London Chigwell Prince Regent BW Signature

"Disappointing Stay at Best Western Prince Regent, Chigwell\n\nMy experience at this hotel was underwhelming from the moment I arrived. The receptionist, Phudhvi Gupta, was on his mobile phone during check-in—initially claiming he was confirming with housekeeping that the room was ready (at 8:45pm), but later changing his story to say he was arranging an upgrade. Oddly, he then handed me a pre-printed check-in sheet with a room number already assigned, which made the upgrade claim feel disingenuous.\n\nThe room itself was extremely small, and if that was an upgrade, I dread to think what the standard rooms are like. It felt like the staff were not being honest, and I suspect the receptionist was simply messaging someone socially during check-in. The “upgrade” line seems like a scripted excuse, especially given the poor room quality.\n\nBefore check-in, I was asked to pay a £100 deposit—apparently because guests frequently steal towels, hair dryers, or damage the facilities. I’ve stayed in many hotels and have never encountered such a policy. Frankly, the amenities weren’t of a quality that anyone would want to steal.\n\nThe room was cramped, and the bathroom offered no privacy. The toilet was positioned directly next to a clear window with no curtain or blind—at night, everything inside was visible from outside. It was a baffling and uncomfortable setup.\n\nVentilation was poor. While the windows could open, there was no mechanism to keep them open safely, and the room became uncomfortably hot overnight. A small table fan was provided, but contrary to what’s advertised, there was no air conditioning. The bed was equally disappointing—an old, thin mattress with noticeable lumps, and the pillows were so misshapen they felt like they were stuffed with feathers from a long-deceased bird.\n\nBreakfast, which I had prepaid, wasn’t even mentioned at check-in. That said, the buffet was basic but probably the best part of the stay."

"Attended a funeral reception here. For starters we were told that parking was free but on arrival was told we had to pay, fair enough. Had to scan a QR code but the app didn't work. Went to reception and they said to pay in cash and parking with reg number was sorted. This took at least 15 - 20 mins. The space was adequate and the event went well."

"Just come back from an afternoon tea at this beautiful hotel. The afternoon tea was outstanding. The sandwiches were really nice and fresh. The scones were delicious and hot. Was served by Luke, his service was outstanding and to another level. He served us with a big smile and nothing was to much for him.\nI will recommend this afternoon tea to my family and friends."