I am bent double trying to get undressed; I am hot and bothered; and I have had to put my luggage in the shower just so I can use my laptop. Welcome to the latest concept to hit the UK hotel market.

You’ve probably heard of Japanese “capsule” hotels, where guests are housed in as small a place as possible. And you may have thought: “It will never happen here.”

I am 6ft 5in (1.95m) tall, and not cut out for anything deserving the description “capsule”, so I definitely thought: “It will never happen to me.”

But that’s where we were both wrong. Because this week, Britain’s first Japanese-style capsule accommodation opened at Gatwick airport. And, thanks to the perverse sense of humour of Times Travel, I was sent undercover to squeeze in on the opening night.

Created by the people behind the Yo! Sushi restaurant chain, Yotel consists of tiny, windowless white cabins buried in the South Terminal. And when I say tiny, I mean tiny. Forget about swinging the proverbial cat; here, you would have to stand aside just to let one through the door.

Entering a standard cabin, you find a lavatory and shower on one side, behind a glass door; on the other side is a single bed. A TV screen built into the wall provides viewing and interactive services.

There’s also a pop-up table and folding stool. But if you want to sit at the table (to use a laptop, for example), there’s no place for your luggage. Except in the shower. Which is fine, so long as you haven’t actually used the shower, because then it is swimming in water (drainage is not a strong point).

The cabin is sleek and futuristic. But while the design looks good, it really isn’t as clever as it should be. There’s little space to hang clothes and no shelves or hooks in the bathroom for toiletries.

Not that you want many clothes, as the air-conditioning is distressingly poor. The cabin remains determinedly hot and airless and I spend the night bathed in a shimmer of sweat, waking up as limp and sticky as two-day-old sushi. On the plus side, the bed was comfortable, with crisp white linen.

Every new concept has its teething problems, and Yotel is no different. The advertised film service is not available. Neither is room service, which is a shame, because it would be tempting to use one of Groucho Marx’s classic lines: “Hello, room service? Send me up a bigger room.”

Bottom line: £55 for an overnight stay. Rooms are available in blocks of four hours from £25.

Sampling the fare: My screen insisted that room service was “unavailable at present”. Gatwick’s food outlets are a lift ride away.

What we think: Nice touches, but not as smart as it could be.

Best thing: Helpful staff.

Worst thing: Hot and stuffy.

Need to know: Yotel (020-7100 1100, www.yotel.com), Gatwick South Terminal, West Sussex.

Room: 4 out of 10.

Food: 0 out of 10.

Service: 6 out of 10.

Value: 5 out of 10.

Have you stayed at Yotel? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Post a Comment.

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