Royal Clifton Hotel

We had breakfast and evening meals included, and both were lovely with plenty to choose from. Our two-drinks package was good value too. The only letdown was the bar service: one staff member was left to manage a busy crowd and did her best, but there should have been more people serving. Both nights' entertainment were great acts, though the room was chilly, especially for the many older guests. Inside, the reception was cosy and the staff were lovely. The outside of the hotel didn't look like much, but there was scaffolding up, so I assume it was being made over. Our double room was spotless and the bed was comfy. We slept well, although the room was a bit cold even with the radiator on, so we used the extra heater from the wardrobe. The clean bathroom had a bath with a shower over it and plenty of hot water. There were tea and coffee facilities, an ironing board, hairdryer and fan. There are lifts to each floor, but stairs between some levels could make access difficult if you have a disability. Calling reception beforehand might sort this out. Great value for a weekend, the staff were brilliant, friendly and helpful, and I'd visit again.

The food was lovely, and the location suited us perfectly. The shops are a short stroll away and the promenade is just across the road. It’s a lovely old hotel, with clean, comfortable rooms and really friendly, helpful staff. Nothing seemed too much trouble.

We came for four days over Christmas on a coach trip with my 100-year-old father and a friend. The three ground-floor bedrooms were spacious and clean. Dad's room was huge, but only one small radiator worked in the bedroom and there was no heating in the bathroom. Maintenance couldn't fix either radiator, and the little oil heater they gave him wasn't much use. I swapped rooms with him for the second night, which made him much more comfortable. The buffet food was a real surprise. I'm quite fussy, but every breakfast and dinner was delicious, with lots of choice. The staff worked so hard over Christmas. Sam, the shift manager, seemed to be everywhere, always cheerful and helpful. Tina at the bar was working by herself but always had a smile and time for a chat. We had such a giggle. One tip for the hotel: please stock the first-aid kit with more useful dressings. It had only a few plasters all the same size, a couple of bandages and an eye bath. For a large hotel, it was pretty useless.

I came by myself from Manchester, and my anxiety is usually high when I'm alone. It was my first stay here, and the place was so nice. The staff were amazing, especially the blonde bar lady working Sunday evenings. She was lovely and friendly, and helped me feel like I wasn't on my own.