Kilbirnie Hotel

We had a good stay in February, with a clean, well-kept hotel and a room that had recently been redone with new furniture. We brought our dog, and they looked after him well. Dogs couldn't go into the restaurant at breakfast, but they set up a table for us in the bar, which worked fine. The receptionist was very helpful with suggestions for dog-friendly evening meals nearby, as the restaurant wasn't open in the evening while the hotel was quiet. The pool was a little cool, and a couple more degrees would have helped. Others using it said the same. Good location, friendly service, and a good price.

The room itself was spacious and lovely, with a comfortable bed, and the woman who checked us in was lovely too. The evening receptionist was less welcoming. The pool was nice to have, but badly in need of renovation. There were two fire alarm wake-ups, at 3:30am and 8:30am. We were told they were very sensitive and could be triggered by someone taking a very hot shower. Pipes banged and rattled whenever people ran taps or flushed, and sound travelled easily through the thin walls and corridors. There was also a gap under the door, so corridor light came in at night. On-site parking was handy, but £8 felt excessive when you're already paying to stay there. Charging visitors makes more sense. It was okay for one night, but I wouldn't return.

The location made it easy to walk into town and to the beaches, and we had a sea view from our room. We stayed one night while travelling to Cornwall, and check-in was quick even with a coachload arriving at reception. For the price, the room was nice, and our dogs were allowed to stay with us. The pool was okay, though the changing areas weren't great. Breakfast was good, and my husband liked the cooked options, but some vegetarian choices would have been welcome. The buffet setup caused bottlenecks and long queues when the coach groups came through, as there was only one toaster and one coffee machine.

For a solo traveller, I'd stay here again and recommend it. I paid about £40 in December 2025 for a single room, without breakfast. It's on the cliffs by the main road into Newquay, with on-site parking, and was easy to find. The entrance was welcoming, and staff were friendly and helpful. One even brought me a hot chocolate from the bar. My room, 212, was on the second floor at the back right. It wasn't sea-facing, as expected for the price, though I could see the beach between buildings. It was compact but pleasant, clean and warm, with a wardrobe and safe, desk, side table, large TV, tea and coffee facilities, and an ensuite bath and shower. The windows opened for sea air, and I could control the heating. There was also a desk fan in the wardrobe and a hairdryer in a drawer. The mattress was lumpy and needs replacing, and the walls were thin enough that I could hear the neighbour using the bathroom beside the bed. I also wish hotels would put queen-size quilts on single beds. Even at 5ft 5, a single quilt doesn't work well for an adult. The cold tap ran hot for a while before turning cold each time, despite being the correct tap. I reported it and bought water from the Tesco Express next door. There were plenty of plugs, but none had USB sockets, so bring your own plugs. I did enjoy the hot bath and the good-pressure shower in the morning. I skipped breakfast to save money, but there are plenty of places to eat nearby in town.