We’ve pulled together eight of the worst-rated hotels in the North East according to TripAdvisor to see what customers have said about them.
The North East has a lot to offer when it comes to places to stay, and even offers a wide range of prices, however, we also have our fair share of badly-rated venues.
These venues have been rounded up based on their ratings out of five on TripAdvisor, with some receiving just two-stars.
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And customers have pulled no punches when it comes to reviewing the businesses, with some including pictures of their dirty and sometimes damaged rooms.
These are some of the worst rated hotels in the North East according to TripAdvisor.
1. AA Sunderland City South, Park Place East, Sunderland
Kicking things off is AA Sunderland City South, which has received just four user reviews, however three of them are just one-star.
The venue doesn’t have much presence on TripAdvisor with no official views of the hotel, but does offer customers a cheap night’s stay at just £28 a night.
It has received just two-stars out of five on TripAdvisor with one reviewer branding it “dangerous”
One person said: “The apartment was dangerous There was water coming through the ceiling in the living room.
“The ceiling looked like it was going to collapse. You could see there had been previous leaks on the ceiling.
“The ceiling was in hazardous condition. There was also an open electric plug socket. It took 15 hours for the staff to find a solution that was unsuitable.
“Had to check out days early and no refund issued
“On the day you arrive they will they ask you to transfer £300 deposit directly into the bank they do not allow you to pay by credit or bank card which means you are not covered by your bank.
“It took an extremely long time and repeated messages to receive the deposit back. The hotel may seem a fair price, but the uncertainty of not receiving your deposit back could make it very expensive
“It’s dangerous and not worth the hassle.
“Communication was non-existent. Will most definitely be reporting the hotel to trading standards.”
2. Middlesbrough Hotel – Sporting Lodge, Stainton Village, Middlesbrough
This Middlesbrough hotel is a bit more fairly rated receiving much more mixed reviews, however, it has still scored just three stars out of five.
It sports 140 bedrooms set in 20 acres and boasts a “lavish bar and grill” as well as 25m sparkling pool and fully equipped gym.
It also has good transport links to all major towns and cities and is extremely handy for shopping at the metro centre.
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However, one reviewer said “they wouldn’t ever return” and called the venue “dated and filthy.”
They added: “Smears on the walls, chairs stained, lampshades cracked.
“And we got put in a room with someone’s actual semen all over the bed base, and the smell of said stale semen stank out the room.
“Came back from an event at 2am, climbed into my bed and noticed someone else's baby-gravy deposit smeared across the bed base. Had to move rooms. Refund agreed and awaiting.
“If it was £20-30 a night, if not for someone's spud-batter we probably would have tolerated the datedness, uncomfortable beds and dirty room, but at £90 for a night, they should be ashamed of themselves.
“Breakfast was good though, despite ingredients running out approximately every three-minutes”
3. Longlands Hotel, Marton Road, Middlesbrough
With an average review score of just two-and-a-half stars this is a traditionally styled hotel with home comforts but aimed at the budget traveller.
According to the TripAdvisor description, the hotel offers “great value for money” a long with a warm atmosphere, and “true North Eastern hospitality and charm.”
However, sadly reviewers have not been so kind, one TripAdvisor reviewer said the hotel was a “health hazard.”
They continued to stress that it was the “most dirty, disgusting, filthy hotel” they have ever been to.
They added: “In the room there was a burnt out heater as the room was so cold, electrics poking out of wall, paper thin pillows, beds not changed, mattress had fresh stains all over, kettle full of water and rusty element.
In the end they said they asked for a refund and wanted to leave as the “entire experience was causing my anxiety to be heightened.”
4. Tees Valley Apartments, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough
This venue has also received a mix of reviews, with the majority being “terrible” or one-star reviews.
It scored four stars for location, three stars for cleanliness, three stars for service and three-and-a-half stars for value.
One TripAdvisor warned not to give the place “a penny” as it was “filthy” and nothing worked properly.
They stressed that they had no WiFi or tea and coffee making facilities and the conditions were “filthy” with “smackheads at door before 8am.”
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Another reviewers said the venue was “unsafe” and a “ serious breach of fire safety regulations.”
The reviewer claims the business doesn’t have a smoke alarm inside the room and two are missing just outside the room.
There was also “inadequate heating” and “poor staff support.”
5. Metro Inns, Teesway North Tees Industrial Estate, Stockton-on-Tees
Described as an “excellent choice” for travellers visiting Stockton, Metro Inns offers a “budget friendly environment,” along with many “helpful amenities” according to their TripAdivsor description.
However, once again reviewers have not been as kind with the venue scoring an average of three-stars out of five.
The venue does have a mix of reviews with the majority (37) reviews being “very good”, however it does have a large amount of one-star reviews at 29.
One TripAdvisor reviewer said “bates motel is nicer” and added that the room was “disgusting, not clean, with blood all over the bed frame.”
The hotel was the recent subject of a Facebook live by Criag Harker, owner of The Goerge Pub and Grill in Stockton.
6. South Shields Central, Stanhope Road, South Shields
With just one-star, this hotel has been branded it “absolutely terrible” and a “rip off.”
The reviewer continued to argue that after booking three rooms they couldn’t get into one of them.
In another room they found that the kitchen was “disgusting” and nothing like the photos.
There was also mould “everywhere” with wires hanging out, food wrappers left on the worktops and the bed sheets were also unclean.
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Another reviewer asked people to “avoid like the plague.” They added that the room seemed like a “drug den” with dirty carpets and a filthy kitchen and bathroom.
Another reviewer was forced to sleep in their car after communications failed with the venue.
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