The Roker Hotel, BW Premier Collection

Jamie, Ian, and Tracy gave us outstanding support for my daughter's 18th birthday celebration ❤️. They helped with everything we needed and made sure it all ran smoothly. Their kindness and professionalism made a real difference. We had a wonderful stay at the Best Western Roker Hotel. The spacious rooms were very comfortable and exceptionally clean, and the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. The service and location were fantastic. We'd highly recommend it for a comfortable stay and great customer service, and we'll definitely be back.

The room was spacious, the beds were comfortable, and the staff gave us a really nice, attentive greeting. The hot breakfast was pleasant, but I don't think it was worth the price. The continental selection should have been bigger for what they charge. I'd suggest looking elsewhere for a more cost-effective breakfast. The service in the breakfast room could have been much better, though I do understand not wanting an early shift. The bathroom was dirty and unpleasant. There was mould on the drain, walls and grout, limescale around the taps, a dirty mirror and floor, and a hole in the front of the bath panel. I contacted the hotel, but the "rooms devision manager" dismissed everything without even looking at the photos I'd taken. They said the clearly visible mould on the drain was "tarnished chrome plate". While running a bath, I checked whether it was raised, and a chunk of mould came off onto my hand. I know what mould looks like.

The location is the main plus: right by the seafront and handy for getting around. Parking was easy and free with the stay, too. The staff were pleasant and helpful, with that stereotypical northern hospitality that was genuinely refreshing. They made the stay better than the hotel itself. The room was dated and needed touching up. Nothing was awful, but it didn't feel fresh or modern. The bathroom was huge, almost seeming bigger than the room, which felt a bit odd, and it was clean enough, though also showing its age. Walking along the corridors felt like being on a moving ship. The floors were so uneven at times that I half-joked I was getting seasick on the way to my room. My stay at Roker Hotel was fine, nothing special. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't memorable either. It's okay if you need a place in a good spot, but I wouldn't go out of my way to return.

The water was absolutely freezing. I went two days without a shower during my 4 day stay. Staff fobbed me off, saying it was an old building and that everyone using the boiler at once meant it only provided lukewarm water. They told me to try again at an off-peak time. I tried around 11pm, and it was still freezing. I finally managed a bath after setting my alarm for 4am. By then I was absolutely stinking after 2 days of graft and a jog along the promenade. Hot water is a basic requirement. The hotel should close for a month or two and fit a new system, or multiple boilers, for each wing. If the website or hotel booking sites said the place had no hot water, nobody would book. You're conning the public. Absolutely disgraceful.