Raithwaite Sandsend

We had a lovely stay at Saltmoore, even with the heavy snow. The staff were incredibly helpful and went above and beyond to make things pleasant. They even drove us to restaurants in their Tesla, a really nice touch. I’m especially grateful to one of the team, whose name I sadly can’t remember, for letting me fully charge my car. It made a huge difference. The room was gorgeous and the food was excellent. Snow disrupted some deliveries, but the substitutes were thoughtfully chosen and just as enjoyable. We’re already planning another trip and highly recommend it.

We came to Saltmoore for our mini moon, and the beautiful setting made it feel like a special occasion. The rooms were large and lovely, and the spa was perfect for relaxing while looking out over the hotel grounds. Kayleigh at reception gave us a warm welcome and made sure we knew what we needed to know about the hotel and local area. At The Beach House Pizzeria, the pizzas were delicious, with a great range of gluten-free choices for my wife, who is coeliac. Natalie, our waitress, was so friendly and made us feel welcome, adding something special to the meal. We also ate at the Brasserie. The food was tasty, though I found it a little overpriced, so be prepared to spend. Saltmoore is stunning and beautifully fitted out. We’ll definitely visit again.

My evening spa and pizza package started well, but the meal delays cut into the time I’d paid to spend at the spa. Other diners complained that their pizzas tasted strange and the cheese looked mouldy. It turned out the chef had used blue cheese without saying so. I waited nearly an hour while people who arrived later were served. When I asked, I was told the chef had missed my order, though I heard waitresses say they’d forgotten to send it through. They apologised, and my pizza arrived 15 minutes later. It was nice, and didn’t have blue cheese, but unlike other complaining tables I wasn’t offered a free drink or dessert. There wasn’t time for pudding, so I didn’t use all the allowance I’d paid for. By the time I got to the spa, I was late and found it extremely busy, with a number of children there during half term and far too many people for such a small space. There weren’t enough places to sit, though things did quieten down later. The daybeds had been reserved for spa package guests. I’d been a big fan of the Saltmoore Spa and had visited quite a few times since it opened. It was fantastic at first, and I recommended it to several people, but this visit showed a clear decline in lots of areas. I wasn’t enjoying it and left after an hour, feeling I might as well have been at my local swimming baths. I probably won’t go back, which is a shame because I used to look forward to visiting.

It was a wonderful stay again, from walking into reception through to leaving. This was my second visit, and my husband’s first. Our room was lovely and well equipped, with a bottle of Proseco and a birthday card for him as a thoughtful extra. We both enjoyed the spa and are already looking forward to coming back.