Safestay Reviews 

Staying at Safestay Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia was not a pleasant experience. We paid for the breakfast while booking the room, but when we arrived to SafeStay a receptionist informed us that the breakfast was not included and asked us to pay again. Showing the receptionist the confirmation with extra charges for breakfast did not help either. We submitted a complain online, but it was also a waste of time. Thus, if there is an alternative, it is better to stay at another place

stayed at Holland Park Safestay, over Saturday night - a one-night only visit to be convenient for another function, a family party. A good, cost-effective option, close to Kensington, safe location as the name suggests; staff friendly and helpful. Breakfast perfectly acceptable. Room- small, bunk beds but we knew that when we booked. Showers/WCs etc very clean.
Nice to be in the historic former Holland House 'wing' of this otherwise modern hostel.

This applies to the Holland Park site:
Incredibly seductive on entry, exceptionally friendly staff, but corporate policies make it the single most insulting experience I think I've experienced... In over 15 years and across 30k road miles, and another 50k flight ones.
To start off, the newly and lavishly fitted out, the very elegantly and captivatingly "designed" lobbies and common areas gave me an initial happy-to arrive buzz, after checking in with the very friendly, competent and professional front desk staff I practically felt at home.
Then letting myself into the the 200 sq ft room crammed out with triple bunks somehow making it a 12-16 bed dorm I thought "everything else about the place will make up for it... I'm sure they've figured it out"

Alas, trying to get into the bunk, sleep or generally normal-person-manouver in the tight confines of what felt like a soviet era submarine... well, I guess I can only say I booked in with the intention of resting and going about my typically normal business whilst being open to being social with other guests.

I think I could have saved my money and disappointment by choosing to camp out in a random park. Because that is what I was suggested after I arrived with a microwave dinner and a bottle of wine following a long day trapsing around, hungry and eager to break bread with fellow revellers. Sadly, I was politely informed I had to go to bed, at 00:25 in the morning, and that I could otherwise go into the park to chill...

Oh. My. God.

To be fair, the staff were incredibly apologetic and seemed unsupportive of what felt like a council funded summer camp setup. With stripey carpets, word printed walls and colour coded doors.

At least now I know I have an opinion about hostels (even hotel styled ones) and apparently day release prisons too; I now know they are not worth ~£20 a night.

PS. there is no kitchen, but there is a med stye breakfast for £4 and you are not allowed to bring your own food (if you suffer any intolerances, follow specific diets etc) technically, although they do allow you to do so if you insist, presumably on the basis of human rights and such.
PS2. You'll be in the middle of a park, in an exceptionally conservative, pricey part of London, in case you initially don't think a kitchen may be of any appeal.