Keswick YHA Hostel

Lake District - Rated as a 1 star hostel by the YHA

All reviews are based on booking a private room for two adults.

I was hoping to include a review of the Keswick Youth Hostel in January but this was not possible. I have therefore awarded the hostel a rating of 0 out of 110. Let me explain further.

In 2003 I made two attempts by telephone to book a room for 2 adults at Keswick YHA. On both occasions I was asking for midweek accommodation for the following evening. On making the first request I was told no rooms were available. I accept this was a busy period and have no problem with my being refused. I am also aware that Keswick, according to the handbook, only has 3/4 bunk rooms available. I have found that at other hostels they are prepared to be flexible. Good business sense should dictate that should a late booking be offered and the chances of filling a room with 4 are minimal then they have, as to my previous experience, been accommodating, and offered a 3 or 4 bunk room at the 2-bunk rate. Did Keswick? No chance.

On the second occasion I tried to book a room I was told that Keswick didn't have private rooms for two people. I was then informed that I would be allowed to stay if I paid for a 4-bunk room. Nor did they suggest that they might be prepared to let us have a room at the 2-bunk room rate if we were to turn up or phone late the following day. I was less than impressed with their attitude and we were accommodated elsewhere by our own efforts. Their not so generous offer was refused!

I hadn't forgotten their attitude and when, on a late January day in 2004, my partner made the suggestion of extending our short stay in the Lake District with a night at the Keswick Youth Hostel, I was less than wildly enthusiastic at the idea.

We were close to Keswick and had just enjoyed a terrific day's weather - snow scenes and blue skies - but the forecast for the following day was awful. Nevertheless she wanted to stay and came up with the idea that if the weather did turn then we could go to the nearby Rheged Centre at Penrith and watch a couple of films we hadn't previously seen. That won me over but I reminded her of my previous experience on the phone with Keswick Youth Hostel. Nonetheless she remained adamant. Now, 'er outdoors may be small in stature but she more often than not she gets her own way when dealing with this sort of thing.

We arrived at Keswick Youth Hostel shortly after 3.30pm and I kept at a discreet distance whilst 'er outdoors approached the reception to inquire about accommodation. This is how the opening comments went:

'Er Outdoors:
"Hello, could you tell me if you have a private rooms for 2 people"

Reception's reply:
"Yes, they're called B&Bs round here and there is plenty of them in Keswick"

This astonishingly rude reply left me open mouthed! Was this an attempt at humour or was he doing a Basil Fawlty impression? He didn't stop there and proceeded to lecture er' outdoors with a volley of his opinions about who Youth Hostels were for, and who should use them - and we were left in little doubt that didn't include couples!

I must say that at any moment I expected 'er outdoors to let him have a salvo of her own views, instead of which she dealt with his rudeness with a good grace he certainly didn't deserve. She quietly informed him that she had visited the hostel as a young girl several years ago - and that it was clear it hadn't changed much! We left and only when outside did she show a trace of anger, turning to me and saying "You were right, isn't he rude, he should be reported."

It may be that this particular person is not alone in his bigoted views as to who should be using Youth Hostels, but we have not been previously subjected to their personal opinions first hand.

There is one bright note to be gleaned from our brief visit to Keswick Youth Hostel. That is the Youth Hostel Association is obviously in a very healthy state. What else could be deduced from the fact that one of the only 2 Lake District Hostels open in midwinter decided that they didn't need the £40 approx. that we would have paid for a room, breakfast and evening meal. This, despite the fact that only 20 to 30 of their complement of 91 beds were occupied ! ! ! . . . Now, perhaps the YHA would like to refresh my memory and tell me where exactly it mentioned any hostility to couples in their joining the Youth Hostel Association literature?