Best Western Walton Park Hotel

Reception staff made arrival and checkout easy, and they were lovely. I stayed in two rooms because I booked each night separately. Both were clean, comfortable, and well kept, with no noise from the neighbours. The sea-facing room was especially gorgeous; I spent hours looking out at the water with the good choice of tea and coffee. My other room faced the street, but it was cosy and felt homely too. I didn't try the food, since I just needed somewhere to sleep. I'd recommend booking ahead or paying a little extra for a sea view.

The staff were polite and friendly, and having a car park was handy. We needed a stopover with two children, so the family room was useful. Our haddock with coconut crumb was very nice, and the view of the estuary from the window had a suitably bleak, spooky feel. The setting at the mouth of the estuary is imposing and atmospheric. There were broken bottles in the green areas in the afternoon and rubbish scattered around, which made it look as if the grounds hadn't been cleaned since the night before. In the room, the bed felt springy, the duvet covers weren't very comfortable, and the TV remote was dirty. There was no temperature control, so we were cold until the radiator came on, then it got hot enough to wake us. There's no smart TV or Netflix access. The sticky toffee pudding came with highly processed vanilla ice cream with colouring, even though the separately ordered vanilla was better quality and had no colouring. They replaced it when I mentioned it, but the penny-pinching seemed unnecessary. The restaurant isn't cheap, so they could just charge 50p more. Breakfast was a letdown too. Most of it seemed poor quality or highly processed, from the pastries and sausage and bacon to orange juice that tasted half like water. The filter coffee was the worst part, it tasted like the cheapest cash-and-carry stuff. The owners should make breakfast match the quality of the main restaurant if they want people to return.

The public areas are beautiful, and the staff I met were all friendly and went out of their way to help. Rooms at the back make the most of the sea views from the cliff top. My room's decor was a little tired, but it was spotless, warm, and well appointed. Breakfast was brilliant, with plenty to choose from and gorgeous views in a lovely room. I'd happily stay again if I'm back in the area.

My first visit to the UK, travelling all the way from Indonesia, was for a business trip last year, and I stayed at the Best Western Walton Park. It was a peaceful place, the staff were professional, and the views were stunning enough to make the long journey feel worthwhile. A wonderful introduction to England. I'd highly recommend it to anyone visiting Clevedon.