I have just completed my first year with this hosting company and I can say it has been a perfect year without any problems. On the time we requested support it was there, either by live chat or email and the request acted on at once.
Having read some of the negative reviews on this forum I must say give Hostgator a chance to help, If you hog bandwidth or run scripts that drain CPU power expect a email from support or your services cut. After all their are other's on the shared server as well as you. And I fully will fully support hostgator in acting to keep my site on line and at a excelent speed.
What I do like about hostgator is that you can talk to someone fast if you have a problem plus billing is great with acepting Paypal with no extra charge. This gives the customer charge of the account unlike some other hosting companies in UK that charge you for coughing.
For any UK based bussiness renting from USA and Hostgator you cant go wrong plus no VAT charges.
Looking forward to a long term hosting.