Schull Harbour Hotel

The pool and leisure facilities being out of service was the real disappointment for our group. There was an HVAC equipment issue, which I understand can happen and may be outside management’s control. Still, we chose this hotel and paid more than other options specifically for access to those facilities, so it was frustrating that they kept describing them as “complimentary” and didn’t offer even a small goodwill gesture. We had good weather and could change our plans, but bad weather would have seriously affected our stay. We were in two self catering apartments, each with six bedrooms. They were spacious and well equipped, though one had a much bigger living area than the other, something to consider if you expect to spend a lot of time inside. The location in the centre of Schull worked really well as a base for our group and for getting to other west cork towns. The receptionist was lovely whenever we dealt with her. Breakfast was a great standard, with a really good à la carte selection. We also had dinner from the bar’s set menu one evening for an occasion. Management kindly let me make substitutions, and the food was very good with generous portions. The bar staff seemed overwhelmed at times, even though it wasn’t very busy, and service was stressful at first. There was no sense that they weren’t trying, though. They were clearly working hard, and more training might help. Since it was early in peak season, perhaps some new team members were still finding their feet. We adjusted our plans after dinner and could relax into the chaos, and the live music was really nice. We did enjoy our stay overall and would come back. The team were nice and clearly putting in a lot of effort. I don’t usually leave reviews, but was emailed after my stay and asked if I could.

We only came here to use the pool, which we paid for. It was nice and warm, and the gym, steam room and sauna were good. We didn’t stay overnight, though friends who did said it was nice and that breakfast was good. Staff were very friendly and helpful. There isn’t really a lobby, which we found odd, so we had coffee with our friends in the bar and restaurant room. Great ocean views from the front and the breakfast room.

The leisure centre staff member was a lovely guy, and we did get two drinks comped, but that didn’t make up for the service we had in the bar. Our food never even reached the kitchen, and although the young waiter who took our order came over to apologise, it felt uncomfortable. The senior waiter or manager had passed our table several times during the wait without checking on us. When we asked after 45 minutes, the senior waiter abruptly said the kitchen was busy and we had to wait. My wife eventually told another waiter we’d been waiting an hour, and that’s when they discovered the missing order. The first interaction had already soured our taste. We’d stayed at this hotel on and off for about four years, including two nights after Christmas 25, but this will be my last visit. Our room was clean, but the wear and tear was obvious: there was a massive carpet stain, and it could use a lick of paint.

Staff were super sweet and helpful, and the restaurant and bar food, along with breakfast, was excellent. The booking system was chaotic, though, and communication was non existent. The rooms were okay but had road noise, and the bathrooms need repairs. There’s nowhere to hang a wet towel, even though the water pressure is epic.