The Palace Hotel

The food was lovely all week, and the staff and hotel were lovely too. I had a great week in a lovely room with a smart TV, and the location is great, just across from the seafront and near the town centre. I didn't use the gym or pool. I only have two criticisms: tea with the evening meal cost an extra 2-50, which I've never come across in any hotel I've stayed at. Also, my coach itinerary stayed on reception all week, but was taken down on the final evening. I was then unsure when we were leaving. The driver had told us to check the itinerary there, and I only knew when to put the cases down and have breakfast. The final meal was nice, but I wasn't sure whether the gravy with the nut roast was vegetarian. The waiter said it was, though it tasted very salty, so I still wasn't sure if it was ordinary gravy. Apart from that, the food was perfect. Many thanks for a great stay.

The food was excellent, with a good menu to choose from, and the evening meal was especially good. Staff were helpful and chatty throughout. Our room was very large and had a sea view, tea making facilities, bottled water and fresh fruit. As an older guest, I appreciated the walk-in shower since a bath wasn't an option for me. It's a great hotel and I would highly recommend it.

The building looks impressive, but that was where the good points ended for me. I went for afternoon tea and a spa day as a Christmas gift, and we waited ages on arrival. The place felt grotty, especially the changing rooms. The sauna was hot and nice, but tiny, about the size of a closet. The steam room smelled like stale urine, so I walked in, sat down, then went straight back out. I had to ask for a towel because none had been provided, something I'd usually expect at a spa. The pool was cold and felt like an institutional or hospital rehabilitation pool, and the jacuzzi was just a cold puddle. The scones were warm and fresh and there was plenty of coffee, but the sandwiches were stale and rubbish. I was really disappointed and couldn't wait to leave. I only review when something is exceptional or terrible, and sadly this wasn't exceptional. I definitely won't be back, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone after a decent, clean spa with half decent food.

After the disappointing spa visit, the afternoon tea service was good, but the food quality let it down. The scones were fresh and nice, while the sandwich bread was really stale. My partner also felt there were too many fish choices. We got this afternoon tea and “spa” as a Christmas gift, and I'm glad we didn't have to pay for it. I wouldn't call the facilities a spa: they're basic changing rooms with a one pound locker, a pool with a “jacuzzi” in one corner that wasn't hot at all, plus a sauna and steam room. The sauna seemed the newest and best facility, but the steam room smelled strongly of urine, so I went in and straight back out. There were no robes or towels and none of the luxury I'd expect. All in all, a disappointment. I won't return and would suggest they stop calling it a “spa” on the voucher.