The Marine Hotel

We stayed two nights, my 13-year-old daughter and I. The hotel is right on the promenade and around a 10-minute walk from the pier. There’s re-roofing work underway at the moment, so scaffolding is visible outside. Check-in was friendly and efficient. Our first-floor twin room, Room 120, was bright and spacious, with a lovely sea view. The bathroom was small but perfectly adequate. We had a bed, breakfast and evening meal package. Sunday’s dinner menu was excellent, but on Monday there wasn’t anything suitable for my teenage daughter, so we skipped the restaurant. It would help to have another menu option for children and teens. Breakfast had plenty of choice, though on Tuesday several hot items had run out and weren’t replenished. We enjoyed the pool on Monday morning. It was quiet, and we had it to ourselves for at least half an hour. The changing rooms were out of service, though, so we had to go back to our room in wet swimwear with towels around us. Parking was convenient opposite the hotel on the front. It’s free from 4pm to 10am, so leaving the car there for our stay cost £5.40. The hotel feels a little dated, but it was clean, reasonably priced, and the service was attentive.

The hotel is in a fantastic spot on the beachfront, with most places close by and an Asda round the corner. The staff were friendly, the rooms a decent size, and the hotel was clean. Our room had a nice bed, a good-sized smart TV, excellent internet and a roomy bathroom with both a shower and bath. There was just one window, and it let in a draft, though the radiator was always on. Noise from creaking floorboards in the room above kept me awake between 1 and 2 in the morning. It sounded like they were having a fun time 😉 Check-in isn’t until 3pm. We arrived at 10am and were allowed to use the car park in the meantime. It’s quite small and costs £10 a day, but a space isn’t guaranteed since it’s first come, first served. I think they need to review the parking setup. We didn’t have breakfast or dinner because I found the prices too high. Luckily, there’s a weatherspoons down the road.

The staff are this hotel’s biggest asset. Everyone was so kind and helpful. Our room was clean and nicely decorated, and breakfast was excellent. Even with coach tour groups making it busy, the buffet stayed hot and stocked, the restaurant was very clean, and staff cleared tables promptly. The decor in the corridors, stairwells and reception is very tired, though. There’s scaffolding outside at the moment, which doesn’t make a good first impression. I assume they plan to paint the exterior, which badly needs it. The pool was our main gripe. We chose the hotel because it was advertised as having one, then saw a reception sign saying it was below 27 degrees and would stay that way for the foreseeable future. I don’t know how long this had been going on. We were told, “it’s the boiler.” If a hotel advertises a pool, it needs to meet certain standards, and if the boiler needs replacing, it should be replaced. The changing rooms were also closed for refurbishment, so we had to walk back to our room in wet swimwear. I think guests should be told before their booking is accepted, so they can decide whether another place without a pool better suits their needs.

The sea view from my room was breathtaking. Waking up to it each morning felt peaceful and refreshing. The room itself was spacious, neat and exceptionally clean. The hotel is well placed for walking to restaurants, attractions and the seafront promenade, which made things convenient. Staff were very friendly and welcoming, always happy to help with a smile. I also appreciated the complimentary drink vouchers. I had a fantastic time, would recommend the hotel and look forward to staying again.