The Chatsworth Hotel

The hotel is in a good spot on the seafront, with lovely receptionists. We booked a full sea view room, but being on the first floor meant the view wasn't the best. With the seafront roadworks, it probably wasn't worth the extra over a regular view. It also felt pricey for what you get. Our room was comfortable and had tea and coffee, including Illy espresso pods, and a really huge bathroom with a nice big bathtub. But the water pressure was so poor that filling the bath would have taken hours. The rooms also get very hot. The radiator had been left on full blast, so it was horrible when we arrived. We had to leave the windows open for hours, which was annoying with traffic right outside. The hotel is a bit run down, as if the rooms haven't been freshened up in a while. There were very stained carpets, thin stained towels, marks on the wall, and shabby curtains. The rubbish bins hadn't been emptied before we checked in either. Those little things took away any sense of luxury. The reception was beautifully decorated for Christmas, and the lift, over 100 years old, was lovely to see. Parking was confusing. The late-night receptionist wasn't clear about whether we needed a permit on Sunday, so I think we paid for one we didn't need, though it was only £2.35 and there was plenty of space.

We had a wonderful time at this hotel. Our room had a sea view and a wonderful bathroom, and we were close to all amenities. The food was good and the bar prices were great. There was a piano player at the weekend too. We highly recommend it. Thank you, Adrian & Annabelle Straatman, Wyberton Boston Lincolnshire UK.

A terrible experience. We were “upgraded” to a room with a jacuzzi, but it didn't work. After they supposedly fixed it, thick black debris shot out of the jets. It was disgusting and completely unusable. We paid £170. After I made a formal complaint, they offered just 20% off a future stay and a “possible” upgrade. When we said that wasn't acceptable, they ignored us. Poor hygiene, poor service, and absolutely not worth it.

The room was pretty good for an English seaside hotel, roomy and bright with a classy feel. We booked a partial sea view. The marble-lined bathroom was huge, with a large rain shower that worked well, and the oversized bed was impossibly comfortable. The Illy Espresso machine was a nice touch, though it didn't seem to work very well. The charming old-world lift from the lobby to the rooms was a lovely feature, and could only be improved by having a lift attendant :) The dining side needs a rethink. The food is limited and not five-star. There was live music during our stay, a solo rock-blues singer and guitarist with backing tracks. It was too loud and completely out of place, mostly playing to nobody. The beautiful lounge was the quietest place to eat, even though the well-appointed breakfast room would have been perfect. Small nice touches included a complimentary glass of wine. An OK-ish bottle was £20 from the bar, which is pretty good these days. The waiter/Maître D looking after us was superbly perceptive and engaging, and clearly bound for higher things. We settled for the club sandwich, which eventually arrived as an impossible meal. A club should be no taller than the human jaw can manage, and the avalanche of savoury fries alongside it, though delicious, was just too much. This kind of portion showiness only creates food waste, which I hate. Refine, reduce, and leave diners wanting dessert! Breakfast was confusing. They offer a “buffet breakfast” for £20 per head, presumably for anyone able to get through one of those club sandwiches, or a room service full English for just over half the price. There was no dining table in our room, and we reasonably assumed room service wasn't based in the restaurant, so we went to a local café instead.