The Roman Gathering

Close to centre of town and ideal for the racecourse

Traffic noise Uncomfortable bed

Clean and tidy with comfortable beds. Close to the city centre.

Pointing around the bedroom windows would help to reduce the noise from the road. Having a fridge that you can stand a bottle of milk up in would be helpful as well.

The house had a good bathroom to guest ratio and the showers worked well with good pressure and hot water ( although see below as well). Bedding and towels were clean and plentiful. The bed and bath rooms were spotlessly clean..The living area had plenty of sofa seating, and a good supply of glasses, mugs, plates and cutlery and cooking saucepans and ovenware. The online house book was comprehensive. And having a key code on the front door was a godsend rather than having to share a key between seven. When we arrived the property was toasty warm. Location means that the city centre is a few minutes walk, as is access to the city walls; whilst access to the main route to Wales and out northwards/eastwards is excellent.

Despite the double glazing, noise from the dual carriageway ring road right outside was pretty loud. The house itself has squeaky stairs and very thin walls. The double beds were mainly 2 singles fastened together which gave a ridge down the middle from the two mattress edges meeting. The singles all seemed to be 2ft ones, so narrow for a normal adult. There was no drawer or wardrobe space for storing clothes. The kitchen had very few cooking utensils, no coffee machine nor cafetière, very few bowls. The fridge was very small for seven people (and the property slept up to 10). And be aware that the oven heats up very slowly. There was a dining table but only 3 chairs. When we arrived and unfolded the dining table it was covered with lots of sticky wine glass marks. Likewise the rug in the living room had lots of bits on it and also quite a few hairpins, presumably left by previous guests. Most of the metal ovenware, as well as the plates and cutlery were smeary and needed washing before use. I expect a higher standard of cleaning between stays. The property is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility - there are steep, quite narrow steps up to the door from the street and stairs in the house to all bedrooms. You cannot park outside even to unload as the property faces directly onto a dual carriageway. Parking is a few minutes walk away in a multi storey car park and there are charges. Finally, on our second morning we woke up to no heating and no hot water. We called the property manager first at 08.25 who were prompt at answering, but one of the party still had to wait in until about 11.25 for the maintenance guy to arrive and fix it (which he did, and was very friendly). All in all, a good property for a party of active people not intending to cook much for themselves, and who don't mind living out of their suitcase.

location to town was very good

internal noise, if anyone moved in the night it could be heard throughout the house.