The Cliffs Hotel (Choice Hotels)

The kids loved the pool and playroom, spending hours splashing and playing while the adults got some time to relax. We had a fantastic weekend at The Cliffs Hotel with 12 family members across three generations. The staff and service stood out: the rooms were spotless every day, the bars and restaurants ran smoothly, and the team was friendly, attentive and helpful from check-in to check-out. The food was fresh, tasty and generously portioned. We enjoyed lamb Henry in rich red wine sauce, well-cooked barbecue chicken, treacle cake with creamy custard, and a hearty full English breakfast. The drinks selection was just right too, with a good range of beers, including excellent real ales, and lovely wines with dinner. Comedy shows were genuinely funny, and the live music was brilliant without being overwhelming. It's a comfortable, fun and well-organised place for a big family get-together. We can't wait to come back. Thanks to everyone who made it special! 😊

The bathroom was much too narrow, and there wasn't enough space at the end of the bed either. The hotel didn't seem designed with accessibility needs in mind, and I doubt I'd book it again. The hotel advertised parking on site as freely available, but its car park was full when we arrived. When I asked for advice, they said I could try the adjacent streets. I found a space on double yellow lines and got a parking ticket, since blue badges weren't eligible.

The pool is lovely, the jacuzzi too, and the changing rooms are good. The rest of the public areas were uncomfortably cold, though, including the dining room, concert room and cocktail bar. It seems they only turn the heating up after guests complain, which is odd when so many customers are elderly. The food was barely warm, even though there's a decent choice for the price. A toastie and coffee at the cafe bar came to about £15, and it doesn't look like many people buy there. The entertainment could do with a refresh, since a lot of the acts have been the same for years. Bedrooms were warm.

We've had plenty of good times at the cliffs before, but this visit was disappointing. At breakfast the next morning, the room alarm went off while I was getting dressed, and it felt as if the staff were treating us as though we'd done something wrong. People were talking about it over breakfast. We don't smoke. The previous evening, we arrived at the restaurant at 6:30, a detail that matters because the soup and hot starters were only warm. The waitress also leaned over my plate twice to take my wife's plate, which annoyed me.