Motel Schmotel

United Kingdom , Brighton
Brighton And Hove, 37 Russell Square, 37
Show on Google | Map

50 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

24 May 2026

Michael

Was located close to the centre of town, near the Churchill shopping centre, also close to the beach. Also reasonably close to the train station.
The building had quite narrow corridors/stairs which made it difficult to move my large suitcase down the stairs.
But overall a positive experience.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2026

Mike

Good value clean room, easy check in

Self

8/10

Excellent

03 Apr 2026

Joshua

Room was fine, would have been nice to have received the door codes instead of having to call the number on the door, wait 15 minutes for someone to let me in, take me to my room and then give me a keycard. They messaged me 4 hours after I arrived (2pm) to tell them when I was arriving so they could send me the code but they just ignored the message. Bathroom was so tiny it was difficult to manoeuvre without having to keep the door open. Location was perfect near to bars and the shopping centre and other attractions. Temperature control was difficult, it's either keep the windows closed and be constantly warm or open the window and have the constant smell of substances and cigarettes coming through the window from the balconies below when you wanted to get air in. The smell alone was enough to make me heave and stuck to everything I had with me. Cheap and cheerful, would probably stay again if I return to Brighton and it was a competitive price.

Self

8/10

Excellent

01 Apr 2026

Sanjay Kumar

Small room for a single traveler. Pretty good for a day or two. Have a creepy painting on the wall.
Except that its pretty satisfactory

Self

8/10

Excellent

22 Mar 2026

Andy

Great value in central location. Room had all amenities, the only downside was person upstairs spent all night wandering around

10/10

Exceptional

02 Mar 2026

Dominic

Very close to shopping centre & shops. Ideal location for public transport.

Room very clean & tidy. Staff are very friendly helpful and polite.

This is my second visit, and will be returning again. I give it, 5 *

Self

2/10

Poor

30 Nov 2025

Andy

Never been in a more filthy room in my life. I have several photos that I will be sharing, still waiting for hotel to contact me back. I tried to contact hotels.com also and got stuck in loop as I left minutes after walking into the room and booked another hotel.

Partner

2/10

Poor

24 Nov 2025

Clarissa

Booked their luxury ground floor room for 2 nights solo. The hotel is in a great area and the staff are friendly but the room was in poor condition, the shower was full of grime and mould with a broken drain cover. The window didn’t shut properly making it hard to sleep at night due to the cold which didn’t help the as the bed was already uncomfortable. The pictures are misleading/outdated, the room is small and needs work. If you are desperate and need somewhere cheap it’s doable but you are better off finding somewhere else as there are other properties at similar rates but clean and comfortable.

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

24 Nov 2025

Zach

I did not stay. It was an awful place. Nothing like the pic on the website.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

30 Oct 2025

Andrew

Unclean

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

01 Sep 2025

Menon

Too small

4/10

Poor

14 Jul 2025

Verified traveler

Good location, unfortunately came home with a lot of bed bug bites

Friends_and_family Friends

4/10

Poor

23 Jun 2025

Bethanie

Quite a busy loud location. Ground floor room you hear everyone; outside, inside, everyone.

Cracked toilet seat but otherwise room was doable but the disturbance was really bad.

Outdated and could do with a makeover and new lights etc.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

30 May 2025

Sasha

There was no food or dinner we had to buy our own food to have

2/10

Poor

26 Apr 2025

Tim

Room is small not even a table can’t even move it the shower never mind using the toilet plus u can hear next people wall not insulated

Business

4/10

Poor

08 Apr 2025

John

Only if you're desperate

Very, very small room described as a standard, en suite room. I'm average height at best and struggled to even use the toilet. Room was covered in cobwebs, curtains only just attached to their rail, window itself cracked and just repaired with sellotape, floor looked like it had never seen a mop or Hoover. As the title says if it's your last resort then book it, if you're coming to Brighton to just get absolutely blind drunk then you might just manage but anyone else I'd say just spend just a little more and get somewhere decent. I visit relatives in Brighton and believe me there are many hotels, reasonably priced around so avoid this Hotel if you can.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Mar 2025

Kevin

Good location

It's in a good location, close to shopping area. Bathroom was hidden in what looked like a closet. Better rate the longer you stay.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

25 Feb 2025

Robert

The convenience and the price. The property was a little shabby, and the en suite was very small. The bed not very comfortable.

Business Self

2/10

Poor

15 Sep 2024

Glen

The property was dirty it looked nothing like the photos, my wife could have cried when we walked in we upgraded to another room that was just as bad. Completely spoiled how much needed hoilday..disgusting place

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

11 Sep 2024

Sergey

Picture look better than reality. Rooms are small, mattresses and pillows aren't great, bathrooms are tiny. Good price though and good location.

Business Self

4/10

Poor

22 Aug 2024

Kirsty

Do not believe the pictures. This used to be an amazing b&b but it's now just run down, damp rooms. Staff do not work on site, as they're at a different property down the road. The windows don't close, the heating doesn't work. The bedding isn't fit for a hotel. I’m sure the owners once had good intentions, but owning more than one property and the pandemic has made this place basically a hostel. They need a word with The Hotel Inspector!

Business_and_leisure Self

2/10

Poor

08 Aug 2024

Ivor James

If it was not for the nice host, most would of been terrible ratings. Our room was in poor condition, not as per advertised. Toilets were very small and I mean small. In fairness another room was offered, but facilities are poor. On the top floor, we had concerns about fire escape safety also. Noise reduction between walls is also limited.

Business_and_leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

21 Jul 2024

GREGORY

More shabby than chic, I nevertheless soon became quite enamoured of my humble little room on the first floor.

These prices were often a third of the travelodge. Is Schmotel three times worse than travelodge? No it’s a different thing.

I was therefore pleased that there were no ghosts or Frankensteins and no poo on the wall or ceiling, and nobody with loud and evil intent anywhere in the seven blessed rooms.

Leisure

2/10

Poor

15 Jul 2024

Lisa

This property was nothing at all like advertised. It was dirty, tiny and stank of smoke. There was no breakfast option, my room was tiny with very poor and outdated facilities. I would not stay here again, despite the low price and convenient location.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

29 May 2024

Alan

The owner Chi was very friendly, and the room is nice for a stay near the beech in wonderful Brighton.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

27 May 2024

Verified traveler

Stay for location

Arrived on time but nowhere to get in, no reception, waited 10mins then asked housekeeper who went out but she’s didn’t speak a word in English. After 5mins asked her again mimicking what I want so she gave me number to call. A person came. Everything in house extremely old and worn out and half-broken; toilet never fully flushes, mini fridge makes noise so need to unplug for a night, floors extremely squeaky with every move, you can hear all neighbours (even next door) their every step. Floors also not straight at all. Shower not scrubbed, rusty. The only good thing was the bed - very comfy. If I ever had to stay again it would be due to location which was perfect. 3mins walk to beach, 2mins to high street, 10mins to Royal Pavilion, 15mins to Pier.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Mar 2024

Ellie

Basic but great overall! I recommend.

My room at Motel Schmotel was great. The room was small and basic but had all amenities I needed. My lamp stopped working but I’m sure if I had reported it, it would’ve been replaced. Qi An was a lovely host and carried my bag up to the fourth floor for me. Good price and close to the city centre - great for solo travellers and business trips like mine.

Business

4/10

Poor

04 Feb 2024

TRACY

The property was fine apart from a drunk in the room next door shouting and smashing things , was very un nerving , and no visible staff to complain too .

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

08 Jan 2024

Ian

The property is close to town which is great and the staff responded quickly to any questions or needs. However, the place wasn’t properly cleaned and I have several bite marks around my body from bed bugs for this reason I wouldn’t recommend this place

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

21 Sep 2023

Verified traveler

Older dated room

Hotel is basic. No reception or so. Basic cleaning on the day. Room was old and a bit dated.
However, clean. Toilet didn't flush properly.
It did the job to sleep there, but, not more than that.
so, if you are okay with a very basic, dated but clean room, it will do.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

20 Jul 2023

Toby

Could be better, could be worse

It's quiet, but you're prone to end up with a room full of flies if you leave the window open too long. Nice location, though.

Self

8/10

Excellent

11 May 2023

Toby

Convenient location, nice staff/hotel manager.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

22 Apr 2023

Daniel

Heating was maxed out making the room stuffy, shower was too small to use comfortably

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

31 Dec 2022

Charles

If you’re a smoker then perhaps this would be ok for you. It smelt so strongly of smoke that I didn’t want to be there at all. Mould in the bathroom too.
Sheets were clean, toilet and shower were also clean, but the mould made me just want to get out of there.
Booked two nights, only stayed for one.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

24 Dec 2022

Nur Arif

strategic location and nice staff

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

25 Oct 2022

Deborah

The room was very pleasant. Clean, tidy and quite spacious.
There was a squeaky door downstairs, which someone kept opening and shutting throughout the night making it quite impossible to sleep. There did seem to be a lot of noisy activity in the hotel?
I would go back though.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

04 Jun 2022

stuart

In town

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2022

catherine

Clean room, basic, exactly as expected. Only strange aspect is the reference of a reception area as there isn’t one. Needed to call the number for someone arrive and give us our key. No idea where you could have left your case as advertised

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

14 Mar 2022

David

Considering the late booking, location and price this was one of the cheapest locations available for our trip.

Location was excellent, central and also quiet.

The only issue was we were asked prior to arrival of our arrival time which we gave, however when we arrived no email had been sent with the details to let us in to the property and we had to call someone to come and check us in.

Other than this, the room was ok, not the best but again considering the price, it was fine for what we required.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Jan 2022

Levi

Convenient for one night stay. Room was quite small but had the basic amenities needed. Perfect location. Staff helpful and have good communication in regards to checking in late.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

01 Dec 2021

reginald

I thought this property was very disappointing and overpriced the decor and renovations were not great but it was just about purposeful for a solo traveller . The picture on the travel website was obviously taken in better times , I thought the best thing about the Hotel was the central location to the city and seafront . There is no reception here , I would not return in the future .

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

20 Nov 2021

Edward

Brighton trip

We were given the opportunity to upgrade to a bigger room for an extra £5 which was great. The room was ideal to 5 minutes to the location of seafront and shops. The only issue was the room was not cleaned daily because we were late in waking up. The basic creature comforts were good. It would of been better for my friend and me to have separate electronic keyes to enter hotel and room at times to do our own stuff. The room was clean and tidy. The price per night was good

Friends_and_family Friends

4/10

Poor

15 Nov 2021

Verified traveler

Ground floor entrance room shouldn’t be a bedroom

We stayed in the ground floor room next to the entrance which honestly isn’t fit to be a bedroom. Every time someone entered or left the hotel the walls of the bedroom would shake and wake us up. A guest arrived at 1am and was banging on the door and yelling to be let in which was very scary to wake up to in the middle of the night. Plus we could hear all the conversations from people outside on the street as the walls were so thin. That ground floor bedroom should be a check in desk or guest lounge as it’s absolutely not fit to be a bedroom. Very disappointed in our stay, definitely won’t be coming back.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

28 Sep 2021

Nicholas J

Good location

We didnt realise the labour conference was on so the price we paid was very inflated, so feel it was poor valie for the room. The small double room was tiny, it was quite stressful being so confined. Fair play to them for managing to fit in a bathroom, but you can barely close the door to take a dump.

The location was really good and the host was friendly. If i was travelling solo and just needed a bed for the night and it was priced better, i would stay again. I wouldnt stay more than a night thiugh, at least in the small double room. Perhaps the other rooms are better.

The rooms were clean and the bed was very comfortable.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

Was extremely cosy and the staff were very friendly. Would definitely recommend.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

11 Oct 2019

Kevin

The only place I've refused to stay in

I refused to stay in this place , I expect a full refund from yourselfs as this business does not have an AA rating as in your published picture .My Partner took pictures of this Damp horrible dwelling & I can forward them if you like & I doubt that I will use Hotels.com again

Partner

2/10

Poor

04 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

Hotel was conveniently located. Room was very small. But was ok for one night.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

18 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

Not good but at last it was cheap

I'm guessing that my issues stemmed from his being a top floor room. However... there was masses of visible mould across the whole bathroom. The bathroom was so closed you couldn't use it without the door open - especially as the sink overhangs the toilet. Fine for me, not so good for couples. The window had about a 1 inch gap when it was closed so it was incredibly noisy and the thermostat on the radiator didn't work so it was permanently on full heat - it was 20 degrees outside!
Carpets were dirty and the window blind when fully down was taking up one half of the pillow space on the bed as the window overlapped the bed.

Business

6/10

Pleasant

13 Sep 2019

Jonathan

Last chance saloon stay.

Checking in was a nightmare with keys and keyfobs. After about 30mins of standing around we got sorted

Business

6/10

Pleasant

25 Aug 2019

Verified traveler