. We made a great team. Best work-wife ever.
Story time. My friend Ikey Owens (RIP) hit me up and told me that he and the guys from At the Drive In were going to be starting a new band. I’d booked Defacto (their dub project) before, and we agreed to throw them on a show and just bill it as “Defacto.” There were maybe 200 people there to see the first show for a band that would soon be known as the Mars Volta.
That wasn’t out of the ordinary. Chain Reaction had many artists grace that stage that went on to bigger things: Death Cab for Cutie, Avenged Sevenfold, Maroon 5, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, Taking Back Sunday, Pierce the Veil, My Morning Jacket. The list goes on and on.
Jon Halperin, who booked Chain Reaction from 2000 to 2006, stands in front of the club during its heyday.
(From Jon Halperin)
I used to make a deal with the kids. Buy a ticket to “X” show, and if you didn’t like the band, I’d refund you. I never had to. I knew my audience and they trusted my curation of the room. … It was by the kids, for the kids, except I was 30 at the time. I had to think like a teenager. My friend Brian once called me “Peter Pan.”
Halfway through my reign, social media became a thing. There was Friendster and a bit later MySpace. YouTube stated just a few years after. But those first few years of me at the venue, it was word of mouth. It was paper fliers dropped off at coffee shops and record stores. It was the flier in the venue window. It was Mean Street Magazine and Skratch Magazine.
I’d tease the press when they wanted to review a show. If you don’t show up with a pen and paper, you aren’t getting in (sorry, Kelli).
Most music industry went to the Los Angeles show, but smart industry came to us. Countless acts got signed following their shows. You’d often see the band meeting with a label in the parking lot near their tour van.
It was a dry room when I was there. No booze or weed whatsoever. We made only one exception to the weed rule. An artist in a band with Crohn’s disease who traveled with a nurse. Not saying bands didn’t drink backstage, on stage, in their vans (we rarely had buses), but what we didn’t see didn’t happen.
Touche Amoré performing at Chain Reaction in 2010.
(Joe Calixto)
We were often referred to as the “CBGB’s of the West,” and for a lot of bands, locals and touring acts alike, we were just that. We were the epicenter. There were other venues of course, but for some reason, we were the venue to play. Showcase Theater in Corona was edging toward its demise. Koo’s Cafe in Santa Ana was done. Back Alley in Fullerton wasn’t active. Galaxy Theater [in Santa Ana] was still, well, the Galaxy. There was no House of Blues Anaheim. Bands would drive a thousand miles to play one show at Chain Reaction. We were where the local bands started as first of four on a bill and would be headlining us within a year. We were their jumping-off point. We were where the kids came out. The real fans, many of whom started bands themselves.
Thankfully, there are other smaller venues out there today fostering the all-ages scene: Programme Skate in Fullerton, the Locker Room at Garden AMP [in Garden Grove], Toxic Toast in Long Beach, the Haven Pomona, but it’s just not the same. It was a moment in time. A time that will be forgotten in a few decades, but for today, my social media is being inundated with memories of a room that was a second home for thousands of kids.
Zero regrets. It was the best and worst times of my life. Working a day gig and then heading to the venue nearly every day of the week was rough. Relationships and friendships were hard, being that I couldn’t go out at night. I couldn’t get a pet. I was constantly tired. But I wouldn’t trade those six years for the world.
If you’re looking for a completely unique weekend away, there’s a hotel with colourful themed rooms and lots of fun surprises, and it’s set in the UK’s coolest city with plenty to do nearby.
Each room in the hotel has its own unique theme such as the Salon Rouge(Image: Hotel Pelirocco)
While staying in a hotel for the weekend can be nice, one criticism you can level at them is that so many hotel rooms look the same. They may be comfy, but it’s easy to get bored of the same beige style you get in every hotel room.
However, whatever words you use to describe Hotel Pelirocco, “boring” is not one of them. This boutique hotel has 19 rooms, each one with a different theme, and each room is its own colourful little world.
Set on a quiet square in Brighton, the hotel is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to enjoy the UK’s coolest city. Brighton recently beat competition from cities such as Edinburgh and Manchester to cinch the title, thanks to its independent shops, unique restaurants, and lively music scene.
The hotel is just a 15-minute stroll from the North Laines, famous for its colourful shops including vintage stores, bookshops, record shops, and quirky cafes. There’s also The Lanes area, which has a more historic vibe with narrow cobbled streets full of pretty jewellery stores and designer shops.
Historic Brighton Pier is also just a short walk away, with old-fashioned rides, amusements, and stalls. And of course, there’s the iconic Brighton Beach, a long stretch of shingle that has a promenade full of clubs and bars, and becomes a lively area for nightlife as the sun goes down.
Hotel Pelirocco is set inside two converted Regency townhouses, with its historic façade blending in with the other buildings in a pretty square. However, once you step inside, it’s a maximalist’s dream with colourful walls covered in vintage art and posters. Downstairs it has a bar that hosts live music and events, and opens until the small hours for guests returning from nights out.
However, it’s the rooms that the hotel has become famous for, and themes range from David Bowie to pin-up girls and local artists. The Mod-themed room is perfect for visitors to Brighton who are there to see the city’s filming locations for Quadrophenia, while Do Knit Disturb is a room dedicated to knitting and crochet, with accessories including a knitted telephone.
Brighton has long been a destination for couples’ weekends, and the hotel has a cheekier side to it too. The Botanica suite, for example, comes with a dancing pole and a mirrored ceiling, among other surprises, and there are rooms such as Taboo with more romantic vibes.
The hotel also offers a range of extras that are perfect for couples celebrating a special occasion, from Champagne to boudoir photography in your bedroom. And if you want to really surprise your other half, you can arrange for a hamper from independent store Lust!, which includes an array of toys for couples for a fun start to your break.
Find out more about the Hotel Pelirocco or book a room on their official website.
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
