The Sefton

The value was terrible. I can’t see why this room cost twice as much as other, much better hotels on the island. The room and hotel feel very tired and badly need updating and redecorating. Housekeeping never came during our stay, even though we asked at reception, so we had no clean towels or cups. The previous guests’ beer cans were still on our atrium balcony. The bed was extremely uncomfortable and the pillows felt like rocks. The bath needed resealing, with mould and chipped enamel.

The Sefton sits right in the centre of Douglas, handy for places to eat, the theatre, and drinking spots, and it’s affordable. It’s a beautiful old building with several room options, from sea views and atrium rooms with balconies to full top-floor suites. Staff are attentive and helpful. There’s a gym and pool when available, and the breakfast is among the best you’ll find.

We’re staying in room 470 for my mum’s 80th birthday, and the hotel has been fantastic, especially this room. Margaret and Clare at reception encouraged our celebrations and arranged a lovely surprise, Prosecco in the room to finish the evening. Chai and Josh at Bonzai also made Mum’s birthday meal really memorable. We’ll definitely come back, and I highly recommend this hotel.

We didn’t find this a 4-star hotel, especially at nearly £200 a night for B&B. The spa was fully booked for the next 3 months, and the gym was closed after asbestos was detected. It makes you wonder whether guests had been exposed before it was found. Breakfast fruit was mostly tinned, the wifi was slow and unreliable, and two of the three bathroom soap, shampoo, and shower gel dispensers were empty. Since rooms are only made up every 3 days, bring your own milk, tea, and coffee. It would help if washing up liquid and a tea towel were provided so guests could clean the crockery. The sea view room had a bay window but looked little like the website photo. Decor was tired, pillows were past their prime, and the bathroom had mould. One of the main front doors was broken and marked “not in use” when we arrived. The stairs to the first floor breakfast area had threadbare carpet and damp on the walls. Some people may accept all that at this price, but we didn’t.