The Shelbourne

We’ve stayed here before and were impressed enough to come back. Sarah and Berin, the owners, greeted us cheerfully as we pulled into the free rear hotel car park. The hotel sits right on the promenade, with outstanding views of the sea, Great Orme and Little Orme. It’s a lovely spot for a walk and to take in the scenery. Mostyn Street and Madoc Street are only a few minutes away on foot, with plenty of bars and restaurants along the way. Our room was comfortable and spotlessly clean. I usually struggle to sleep on pillows that aren’t mine, but these were better than ours at home. There’s a bar with magnificent views for watching the sun go down. Breakfast was fresh, plentiful and hot, and the coffee machine makes great coffee. The owners were so welcoming and friendly, and the service impressed us. We’ll definitely return. Some negative reviews say otherwise, but that wasn’t our experience at all. Perhaps some people expect a Ritz, Savoy or Claridges, but this is a seaside hotel without butlers to bow to every demand.

The only real highlight was Sarah at check-in. She was charming and gave us a helpful rundown of the town and places to visit. We stayed in room 3. The bedding was neat, but the mattress was old and uncomfortable, with the springs easy to feel. The room could use more things, like a fridge. My wife can only drink cold water, so we had to wait until the next day for ice packs. Breakfast cost £12 per person, which we were happy to pay. The options were what you’d expect from a decent English breakfast, and tasted okay. The woman serving offered us a yogurt each, which we took. While we ate, we felt monitored to make sure we finished it, and at one point were even offered an extra spoon. We’re both light eaters and had planned to have the yogurt later, as we usually do. We didn’t owe anyone an explanation, and the yogurt was part of the breakfast we’d paid for, not a gift. As we were leaving the table, the owner came over and told us to leave it or eat it there, with an illogical explanation that they only serve breakfast. We were embarrassed over a yogurt worth at most £2. We’ve never experienced anything like it, and it ruined our mood and the day. We couldn’t get over the confrontation and missed some places we’d planned to visit. At one point we wondered if it was the usual subtle racism, because we couldn’t understand why we’d have to return yogurt we were entitled to. If we’d asked for extra toast, might we have been arrested or something? We didn’t get free parking because we hadn’t booked through them. I wouldn’t recommend the Shelbourne or return. Only stay if you’re comfortable being embarrassed over £2 yogurts. This sums up our experience, and I’d give it two stars.

The owners are a delight, always chatty and happy to recommend places to eat in the evening. Breakfast has lots of options, and I always finish full. I’ve stayed at the Shelbourne a couple of times in different rooms and have never been disappointed. I book on their website or call them directly to get the best deals. Room 7 is my favourite. They refurbished it in the past couple of years, and it feels like a real treat. The beds are joined to make a super king, much roomier than my double at home, and there’s a stunning view of the bay. Most recently I stayed in room 5, which has a partial sea view, and it was another great room. I’d stay again and recommend it to others.

We wanted a quiet break and had a lovely stay at the Shelbourne in Llandudno a few weeks ago. Our cosy front room had amazing views of the Great Orme, the sea and the promenade. The view over breakfast was a lovely way to wake up. We ate out early in the evening, then had drinks in the bar later. The hosts were great and made us feel very welcome. We’ll definitely be back.