The Bay Hotel

We had a wonderful one-night stay in the executive family suite in late August. It was spacious and pretty affordable for the size and amenities, though it took us a while to work out how to switch on the fridge. The beds were comfortable, the AC and wifi worked well, and the view was spectacular. The restaurant and bar onsite served tasty food, and there’s also a pool and spa that we didn’t get to try. Parking was fine. We’d stay again!

We’ve been coming for years, and this is the first time we’ve had a problem with either the food or customer service. They moved us to another room without hesitation when the heating wasn’t working in the first one, and the rooms were very good and clean. Breakfast, though, was terrible. There was no haggis, the sausages weren’t cooked, and the eggs were hard and rubbery. I was told nobody else had complained, but several people I spoke to said the same thing. They also said the black pudding was put on top of the haggis and placed under the grill, which might explain why it wasn’t cooked. There wasn’t one apology. I hope standards are just slipping, because they’re normally very high.

The hotel is very clean, the food is lovely, and the restaurant and bar staff were especially friendly and helpful. My only concern is the bathroom setup: the shower is over a slippery bath, and there are no grab rails. My husband fell badly in the bath, cut his hand, and badly bruised the bottom of his back. When we spoke to reception, they said you have to ask for a slip mat. They don’t put one in the bathroom, even though they know the bath is very slippery.

The dinner was a dreadful experience, and I wouldn’t repeat it. Cutlery was stuck to the table, which made us wonder what it had last been cleaned with. I ordered battered haddock with garden peas and chips. The batter was soggy like a wet sponge, and the peas were cold and rock hard, more suited to a pea shooter than a dinner plate. I sent the meal back to the kitchen. This hotel seems past its heyday. With dinner of such poor quality, I question whether it meets a four-star standard. The wine was disappointing too, and that’s putting it mildly.