Broadway Hotel

I am writing this review as a expatriated Brit living in the US for decades, so measuring the hotel by US standards maybe: that said this hotel leaves a lot to be desired by any standards. The hotel is located in the small town (population 40 – 50 thousand I think) where I was born and raised. This hotel (in the 60’s) was the best in town and close to the town center and railway station. Well it still is situated there (of course) except unfortunately the town has started on a long slow decline and there is very little there any more.
I note that none of the reviews are from people who have stayed at the hotel. Well I stayed there five nights and was quite disappointed. The room itself was small and cramped with 2 small single beds (3 feet wide), and it was very cold. I discovered that by crawling under the furniture I could reach one of the radiators, open a valve and have hot water circulating to warm the room some. Air conditioning — no! Yes there was a TV, yes it was flat screen — but it was the size of a computer monitor and too small to watch from the bed (s) — no armchair or sofa to watch from (room too small). Also there was no remote for the TV — so essentially I never used it at all.
One thing I had counted on was to be able to make local phone calls (my cell would be roaming and very expensive) but guess what??? A sign right by the phone telling you (after you have checked in and pre-​paid) — the phone cannot be used to make any calls — only the front desk.
On the basis of the above I would be thinking of 2 – 3 stars but leaning to 2.
So why one star? This is the killer folks — and one day it could literally be that! Safety? Scary!
I had a flight back home leaving Heathrow around 11.30 so I had to get up at 6 and be out the door by as soon after 6.30 as possible. I roll my (heavy) suitcase down the corridor (2^nd floor) to the elevator, but the elevator was turned off fro the night. So I struggled with the suitcase, carry on, computer bag down the stairs and find the door from the stairwell to the hotel locked!!! I banged on the door — no response, I thumped and thumped, no response. I followed the sign to emergency street exit. Locked! I can only get out by smashing glass.
Go back to the room — call both numbers for front desk repeatedly — no answer. At this point I am panicking — my flight! Go back downstairs and bang bang bang that door — finally the night watch, an or whatever (it is now 7am) comes and unlocks the door just before I start breaking doors! What a fiasco. Stay again? Thanks but no thanks!

Wonderful carvery, lovely staff and I really like the atmosphere. Eat here quite a lot because it is great value, and with a carvery you know what you’re getting and that it’ll be consistently good everytime you go in.

We went here for the carvery as small birthday treat for me. The staff were awful, the food was cold and I ended up going home in tears. The drinks we’d ordered were plonked down on the table and spilt. The carver appeared to be in a foul mood and was snappy. The meat was dry and the vegetables were soggy and it was all cold. It pretends to be a fabulous place but unfortunately falls very short of the mark. The decoration looks posh but its all looks, the seats were hugely uncomfortable and the tables are really packed in. Its prentenious dining.

The broadway carvery is a perfect place to go to a some quick grub that won’t cost you very much.
I have never actually stayed at the hotel, but from what our friends were paying when they stayed there during ouf wedding, it did seem rather expensive for a far from London Hotel.
The restaurant is very big, but built in a way it doesn’t ever feel too noisy or like you are sitting in a school cafeteria. It has plenty of nooks and crannies, a mish mash of tables and chairs, nice lighting and is all in all very cosy.
The food on the menu is not a great as it used to be, they removed most of the intresting bits and replaced it with things you’d find on any menu, in some ways it seems rather old fashion and 70’s. Steaks and prawn cocktails ect.
The carvery on the other hand is suburb, it is very inexpensive (pricier on a sunday) the food is
always tasty and not dry, as it can get at carverys at times. Most days you get an option of beaf, turky or gammon or all three if you are my husband!
There is a kids menu, but most times I just share my food with my son, as you can take loads of veggies. There are loads of highchairs around. The baby changing is in the ladies, which makes it a bit tricky for dads dining alone with their kids. Or indeed for mums trying to get out of nappy changing!

I have never stayed in this hotel so I don’t know what it is like. However, I have eaten here regularly as they do a fantastic carvery, it is around five pounds a head in the day and the food is superb. So if you are shopping in Letchworth, don’t bother with a café, why not have a proper meal for around the same price.