My stay at the Clayton was much like all the other times I’ve stayed here, reliable but with recurring frustrations.
The location is excellent, though it comes at the cost of noticeable street noise, rooms on higher floors being quieter & making a big difference. Check-in remains dire, as staff direct you to use a self-service machine, which isn’t ideal if you’re dyslexic or don’t have reading glasses handy, and in my case staff ended up entering the details for me. I’d much prefer the option to check in at a proper desk and speak to a person, and the same goes for check-out; if I’ve got my glasses and the process is straightforward, I don’t mind using a machine, but the Clayton’s system really needs an overhaul.
For this stay I paid extra for a higher-floor room, the space was large, spotless, and had one of the most comfortable beds you’ll find in the city: to be fair I’ve never had a bad night’s sleep at the Clayton. The bathroom was bright and pleasant, though it could use more counter space, an updated shower tray, and ideally a handrail for safety.
Breakfast, however, is underwhelming, with the hot items lacking flavour and the continental options almost laughable, with squared formed packet ham, packet turkey, and curled up cheese slices. On the plus side, the croissants were excellent, the melon was fresh, and I appreciated the well-laid-out drinks area with dairy-free choices clearly separated. Great bed, can't outrun all the other downsides.