The Beaches Guest House

We really enjoyed our stay. It's a clean, comfortable and friendly place with good value for money, and a handy base for exploring Whitby. There are plenty of pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and attractions nearby, plus the beach and Whitby pavilion. Parking is available if you get lucky. The host was welcoming and gave us useful local advice. We choose an economical B&B because we mainly need somewhere to sleep, so the basic setup suited us. Anyone expecting luxury may be disappointed. Our room, No6, was on the top floor, with lots of stairs, so it won't suit everyone. The double bed was comfortable, although we're used to a much bigger one at home. The shower worked well and was nice and hot, but it's very small, could be awkward for anyone over 6ft, and I couldn't get the temperature much lower, which might be a problem for small children. There was tea and coffee in the room and a small flat-screen TV, plenty good enough while we were in there. Breakfast had lots of cereal and fruit juice, as well as the usual English breakfast. The host could make poached eggs on request, and was happy to bring more toast if we needed it. It's served at the front of the B&B.

The bed was very comfortable, and Tamsin served an outstanding full English breakfast. She's a friendly, helpful owner and knows a lot about Whitby and the surrounding area. The guesthouse is comfortable and conveniently placed for most local sights. We'd definitely stay at The Beaches again. Recommended.

Room 1 looked out over the Abbey, and Tamsin was lovely and keen to help. She brought us extra milk and coffee, made the breakfasts we asked for, including extra eggs, and provided wifi at no charge. She also helped us with a parking pass and tips on places to visit. The weather was awful during our long weekend in Whitby, but England won, so it wasn't all bad. Thanks again, Tamsin.

The guest house is no-frills, but it's tidy and very clean, and breakfast was good. The shower needs regrouting badly, with a lot of black mould. The owner had been lovely until that morning, when she announced loudly in front of the other guests that my husband's card had declined and he needed to pay her in cash. We checked his bank and there had been no attempt to take the money. If she wanted cash to keep it from the tax man, she could simply have asked.