Telford/Ironbridge, Clarion Hotel

We booked five nights at the Clarion Hotel and paid in advance. Having arrived at teatime on 28 December 2006, we were greeted by the somewhat indifferent receptionist, given the key to our room and left to carry our luggage up two flights of a very old, wooden, spiral staircase. The room was very interesting and quaint but of minuscule proportions, housing a bed which, at best, could be described as a large single bed. There were broken lights in the dark corridors which made it extremely difficult to even locate the keyhole. Despite bringing this to the receptionist's attention, nothing had changed two days later. Having spent a second sleepless night in the tiny bed, we decided enough was enough and approached reception with a request for a refund of the remaining three nights so that we could leave to find another hotel. The receptionist on duty said she could not understand why we were given that room because it was normally regarded as a single room and offered us a superior room in the more modern part of the hotel. Within 24 hours the toilet in this room had malfunctioned and we were moved to yet another room! Throughout the entire period of our stay neither the satellite TV, the in-room movies, or the in-room games system were working. Having sampled breakfast and seen what the catering staff could do with simple ingredients, we decided not to take any other meals in the hotel. Twice I entered the bar to find it completely devoid of customers and staff. I feel this has got to be the worst 3* hotel I have ever stayed in, at home or abroad.