Clifton Park Hotel - Exclusive to Adults

The hairdryer worked well, but I wouldn't recommend this hotel. I stayed one night in room 515 and had requested a bath when booking, only to be told at check-in there wasn't one available. The small double was at the back of the hotel, up a staircase with a stair lift that took up much of the space. Its curtains weren't blackout, the TV was mounted high enough to give me a sore neck, and the furniture and worn divan base were dated, stained and marked, with holes and stains in the old wallpaper. Dust covered the room, including the lamps, and the remote was grimy. The shower plughole looked dirty and drained badly. The electric shower had weak pressure and only two settings, freezing or boiling, so I had to keep switching and put my head under when the water was briefly comfortable. There was black mould around the shower tray, no window or fan, and the small unheated towel rail was out of reach and loose on the wall. When one end came away, I could see more grime. The bathroom light pull had broken plastic on the end, and its once-white cord was brown with dirt. There were no decaf drinks, and the tiny travel kettle took ages to boil. On Wednesday, breakfast didn't start until 8am. The buffet was limited, and since I had to meet a colleague at 8:45am, I only managed muesli. Porridge and kippers could be ordered, but I didn't have time.

We had a very enjoyable five day break, thanks to the helpful, accommodating staff, including John, the general manager. Our room was spacious and comfortable, and the lounge areas had plenty of relaxing places to sit. The private pool and jacuzzi were a real bonus. Dinner menus offered plenty of choice and the food was tasty. Breakfast was buffet style, so we could choose anything from juice or cereal to a full English. Full marks to everyone.

The spa and swimming pool were lovely for relaxing, and there was piano music in the lobby. I spent five nights here with my gran and a big group of older ladies and gents. We all had a brilliant time exploring the town and nearby places. The staff were friendly and really helpful, welcoming all of us despite how many there were. Our room wasn't the biggest, but it was very clean, and the cleaning lady was so lovely. We also had a shared balcony with the two rooms next to us, which was great. Most of the evening meals were nice, and the breakfasts were delicious. Thanks to all the staff for putting up with us all!

The staff made the stay, from reception to the cleaner, bar team and food servers. Everyone was lovely and went out of their way to help. We got a night with dinner, bed and breakfast as a gift, and didn't expect much, but were very pleasantly surprised. The hotel is handy for the main high street and pier. The friendly manager let us check in early as our room was ready. The lobby has a really nice mock cruise theme, and the main areas looked recently refurbished and immaculate. Our room was cleaner and more dated, though the bed linen was nice. I think they're updating the rooms too, and if they turn out like the main areas, they'll be great. Dinner started with fresh bread and tasty soup, followed by a delicious buffet with baked quiche, cooked meats, prawns, salads and other nibbles. There was a good choice of desserts, and our lemon meringue was delicious. Breakfast was a full English buffet with fruit and cereal on the side, plus very nice coffee. We also got a surprise evening singer who was good and took requests. We really enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back.