TOURISTS were left furious after being told they were not allowed to smoke in their hotel room.

Therese Rotschne, 28, and parents, Manfred, 68 and Maria, 52, have been visiting Brighton for 40 years but said they suffered their “worst hotel experience ever on holiday”.

The family were visiting the city in order to go to the Goodwood Revival near Chichester.

They paid £290 to stay at the Marine View Brighton after viewing the room.

But they got upset at the New Steine hotel after lighting up a cigarette in their family suite.

The hotel’s front desk manager, who gave his name as Tyler, came into the room to demand the family put it out.

Terese said: “He came because I was smoking in the room.

“But I did not know the policy.

“He said that ‘you have to immediately stop or you have to pay 100 pounds per cigarette’ and shut the door.

“We were shocked at this.”

The family decided to leave, saying they were unhappy with the room and asked for a refund.

The hotel, who say the family bought a non-refundable ticket, agreed a refund as a goodwill gesture, but only if they could find someone to take the room.

Speaking to The Argus, Tyler said that no person was found and so the money was not refunded.

He said: “We simply do not tolerate any smoking, it’s a fire regulation.

“They wanted to see the balcony room, I showed them around, but I’m not sure why as they can’t smoke on the balcony either.

“They had the choice to stay but they decided if they couldn’t smoke it was unacceptable.

“It stinks the place out but its not just a matter of smell, this is a legal policy and a fire regulation.

“They booked the room after looking around it.

“People should go to booking.com and have a look at the reviews to decide whether we clean our rooms.”

The family said they had a “wonderful” stay at Legends Hotel on Brighton seafront instead, where everything was “totally fine” and everyone was “really friendly”.

They are now demanding the hotel pay back the £290 following their short visit on September 17.

But the hotel is not agreeing to the refund.