The UK has two large, and often excellent value, budget hotel brands that each have hundreds of locations across the country but do not usually appear on the likes of Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com. They are Premier Inn and Travelodge (but not the same company as Travelodge in the USA). There are also a number of Brains Pubs in Wales that offer comfortable rooms at reasonable prices.
The Brains brewery company has a small number of well located pubs offering comfortable and affordable accommodation. Each pub is different, you’ll find everything from traditional inns with hearty meals and simple, functional rooms (like the Twelve Knights, Port Talbot) to waterfront hotels with premium dining and stylish sea-view rooms (like the Penhelig Arms Hotel in Aberdovey). In my experience, if you keep your expectations proportional to the amount you’ve paid, you’ll usually be pretty happy with a Brains pub. (Update: Since the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant effect of lockdowns on the hospitality industry, these pubs are now operated by English pub company Marston’s on Brains’ behalf. Customers shouldn’t notice any difference though.)
I like Premier Inn because, despite their size (they have over 800 locations), they tend to offer a pretty consistent experience. You can be fairly sure what you’re going to get – and what you’re not going to get.
You will not get a gym/swimming pool/spa, huge room, large lobby, concierge, a phone or a balcony. You’ll get a comfortable bed, a decently sized writing desk, free Wi-Fi, a single sofa-bed, a big TV and tea/coffee. Most bathrooms have bath/shower combinations (and if it’s likely to be a shower only, that’s usually made quite clear when you book). In city centre and airport locations there is often a restaurant next to the small lobby area. In other locations there is normally a restaurant or pub next door (owned by Whitbread, the company that owns Premier Inn) serving meals all day including the all-you-can-eat Premier Inn breakfast.
I’ve become really quite fond of Premier Inn since my daughter was born. If you need a cot (crib), just click the button during the booking process and there’ll be one all set up for you in your room on arrival. When it comes to breakfast, up to two under 16s eat breakfast for free with each paying adult.
Some hotels have Premier Plus rooms which offer an upgraded experience with additional amenities. Premier Inn also has a few Hub branded hotels, mostly in London, which offer pod-style accommodation.
Travelodges are similar to, but more basic than, Premier Inns – this is reflected in their lower room rates though. In my experience they are a little more variable in terms of quality – so if you find one in the location you’re looking for, take a quick look at it on Tripadvisor first. There are no frills with Travelodge and many hotels have no restaurant (but usually have at least one place to eat nearby). That said, the actual beds are usually pretty good and you always get a work desk, en-suite bathroom with shower and tea and coffee in the room.
You’ll also see Travelodge Plus Hotels and Super Rooms both of which offer a more stylish room with a few extra amenities.