Back in 2002, Regency was a lovely B and B bang in the centre of town. The owner, a Mexican lady, managed to keep the place remarkably clean and hospitable, even though she once tried to rip me off by having me pay an imaginary extra night.

Unfortunately, fellow tripadvisor readers, things have changed.. The new owner / manager might be trying hard but it looks he hasn't got a clue how to run a B and B.

When I booked my room over the phone he asked what time I would arrive. Needless to say I was annoyed when I got to the Regency on a freezing February night to find a note on the door saying something like " I'm not here but if you need me you can ring me on that number". I'm glad I had a UK SIM card on my mobile and could easily call him. There was a Portuguese woman wating when I got there who did not have a mobile and simply did not know how to get in touch. She, too, had booked a room specifying her expected time of arrival.

Now let's talk about cleanliness, or the lack of it. The ventilation in the shared bathroom had broken down (who knows when..) and the smell there was simply unbearable. There was a tiny bar of soap to be shared by up to 5 people. Just one tiny filthy bar to be used for both handwashing and shower. And they do not seem to replace toilet paper either (I'll spare you the details).

I will acknowledge the more positive aspects of Regency guest house. The rooms are nice enough, you'll get warm breakfast with eggs and toasts and location is unbeatable.