Sandy Cove Hotel

We stayed at the hotel as well as getting married at Sandy Cove in August 2025. Our room was beautiful, with that stunning view. We chose the Classic BBQ package, which came with Canapés and a Dessert table, and all the food was delicious. The team were friendly and attentive through the planning and on the day. Meeting our wedding coordinator the day before helped calm our nerves and get us ready for the schedule. The day itself went perfectly, not a single thing went wrong. The staff and on the day coordinators kept everything running smoothly, and we're so grateful for their work and the special touches that made it memorable. We highly recommend Sandy Cove. Photography: Grant Lampard Photography

The website sets you up to expect a high quality four star stay, but the rooms, décor, upkeep and service didn't come close. The coastal view and spa facilities were genuinely very nice, but that's where the positives stopped. Our room and much of the hotel were in poor condition: chipped, cheap Ikea flat-pack furniture, badly painted or peeling walls, and areas that clearly hadn't been maintained. The room lights flickered or flashed constantly, so we couldn't leave them on comfortably. The carpet looked dirty throughout the hotel too. The restaurant was freezing, and its furniture seemed far below what you'd expect at a four star hotel, more like basic motorway service station seating. The bar felt like sitting in a burger king. Service made the stay worse. Our food sat on the pass for about ten minutes while the waitress cleared a table that was already empty, and it was frustrating to watch it go cold. Staff came across as rude, uncaring and uninterested. We also couldn't charge anything to the room, which isn't the standard I expect. I'd give zero stars if I could. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

I paid for a room that we couldn't use, and management's response when I raised the issue was shockingly dismissive. We were at the hotel for a friend's wedding, but the bad experience during and after our stay tarnished what should have been a happy occasion. The room was damp and smelled awful, with wallpaper bubbling off the walls. It clearly hadn't been properly cleaned or aired. Staff themselves confirmed it wasn't up to standard and said it would be cleaned again. We had to move our things into a friend's room, where thankfully there were two spare beds. That intruded on their privacy for the weekend, and it's still unclear what would have happened if they had no space. We might have lost what we'd paid and had to pay for another hotel away from all our friends and the wedding party. After thinking over the poor service, I emailed management, but got dismissive, unhelpful replies instead of basic courtesy or professionalism. It made me feel gaslit for raising a valid concern their own staff had already acknowledged. I've spent many years working in hospitality and don't leave negative reviews lightly. I strongly urge future guests to be cautious. A hotel's character shows when things go wrong, and the handling of this was utterly woeful. This is especially concerning for a wedding venue that supposedly prides itself on 'delivering exceptional standards'. I can see similar issues reflected in other reviews here too.

The Seacliff Restaurant meal was worth every penny, and the food and service were five star. We loved the fresh, delicious food and the yummy cream tea, too. For my birthday surprise, everything was so positive: the hotel was very clean, the views stunning, and the swimming pool area breathtaking. We've already booked a second stay. Thank you for your hospitality.