I stayed in a Wetherspoons hotel and saw some worrying things

A night at Wetherspoons often brings back hazy memories of inexpensive drinks, vibrant carpets, and epic journeys to the loo up or down several flights of stairs.

Whether you're popping in for post-work pints, indulging in a boozy Thursday curry club, or making a quick stop before a big night out, choosing your local 'Spoons' is usually a no-brainer. Even if you're not a fan of the budget-friendly pub chain, there's no denying that Wetherspoons' reputation for cheap beer, extensive food menu, and a guaranteed lively atmosphere has won over many.

While its pubs might be a popular choice for a night out, many regulars may never have experienced an overnight stay in one of the chain's hotels. The first J D Wetherspoon hotel opened its doors in Shrewsbury in 1998, almost ten years after the first of the chain's pubs.

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There are now 56 Wetherspoon hotels scattered across the UK and Ireland, with the Brocket Arms in Wigan being the closest to Merseyside. The Brocket Arms is just a stone's throw away from Wigan town centre and boasts 28 en-suite bedrooms.

Reporter Lee Grimsditch from the MEN and his partner checked in on a Friday and forked out £79 for one night - breakfast not included. This is what he thought: As we entered through the separate side entrance to the pub just before 7pm, the Friday night at Wetherspoons was already buzzing.

We were greeted by an empty reception desk, so after waiting for a few minutes, I decided to venture into the busy bar area to inform them we wanted to check-in. After apologising for the delay, a courteous staff member checked us in, and we were directed to our room - ominously numbered 101. The question was, would our experience be as torturous as the infamous room 101 from Orwell's dystopian Nineteen Eighty-Four?

There were some concerning signs, particularly the noticeable chunk of plaster missing near the door. Our first impressions of the room itself were not impressive.

All the promised amenities were there - tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryer, iron/ironing board, fresh towels, complimentary biscuits and water. However, the room felt more like a student dormitory than a budget hotel.

The furniture was minimal but practical, with durable carpet and a firm mattress. On the bright side, the WiFi worked well, and the bathroom was reasonably clean.

But when we had settled in and took a moment to survey the room, its shortcomings became evident. The plaster was peeling off - or entirely absent - around the inside and outside of the door, giving the whole place a shabby and unfinished feel. The paint at the bottom of the bathroom door had also curled up and fallen off.

More worryingly, there were unexplained brown stains at the bottom of the bed; best not to dwell on what they might be. The duvet also bore the traces of previous spills, wiped but still clearly visible. My girlfriend then told me her pillow smelled like someone else's head.

Keen to spend as little time in the room as possible, we headed down to the bar for dinner. Surprisingly, and thankfully, despite our rooms being directly above a bustling Wetherspoons pub on a Friday night, there was no noise from the bar below.

We hoped this would remain the case as closing time wasn't until 1am. It's when you sit down and order food and drinks that the Wetherspoons experience really comes into its own. You'd struggle to find more affordable food and drink, all with the convenience of ordering via an app straight to your table - or booth, as we chose.

Two double American cheeseburgers and chips, two alcoholic beverages and two desserts came to just over £30. And yes, the food was more comforting than spectacular, as you'd expect from a 'Spoons', but it was tasty and the portions were generous.

The desserts deserve a special mention. The new salted caramel sticky toffee pudding, priced at £4.99, was heavenly - easily on par with puddings I've had at more than double the price.

The warm mini chocolate brownie at £2.98 was also scrumptious - Wetherspoons should seriously think about introducing a regular dessert night alongside its well-known curry club evenings.

Needless to say, we were stuffed. As the pub lights dimmed, signalling the atmosphere was about to become very 'Wetherspoons after dark', we dragged ourselves back to room 101.

While the firm mattress in the room didn't provide the most restful night's sleep, it was the fact we were sleeping above a pub that became the biggest obstacle to sleep when its patrons left at closing time.

For almost an hour afterwards, a boisterous drama unfolded on the street below our window. The shrieks and sobs of young drinkers waiting for taxis might have some guests stuffing pillows into their ears.

Fortunately, the drunken melodrama eventually subsided, and with no noise from the corridors or nearby rooms, we drifted back to sleep. We were up and out well before the 11am check-out and into the bar for breakfast.

Given the quietness of the rooms the previous night, we were surprised to see so many people already seated and enjoying their breakfasts - leading me to believe they may have come just for breakfast.

The breakfast menu at this spot is as extensive and affordable as the rest of their offerings. You'll find a plethora of choices from the classic full Englishwith veggie and vegan versionsto American-style pancakes, muffins, wraps, porridge, fruit, and countless egg preparations.

Unfortunately, the new Fiesta brunch I was keen to try wasn't on offer due to a shortage of "halloumi-style cheese". However, the scrambled eggs on toast with extra hash browns were passable.

Plus, for just £1.56, you can enjoy unlimited refills of hot drinks, and it's great to see a selection of non-dairy milk available too.

So, does the Brocket Arms hold up as a Friday night stay option near Wigan town centre with its £79 price tag?

Considering there's a similarly priced Premier Inn smack dab in the town centre (sans breakfast) and other hotels at a comparable rate, opting for a basic room above a Wetherspoons pub wouldn't be top of my list.

In summary, if the rooms had a bit more care put into their fittings and furnishings, then perhaps the £79 fee would feel more justified. But given the worn and somewhat neglected condition of our room, it felt like a missed mark.

On the upside, the hotel does offer a few complimentary parking spotswhich we didn't useand the staff were nothing but friendly and accommodating throughout our stay.

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