Best Western White Lion

The lounge spaces by reception were comfy and beautifully decorated for Christmas, and the staff were polite, helpful and friendly. We found the beds comfortable in the modernised basic rooms, though the building itself is very old and centrally located. It's dog friendly, perhaps too much so: great if you have a dog, less so if you'd rather not be around them, especially while eating. The layout is higgledy-piggledy, with a lift to the first floor but stairs up and down to reach many rooms, so it's not very accessible. Parking is very tight, so arrive early if you need a space. At dinner, two menu items had already sold out by 7:30, which was our biggest disappointment. It was a nice stay in a great location, but I don't think I'd choose this hotel first next time.

The location is the only reason I'd recommend this hotel. We didn't enjoy our stay and wouldn't return. It felt like an expensive care home, with too many dogs. During breakfast service, a dog defecated on the dining room carpet opposite us. We waited a long time for our food while staff cleaned it up, with no acknowledgement that this was unpleasant for guests. Breakfast was okay, but after the long wait I got half the portion I'd had the previous day. I didn't think it was worth commenting on. Some staff were nice and tried to be efficient despite the slow kitchen. Others were unpleasant and seemed to favour guests they knew, including OAPs and builders. As others have said, items were missing from the already small menu. You're given a dinner time and asked when you'll come for breakfast. With service this slow, getting up late would make the 10:30 checkout difficult. The rooms were shabby, the TV small, and there were no plugs by the beds. Multi plugs with power and USB would make things easier. Condensation ran down the windows, which were badly scratched, so you couldn't really see the view you'd paid extra for. The bathroom was tatty, with a wobbly toilet seat and slow taps. They use water softeners, so if you run out of the one bottle they provide, you have to ask for drinkable water. The bedroom hallways were run down and had lots of steps. I know it's an old building, but at these high prices I'd expect it to be tidier and more usable, with more professional staff.

The beachside position, right at the centre of the front, and the charming fish shacks make a great impression. The public spaces are comfortable and well furnished, breakfast may be one of the best I've eaten in a UK hotel, and the staff were fantastic, friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. That's why I gave the White Lion four stars after a great two-night stay. From outside, though, the weather-beaten facade is overdue for a makeover, and the inner corridors badly need painting to lose their hostel-like look.

I was due to stay four nights but left after two, and as expected, the advanced rate wasn't refundable. I was disappointed. It was one of the coldest spells of the year and it snowed while I was in Aldebugh. Even with the heating on full blast, my room was very cold. The hotel has single glazing and gaps around the windows let in a lot of draughts. Someone had stuffed rolled-up newspaper into some of them, so it clearly wasn't just me. There was only one plug, about six feet from the bed, with no bedside sockets or bathroom shaver point. The bed was comfy but too small for me at 6ft, so I had to sleep diagonally or my feet stuck out. The pillows were much too soft and uncomfortable, and there weren't any others in the room. Breakfast was good enough. Most of the staff were professional, though one or two were snappy and too strict about what time I wanted breakfast, as well as saying check-in could only be at 3pm prompt.