Castle Lodge Guest House Gatwick

Turn off the lights… or else! Extremely arrogant and aggressive owner with false claim of a shuttle service gets this place my first “1” and worst rating! What we experienced in this establishment is somewhat unbelievable for me but in reading the experiences of others, I now realise our experience was not an isolated incidence. For me, “1” represents a collection of bad experiences followed by poor or unacceptable action on behalf of the service provider. It also indicates that I would personally never return. Transiting through Gatwick Airport, we sought a room in a nearby town. The main criteria was that they had a shuttle service. Gatwick Castle B&B indicated a shuttle service was available for a fee. So, we made the booking. After arriving at Gatwick train station, I phoned the property to arrange the shuttle but was told by the gentleman that answered that there WAS NO SHUTTLE! However, he indicated that he could call a taxi for us and that it would cost around £18.50. As I was standing in front of the taxi stand, I just took my own cab. Upon arriving and checking in, we did not receive a room in the main house but were led to a door off the alley on the side of the house. Upon opening the door, I realised I had made a mistake in booking this property. The room and bathroom were very small and after bringing in our cases, it was a difficult to move around. While the room was well cleaned, it had a smell of what I can only guess was old, dirty or wet carpet. The double bed had indents (see photos) that indicated they were LONG overdue to be replaced. Their was a door in the room that lead to the rest of the house but it was locked and only accessible from the other side. We rested before heading out to supper but were a little unsettled by the door knob rattling. Not knowing if it was the wind or someone trying the knob, we decided to set up a system to detect whether someone entered our room. Before leaving we also turned on the television to make it appear we were inside and turned on the light outside the door to facilitate the return to our room off the dark alley. Upon returning, we realised that someone HAD entered the room. My spouse confronted the attendant who later identified himself as the owner. After she was gone a long time, I followed and picked up the discussion. This discussion lead to a shouting match between me and the owner on the front steps of our property. His main concern was that we left the fluorescent light on outside our room. Yes, you read this correct, we left a security light on. While we were out, he informed us he had knocked on our door to tell us to turn off the light. I was told in no uncertain terms that I had a “responsibility” to turn off the light. He pointed out that there was a motion sensor security light but we didn’t know this. After an hour of trying to reason with him, we realised it was futile and went to bed. Once in bed, someone started banging our door. We refused to answer

LISTEN TO WHAT I'M SAYING MADAME!!" from the owner of Gatwick Castle B and B, when you have been left stranded at Gatwick Airport after being delayed for 2 hours unable to contact them , after they have taken payment for a taxi to pick us up when we arrived back from Italy, and they have gone off for a meal !!! No other taxi arranged for our pick up although they knew we were coming, No text message to ask where we were later than expected, No apologies,but so quick to go out for a meal and SO VERY QUICK TO TAKE OUR PRE-PAYMENT FOR NON EXISTENT PICK UP TAXI !!! Check how much they charge too as £28 going to airport and £25 pick up , although when having to book an airport taxi charging £20 !! NOT GOOD BUSINESS!!! Be prepared for you to pay/wait for their meal while you are left at the airport. Hope you had a lovely meal ?!! NOT RECOMMENDED

Very basic advertising tea coffee and fridge in room none of these was available on a table was a jug of water and glasses no tea tray one chair clock on wall no batteries in so not working no bin for rubbish door had a job to lock it door itself needed finishing as one side no done pull cord in bathroom cord was dirty as no end on it smelt musty breakfast continental was worse I have seen cheese was slices in packet thin what you would use in bbq no meats crossonts never tried fruit was small apples and small oranges which was yellow and all with their skin on cereals bread jams honey in bottle been used no yogurt no mixed fruit no meats not very appertising very poor owner was polite but hotel ect needs plenty of details to be done bathroom was clean but sink plug was fithy and not cleaned shower trap the same £5 to park car daily had to pay cash for that separate aright if you just want to get head down for night but sorry not for me

I was on business and not using the B&B as a stop for Gatwick. The owners/staff are lovely but they need to improve. The location was chosen for me to get into work and the train station. My room door handle was forced a few times as people tried to access the room, so as a single female traveller I felt unsafe. I was terribly scared and nearly called the police. It was noisy as an old building, people are using this as a stop so coming and going all night. The rooms are dated, with no tea/coffee/hair dryer/iron etc. It is clean but my bed had stains on the headboard. I had a jug of water, how is that acceptable? The worse is the Breakfast, instant coffee, a kettle, sugary cereals, plastic cheese, pile of cheap bread and croissants you get for a pound in Tesco (they left the packages) some crackers and tiny muffins. It was appalling, for £100 my company paid, I had to find a cafe to get some food before work. I would advise going to Spoons for breakfast and not pay! Its not worth the money Travelodge, Holiday Inn and Premier Inn are all clean, modern, with decent hot breakfast. If you are needing to park the car and go on holiday fine but any other purpose avoid. I will not be coming back

The proprietor offers a taxi service for guests to and from Gatwick airport. Back in February we booked this service and a night’s accommodation for a group of five on our return from Spain in May – in two 10 minute trips as the owner only has a small SUV. All went well as we just had a 10 minute wait for the first 3 of our group to be picked up outside the terminal. The remaining 2 of us then expected to wait a maximum of another 20 minutes to be collected and taken to the B&B. After half an hour we heard from our friends that Ahmed was found sitting in his office, oblivious to the fact that there were 2 more of the party still waiting to be collected at the airport. So he finally turned up after a further ¾ hour wait and said nobody told him we were to be picked up as well. He was told and agreed the arrangements in February! And why did he think there were 5 of us milling around his car debating who was to go on the first run from the airport? An argument ensued when we got to Gatwick Castle B&B with Ahmed just making a string of excuses for his memory/competence lapse. He even said that “elderly people” like me should be more careful with their timings. I consider this an insulting remark as the airline’s and our timings were perfect. His were hopeless! If he had just admitted that he had been at fault and apologised for not double-checking the booking numbers, all would have been forgiven and all the aggravation and this negative review avoided.

Excellent experience, they where super nice and the room was very nice. Definitely a good place to stay by gatwick airport and an easy walk to the train to London. Lots of little shops around and good restaurants nearby. The breakfast is a good continental breakfast they serve.

This is my 2nd time staying here and cannot praise it enough. From dropping us off at the airport, leaving the car for 2 weeks that stay on their premises and not moved, (at a reasonable cost) picking us up within 10 minutes of ringing from airport. Great restaurants and pubs within 2 mins walk. Very friendly owners. Comfy beds, very clean and lovely shower. Nice breakfast a lovely cheese and marmite toastie for me (not many places you can that) I love it 😊 before a long drive home. Perfect for us at a good cost.

Manager was very rude, threatening and tried to con us out of more money. We stayed back in March and he was very helpful so I paid a deposit for myself and friend to stay on our return after late flight back to UK. We left the car there for one week prior. When he picked us up at Gatwick he said we have to pay him a further £40 On top of our previously agreed Bill as he had to move some guests to another hotel so we could have a room. I always thought if you paid a deposit it booked your room for the date you requested??. I had also spoke to him the day before we left our car to confirm and again on our arrival for our return flight, stay and to pick up the car. When we told him it wasnt our fault he messed up and its not for us to pay more over the agreed price he got very aggressive staryed reversing car whilst my friend was getting out saying he take us back to airport so we would have to get a taxi to pick up car. We are 2 females aged 68 and was very frightened as also early hours of morning felt intimidated and threatened . We got in car and drove home. Very nasty man and a thief whose word is not his bond. He was lucky it wasn't with my husband. NEVER STAY HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO GET RIPPED OFF!!

I love the owner, best experience ever. He was ever so helpful. Right near airport and well worth it. They will even drop you off and pick you up for less than a regular cab. I would come back every time here. Best restaurants right around the corner, comfy beds!