WORST RATED Hotel - The Royal Albion Hotel in Brighton 

The WORST Hotel in Blackpool? 👉 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ee9aIVNz6FM.html

As a non-Brit, the one thing Tim has taught me - if it's Britannia Hotels, do not book 😂

Whenever I see one of your WORST RATED Hotel videos I always say "It must be another Britannia Hotel" Yep, they never fail to disappoint!

nobody does the worst rated better than Tim , i absolutely love this content , i think Tim just has such a personal presentation style i think i'm there with him ❤ brilliant

Considering what happened to the hotel the other day, I had to laugh out loud when you said "I can really smell smoke" !!! What a shame these lovely old buildings become too expensive to maintain and slowly rot away 😒😒

Having worked for Britannia hotels I've seen first hand how much the company really doesn't care about the upkeep of the hotels, they come in and buy up these really nice grand looking places, give it an initial refurbishment and refresh and then forget about them, it's such a shame 😥😥

Second fire since being taken over by Britannia. I witnessed the 1998 fire as I was on my way to a dental appointment at a surgery just around the corner from the Albion. It look bad that day as well and it was 2 years before it was reopened. The fire this time was in the same part of the hotel as the last one, which is strange. Walked passed this morning and the fire brigade were still pouring water on the remains.

Tim. I hope the BBC come calling soon, I find your presenting style very engaging and your confidence puts me, the viewer, at ease, I never tire at the length which is also a credit to your ability to keep people switched on! Absolutely love this series, just a shame there are so many to pick from in the UK!

I think the recent fire (fires!) must be some sort of insurance claim.... how this could even be a hotel looking so run down is beyond me, and the cost to update it must be thousands.

This isn't the first random upgrade you have received. I'm starting to genuinely think these poorly rated places know who you are and give you their best room.

This is the one I've been waiting for. We stayed here in a basement room about 12 years ago. The room looked like a scene out of Dexter, there was what looked like blood splatter on the walls, skid marks in the toilets. Was just unbelievable. Like you I'm disappointed you got an upgrade lol

The fact that it is like a maze and is corridors on corridors goes a way to explain why the fire service didn’t send people in to fight the fire - could you imagine being a firefighter in smoke and flames trying to navigate! The random rubbish and numerous issues just go to show this place was an accident waiting to happen.

So sad to see this historic building of nearly 200 years burn like this but at least no one got hurt. I know it wasn't the best hotel but I was there last year and it had some beautiful interiors to explore. Hopefully it can recover and realise its full potential in the future in the right hands. Watching the video again!

I booked just down the road from here in a B & B a few years back after spending a day in Brighton. Top floor, had to turn sideways to get round the bed, shared toilet with loads of other people, furniture falling apart! First thing the owner did was give us a hot corn on the cob as we walked in the front door! Random!! We took one look at the room, turned on our heels (corn on the cob in hand) and crept out of the front door again and went back home! Love your worst hotels vids!! x J x

Hotel catches fire the year after you stayed in it. No surprise there looking at the quality of maintenance Britannia usually imbue their hotels and the 9:55 smokers everywhere as you noted.

I was the General Manager at this hotel in the 70s when it was privately owned. Frankly it looks like very little has changed apart from then it was clean.

It's such a shame for these older buildings to be in such a bad state of repair sometimes and it's all very well expecting the company to restore them, but they probably don't have the occupancy levels they need, because most people go abroad these days. Love the videos though!

I stayed with family and friends in a hotel in Brighton that was so disgraceful my mum reported them, but it was also so disgraceful that its one of my best memories because of how comical it was, not at the time but looking back and actually thinking about the fact that we stayed there. There was carpet squelching all the way up to the room, the door lock was stuck and the carpet was lifting at the door. We opened it eventually after asking manager for help, and once in, the room stunk. The window was literally nailed open with holes in the curtains and barbed wire with pigeon feathers at the sill, there was 3 bunk beds that were rusty and literally had no ladders, and the carpets were sticky. The ensuite was disgusting and when we sat on the toilet it did sink on one side into the cracked tiles and when you'd stand up it would lift again, and there was no plug in the bath or sink. When we asked about the plug they told us to use a plastic bag. When we were trying to sleep my sister shouted and I shot up off my bed, only to move my pillow and see a centipede or millipede of some sort, running on the sheet, and when I tried to run to go out the room to complain, we couldn't get the door open. We eventually did with 3 of us pulling it and we literally sat on the carpet on the stairs until my dad came back and we told him we refused to sleep there. He said there was no other option, which we knew, and we begged him to stay in the car but he said it was dangerous, so we went back to our room and sat awake talking all night instead of lying down to sleep until we could check out. It was so awful I can't even tell you. It was disgustingly filthy and absolutely completely awful. If I found out now it was actually a fake registered hotel and someone had just reopened a building that had closed down decades before, I promise I wouldn't be surprised. It had absolutely certainly never ever been cleaned or maintained. I have never ever stayed in Brighton since, even when I've travelled hours to visit, I refuse to stay there. Its rancid.

My mum was head housekeeper there (and my eldest sister deputy H/housekeeper) back in the v early 70's and another sister was a live in chambermaid. I used to do babysitting for any clients that wanted a night off. I was only about 14 at the time but remember my mother (despite all her faults) was a great stickler for cleanliness.

I felt it when the receptionist took the dodgy key card back and just slammed it into, what I assume was, the bin 😅 bless him

You’re braver than me. I couldn’t stay in such a dirty room! I like these worst of hotel series but could you review the breakfasts( or evening meals) as well? It be interesting to see what the food/ cleanliness of the hotel restaurants are like. You’re doing a grand job Tim. Love the videos.👍🏻

Ain’t this the hotel that literally just burned down in Brighton? I mean this may be the last documented video of the Hotel as it was.

I feel like some presevation society really needs to step in and stop Britannia from ruining these treasures of buildings... their heritage its at risk with the way Britannia "care" for them! Another Great video though, love this series!

It’s not usually the staffs fault for things being dirty or broken. Honestly, most staff try their best but they’re given an allotted amount of time to turn around a whole room before they move onto the next. If they can’t do it fast enough, they get reprimanded and eventually fired. And the time allotted doesn’t allow for more than a change of sheets, the bathroom, and some surfaces if they look particularly grubby, plus a quick vacuum. Unfortunately like everywhere with minimum wage workers they’re expected to do the jobs of three people each, in half the time, while getting pennies for their hard, manual labour. After a while anyone would get a bit complacent and annoyed. Cleaning is a bitch of a job.

I stayed at this hotel ONCE .The room reeked of cigarette smoke ..I guess its worse now!!!

From Wikipedia. On the morning of 24 November 1998, the hotel was devastated by a fire which started in the kitchen. A chef was frying eggs and sausages in a pan; hot fat spilt and caught light,[15] and flames were immediately sucked up a vent to the top floor. The fire spread quickly, assisted by strong winds, and all 160 people in the building were evacuated.[15][16] The Public and Commercial Services Union had to cancel their annual conference, due to be held that day, because of the disruption caused to its delegates, most of whom were staying at the hotel.[16] About 160 firefighters from all parts of East and West Sussex attended the fire from about 8.20am until late in the evening, in what was later described as Brighton's "biggest firefighting operation for nearly 30 years".[15] All parts of the hotel were affected by smoke, water and structural damage, but the original corner building was particularly badly affected. Still no excuse.

The last time I was booking a hotel for a trip to Brighton I was considering staying at the Royal Albion, watching this I’m glad I booked the Travelodge as I usually do. Having said that I bet that hotel was amazing back in its heyday.

I'm so glad you did this review. I worked in the Bat & Ball pub in Brighton many many many years ago and i stayed in the Royal Albion, even then it was extremely filthy. when i arrived the bath was full of hair where someone had obviously shaved something covered in hair (beard or something else) 🙂 They had to send a cleaner in to clean it. Sadly the entire hotel was as filthy. Seems they have made some kind of effort but i think the cleaners are just damn lazy.

I worked on this hotel around 8 years ago with a huge building firm. We had months and months of work, painting, gutting most rooms, restoring the old wooden windows the list goes on. Its a shame it seems it hasn't been kept on top of but I bet if you visited then you would have enjoyed your stay alot more. Shame really could be such a nicer hotel seeing as it's in such a amazing location it's placed!

Tim you should have your own tv series doing exactly this. You present very well.

The Royal Albion was probably the third best hotel in Brighton after the Grand and metropole. There was a massive fire there in 1998 which started in the kitchens but spread onto the roof. I think it was shortly after it was repaired that Britannia took over - I suspect it hasn’t been painted since then! I found this interesting snippet online about the fire: “After the fire, the Royal Albion had to contend with looting. A waiter (not from the Royal Albion) was caught stealing a TV and video recorder from the charred remains of the building and has been ordered to do 60 hours community service after admitting burglary. Anthony O'Kane, 22, was arrested by police after he was spotted walking out of the Royal Albion with the equipment in his arms two days after the fire.”

Just searched as its currently on fire on the news , and i had forgotten about this hotel. I stayed here about 10 yrs ago for 2 months whilst working away and it wasn’t that bad, the furniture was a little dated but the most important things was my room was clean and quiet. I was massively impressed with the size of the rooms and heights of the ceilings and in most of the rooms you got a sofa. I think this is one of the best britannia hotels ive stayed in, please never go to folkstone one !!

Hi Tim. You should check out Bunn leisure in Selsey West Sussex

There are some stunning looking hotels around Britain, it's such a shame some have been forgotten, and left to fall in despair, make old hotels beautiful again 👍

Being a brightonian I remember the steps downstairs to a lovely piano room and bar. I never thought about the hotel until it caught fire years ago caused by an extractor fan. Sadly it went down hill no doubt because of the owners neglect. It is now on fire once again where the fire engines cannot cope as we have 40 hr or more gales. I always think the worse when businesses go down hill. I hope that this is not the case. Too many fires in Brighton. BEDFORD HOTEL. HOVE TOWN HALL. WEST PIER. and others. Including my mother's house , lucky enough it was only the kitchen that was gutted.

Who is watching this after the Hotel fire, which burnt that area down that he slept in the other day. Judging by his video it looks like it was an accident waiting to happen. Especially if people were smoking when they shouldn't. 200 years up in smoke 😢.

Really sad that it was not renovated and burned down instead. I looked up some drone footage of the burned ruin and I could make out the blue railing of the old staircase... And it's this side of the hotel that burned down where your room is. So interesting to be able to see it now.

Great video Tim. If you had known beforehand of the upgrade , the family could have stayed with you. 🙂. They're probably doing the best they can on a very tight budget.

How prophetic about the smell of smoke! This hotel burned down a couple of days ago. They also had a big fire back in 1998.

Many of us rewatching this after the fire... Haunting. 10:03 "I can really smell smoke." 😮

I used to work there 30 or more years ago as a hall porter , it was struggling then , it had a silver service restaurant and function rooms.

Sadly this hotel ha been ravaged by a major fire over the weekend. 😢 its mostky a shell now. Fire crews are still on the scene at day 3, so this video serves as a historic record of what it was like inside, particularly as part of it was a grade 2 listed historic building

Not excusing the state, but a problem all the seafront properties do have to contend with is the onslaught of salt water propelled by heavy wind - it drives through the walls of these older properties, causing lots of problems. Oh and don't say "Brighton Pier" to any long standing Brightonians - it is the Palace Pier :)

Tim Liked your video, very objective and have to agree with you on a few pieces. The SunTerrace and walls were decorated last year, fantastic place to enjoy the sun as We have done once or twice. The hotel staff always very helpful. Tim I think still alot of improvement, but over the years they have improved it.

Fast forward to July 15th 2023 it miraculously caught fire and was badly damaged hmmm I wonder if it was insured

You mentioned the hotel being 200 years old, that explains why most of the hotel was the way it was. They may not have the staff or can afford to pay the staff to look after the rooms. Alot of the hotels here in Canada maybe the same way. Alot of the hotels are looked after because they want the business.

Hi Tim. I agree reception bar and restraint lovely. Pity the rest let's it down good clean,paint job and new furniture in the rooms.

The padlocked door is probably where they store the loo rolls & cleaning supplies, which is not terribly spooky. Or if you prefer you can think that it is where the hotels resident vampire is chained in his coffin.

It's such a shame that Britannia takes on these fantastic buildings but almost leaves them to rot.

This hotel has just burnt to the ground. Yes it was in a bad state, but there was history to this hotel. A sad loss

Another great vid. Love your visits to these terrible places, amazes mart that there are actually people staying there, mostly elderly. Thank you for taking your life in your hands all for entertainment

I love how they've put the remote control in a bag that says it's been sanitised, when the rest of the hotel is stinking dirty 😅

It’s so sad that it’s so run down because it’s in a prime location. It needs a complete reservation

Busted. Crusted, Disgusted but at least the remote is sani-bagged 😄

I feel like avoiding the basement in all these videos defeats the point of seeing the worst of the locations

Tim, I am always telling people to watch Walk With Me Tim on RU-vid, your videos are the best. I adored the one in Lowestoft, takes me back to my childhood and the worst rated hotels fill me with sadness looking at just how beautiful these hotels were and could be.

Been following this series and only just on this one when I noticed I’ve heard this on the news. So glad no one was injured

I guess that room is gone now.. 😢

Another great watch, as usual. I'm trying not to binge the entire channel having only found it this month, I'm going to be disappointed when I catch up and have no new blogs to watch!

Just re-watched this vlog on your stay here in the RA Hotel after the aftermath of the fire. Bet you didn't realise just how brave you were. Lots of National Holidays with older citizens stayed here and did so up to last Saturday. Absolutely frightening on all levels!

I'm so glad I saw this video back in January when I was deciding on which hotel to book in Brighton this Summer. Ended up staying at The Grand. The Albion burnt down just a week or so before I arrived!

This part of the hotel including the room you’re in has recently burned down in a massive fire a few weeks back. Shame as the old architecture is gone forever.

I’m one of your fans I’m an old man who lurks in the background here and travels through you vicariously man you got good energy and I used to have that also I enjoy your Las Vegas as well as other European as well as Las Vegas videos. I truly enjoyed this one on Brighton because I’m a big fan of dad‘s army yes I’m an American and I’ve lived here all my life and I’m 77 but I gotta tell you, I can see where the seaside is beautiful and why it would draw people but you’re right that hotel it’s a little bit wonky you do a great job and I appreciate it and I enjoy it and thank you for the entertainment you do it well!.. by the way, being an avid British comedy fan as it’s called here keeping up appearances was one of the favorites of all our family as well as of course are you being served and the aforementioned dad’s army but there were a few others one that comes to mind immediately, which probably the best of all open all hours. Ronnie Barker was probably one of the funniest man. Thanks buddy I appreciate it. I don’t comment on anything with anybody not even in my own family.😂😂😂

Hi Tim the hotel was on fire a few days ago and is no longer a hotel rip

l lOVE YOUR POSTSBut sorry this Hotel is no more as burnt down on Sunday last (see you tube ) May I suggest Hinton furze inBournemouth (Room only .) was a great once!!!!!

Somebody burned it down ! Wonder if they were disappointed by their free room !

This hotel caught fire last weekend and part of it is having to be demolished.

Those who might know the history of Brighton and this particular hotel will recognise that in 1998 it saw the worst fire in Brighton ever. The place was pretty much gutted with the internals having to be completely restored. So all this deterioration has taken a mere 24 yrs of 'neglect' by the management and 'abuse' by the clientele - perhaps the lower floors where public areas are not so bad - but I would avoid staying there like the plague anyway!

Another great blog Tim, as ever. Very fair review overall. Fantastic location, I need to visit Brighton. 😊

Loved this vid! I lived in Brighton for years and must've walked past this place countless times, was genuinely fascinating getting to see that the interior is as rundown as the exterior 😆 Also a couple of the houses i rented seemed to be built in a similar era to this hotel & were just as shabby lol My old house had similar ornate details along the ceilings & these 2 old fashioned head sculptures in the hallway plasterwork that were so gnarled it looked a bit like a horror movie set..

I'm new to the channel and I've binge-watched the 'worst hotel' series. Great content and I hope you do more in the coming year!

Well it's all been sorted now. It burned to the ground. Thankfully no one was hurt.

As of 15/07/2023 the hotel is no more. Gutted by fire, cause currently under investigation. Makes you wonder…

I like how you get a free upgrade but go straight to slating it 😂 Love honesty!

I worked on the refit of the royal albion in 1987 it looks beautiful when we finished unfortunately some of what you've shown was from 1987

It's so sad that all of our grand seaside hotels are falling apart. If I win the lottery maybe I'll buy one and renovate it, but I'm guessing most business people think it's a bad investment. 🤔

I'd say 90% of Britannia hotels could be vastly improved and become great hotels but theyll just rot away until theyre demolished. Such a shame That property in canary wharf could be amazing. The one in Coventry could be a mid century design classic. The one in Liverpool could be amazing. Such a shame

Why is it that the Britannia Hotels group have the worst hotels in the UK? You’d think they’d do something about it to improve their shocking reputation. I’d never stay in a Britannia hotel.

It makes me sad that these worst rated hotels could be really beautiful :( even the location is amazing, the beach view and terrace are also stunning and I also feel bad for the people staying there without actually knowing they'll get these nasty and gross rooms

Good video 😁!! I’ve been to Brighton a few times before but I’ve never came across this hotel and I’m glad I haven’t 😂!! Great series though 👍!!

I once stayed there. It was okay - walls had just been painted as could smell the gloss. However due to a heavy rainfall a flood occurred in the bottom of the hotel and we had to leave

Just as well it burned down recently....I met Michael Barrymore and his wife on the stairs one afternoon. I wish you would show the evening meals and breakfasts too

I remember going to Brighton with my parents for a union conference when I was a kid in probably the mid to late 90s and there was a fire at the Royal Albion and a number of people from the conference were staying there. From what I remember nobody was seriously hurt but I thought it had been pretty much entirely rebuild after that. This video makes it look like it's not been touched since long before then.

These poor old establishments, you could never hire enough staff and charge patrons a competitive rate to upkeep such a place.

I'm from Stockport which had the honour of having the worst Britannia hotel in Britain. Imagine that. The worst BRITANNIA Hotel!!! That basically means it's the worst hotel on the planet. I never stayed there but I've stayed at the Brighton Royal Albion . It was a Tesco club card Deal, so it was free but I still feel overcharged. Genuinely the room was freezing, no heating. We were facing a bus waiting area so the windows rattled as the buses idled and filled the room with diesel fumes. I assume they tell their cleaning staff to take no more than 5 minutes per room. Their common theme is filth. They own Pontins.

Your room on the 4th floor is close to where the fire started today, I would say, based on your view

Just had a major fire.

The fact you need a code for the toilet might explain the stain on the carpet

It breaks my heart to see these magnificent hotels being left to rot. Bloody Britannia!😡

Mona Lisa starring Bob hoskins was filmed here in 86

Well, this room and this section of this building no longer exists. Such a shame as this part was the 200 year old part of the hotel I believe. If only those strong winds weren’t present that day, then the fire brigade may have stood more of a chance of saving it.

I grew up in Brighton and as a kid I always thought it looked so magnificent and always wanted to stay there.

Before even watching I guessed it would be a Britannia hotel! They should be banned from running hotels!

Hi Tim we were unfortunate enough to stay in the Britannia airport hotel in Manchester and it was just so disgusting. The meals were awful the room was awful. I don’t know if you have been there but I think you should and see what you think. I am a new viewer and think you give such honest reviews keep up the great work look forward to seeing more of your videos.

this is an interesting watch cause i witnessed this hotel burn down this weekend.

Really really have been enjoying your videos in these old seaside hotels, your relaxed chatty demeanour is very engaging and all the content is interesting for curious people like me!! One comment I would make is it would me great if you could describe the overnight experience, how noisey it is, is the bed comfy to sleep on all night, also what it is like to dine there, what are the bars like , bar prices and choice, is their entertainment and is it good, what is the breakfast like, this is a massive one, we all would love to see the breakfast they offer, I'm not so sure you actually stay the night so the review seems half baked, In fairness to the establishment it may be worth you stopping and doing a full review especially as your videos have become really popular. The cost of the stay/food/drink would also put some context to the review. Good luck with your channel.

I stayed here a couple of months ago and I couldn't fault it . Staff very helpful, karaoke in the evenings. Meals were great . Yes the rooms were a bit dated but they were comfortable and at end of day it's not like your in the rooms 24/7. We were out and about. So despite this I give my thumbs up to the royal albion and yes I'd stay there again. Its not all doom and gloom It was affordable and central , it was accommodating, I didn't expect 5 star for the price and that was good enough for me.

The whole place says welcome to 1991 from the wallpaper to the blonde furniture. RU-vid's adds are going into overdrive, enough to drive a person crazy.

Finally the one Britannia hotel I’ve actually stayed in! My mother and I booked a premier room with a sea view. The view was incredible but you could hardly see it through the filthy window. There was a night club in the hotel too that made it impossible to sleep.

Tim, first off I really enjoy your videos. They are all very informative and entertaining. Keep up the great work. I kept thinking of the Royal Albion watching your videos and was excited to see you made one on the hotel. My wife and I (from the US) stayed there in the spring of 2008 with some friends. We arrived at the hotel around midnight, so it was dark and quiet, but the outside of the hotel looked cool and grand. However, the interior told a different story. I see in the video nothing improved. The room was dirty, windows were too scary to touch or get close to look outside, it was freezing cold, and the floor was warped. Fortunately we just stayed the one night. Breakfast was included, which was a mistake. The food was not very good. The scrambled eggs were as runny as a kids nose. Fortunately, this was the only bad hotel on the trip. The remaining B&B’s and hotels were top notch throughout England and Scotland. I look forward coming back someday and will be sure to refer to your videos for suggestions. I read in the news the hotel is closed due to a fire from a cigarette (which is ironic you were smelling cigarette smoke). I sure hope they take this opportunity to bring the 200 year old hotel back to its original glory.