Possibly the worst accommodation I’ve stayed in … and I’m a well travelled pensioner that would willingly sleep upright in a broom cupboard if it saved me a few quid. Occasionally I’ve treated myself to the luxury of a Travelodge but the accommodation has always seemed unnecessarily grand for me. Which is why I chose the Star when staying in Southampton recently. The (no) Star Hotel apparently dates back to the 18th century, but the decor suggests firmly that it was built much earlier. To say the rooms are tatty does the word tatty a huge disservice: wallpaper struggles to stay on the wall, radiators steadfastly refuse to radiate any heat and I’ve had leaking bathroom taps that dispense more water when shut than the hotel shower does when fully open. Believe me, you won’t need a hair dryer when staying in this dump. The car park has spaces that are so narrow that I wouldn’t attempt parking here unless you’re proficient at leaving and re-entering your car through the sunroof. The reception staff are fine as long as you don’t attempt to talk to them and the manager leads by example, treating customers with the contempt he clearly feels they deserve. My wife and I complained about having little water and no power in our room and after several days of investigating, Basil Fawlty Snr concluded it was our fault for expecting such luxuries in such a tin-pot establishment. Do yourself a favour and avoid this hotel like the plague.