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Summary of reviewsThe Old Ship Aground, set in the picturesque harbor of Minehead, offers an inviting and serene escape with its prime location at the beginning of the South West Coast Path. The hotel is favored for its stunning sea and harbor views, historic ambiance and peaceful surroundings, providing a perfect balance between seclusion and accessibility to local attractions. The proximity to the beach and lifeboat station adds a unique maritime charm, making it a practical base for various stays.
The breakfast service at The Old Ship Aground is widely acclaimed for its quality, variety and generous portions. Guests enjoy a range of options from full English breakfasts to unique dishes like porridge with honey and whiskey. Despite occasional delays, the friendly staff's welcoming demeanor ensures a positive dining experience. Similarly, the dinner service is praised for its superb quality and taste with specific dishes like fish and chips and Sunday Roast earning high marks. The cozy and rustic atmosphere of the bar and restaurant enhances the experience, even though service can be slower during busy periods.
Rooms at the hotel are appreciated for their cleanliness, spaciousness and harbor views. Many guests highlight the comfortable beds, cozy ambiance and well-decorated interiors. While some rooms may need updates, the overall sentiment is positive with the historic charm and cleanliness being key highlights.
The staff at The Old Ship Aground is consistently praised for their warmth, professionalism and attentiveness. Guests frequently mention the welcoming and accommodating nature of the team, making their stays memorable and enjoyable. Management, especially Rosie and her team, receive special commendations for their exceptional service.
The hotel's WiFi service has mixed reviews, ranging from excellent to weak in certain areas. However, many guests find it generally reliable. The pet-friendly nature of the hotel with its outstanding dog-friendly amenities, makes it a standout choice for travelers with pets, although it may not be ideal for those who prefer pet-free environments.
Overall, The Old Ship Aground offers a luxurious yet affordable experience with a strong emphasis on comfort, quality service and a welcoming atmosphere. The combination of its beautiful location, excellent dining, cozy accommodations and outstanding staff makes it a highly recommended choice for a memorable stay in Minehead. Show more
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Categories
Inn near The Beach
Located on Quay Street, this inn is in proximity to the beach. It offers a combination of lodging, dining, and bar services for beach visitors.
Small Inn
This inn has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, and offers spacious rooms. It is also family-friendly.
Dog Friendly Inn
Inn with Free Wi-Fi
Inn with Tennis Courts
Room Types
Single RoomThe single room includes a private bathroom equipped with a shower and a hairdryer. This single room offers a tea and coffee maker and a TV.
Double Room with Private BathroomThe double room includes a private bathroom fitted with a shower and a hairdryer. This double room offers a tea and coffee maker and a TV.
King RoomThe fireplace is the standout feature of this double room. The double room has a private bathroom fitted with a shower and a hairdryer. This double room features a TV.
Twin Room with Private BathroomThe twin room has a private bathroom fitted with a shower and a hairdryer. This twin room features a tea and coffee maker and a TV.
King RoomThis double room features a fireplace. The double room features a private bathroom equipped with a shower and a hairdryer. This double room provides a tea and coffee maker and a TV. The unit offers 1 bed.
Double Room with Private BathroomThe double room has a private bathroom fitted with a shower and a hairdryer. This double room features a tea and coffee maker and a TV.
Guest Reviews
8.1
Very Good
Location
Nestled in the picturesque harbor of Minehead, 'The Old Ship Aground' boasts an enviable location that consistently garners high praise from its guests. This charming hotel finds itself at the beginning of the South West Coast Path, making it an ideal spot for adventurers and leisure seekers alike. The setting provides stunning sea and harbor views with a delightfully historic ambiance that enhances the tranquil seaside experience. Guests frequently highlight the peaceful atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the main town, yet still within an easy walking distance to various amenities and attractions.
The hotel's proximity to the lifeboat station and quay offers a unique maritime character, perfect for those looking to explore or simply relax by the water. Despite being close to key points of interest, it maintains a quiet and serene environment, ideal for unwinding. The convenience of nearby parking and straightforward access to the beach and seafront further add to its appeal, making it a beautiful and practical base for both short getaways and longer stays.
Enhanced by friendly and welcoming staff, the hotel provides a cozy and comfortable retreat with rooms that often feature balconies and views of the old harbor, allowing guests to enjoy the scenic beauty right from their accommodations. The combination of its historic charm, superb location and excellent service creates a memorable stay that both newcomers and returning visitors greatly appreciate.
Breakfast
"The Old Ship Aground" offers a diverse breakfast experience that generally delights its guests with quality, variety and excellent service. The establishment’s breakfast menu offers a broad selection, including full English breakfasts, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and the popular porridge with honey and whiskey. The freshly cooked dishes receive praise for their taste and presentation, as well as for the generous portions that leave guests satisfied and ready for the day ahead. Guests highlight the quality ingredients and the precise cooking, adding to the overall positive dining experience.
Although the breakfast service occasionally encounters delays, the friendly and attentive staff make up for it with their welcoming demeanor. Some reviews mentioned occasional slow service, suggesting that it could be improved with more efficient replenishment of items like juices and pastries. The breakfast service starts at 8:30 am, which may not be early enough for guests with early plans, but the option for a takeaway packed breakfast is appreciated by those in a rush.
Overall, "The Old Ship Aground" stands out for its fantastic breakfast that provides a wide array of choices and flavors, setting a high standard for morning meals and leaving a lasting impression on its guests.
Dinner
Dining at The Old Ship Aground offers a predominantly positive experience with many guests praising the quality and taste of the food. Consistently described as superb, excellent and delicious, the meals range from traditional pub grub to more refined dishes like king prawn pasta and halibut. The pub's fish and chips, Sunday Roast and mussels have garnered specific accolades, highlighting the establishment's strength in delivering hearty and satisfying meals.
The atmosphere in the bar and restaurant is often noted as enhancing the dining experience, characterized as cozy and rustic with a touch of a pub vibe. Service is generally regarded as pleasant and efficient with staff being helpful and friendly, despite occasional mentions of slow service during busy periods.
The dinner menu offers a good variety of options, catering to diverse tastes and featuring freshly cooked specials. Guests appreciate the flavorful and well-presented dishes, though there are occasional remarks on portion sizes being small or the menu lacking variety.
Pricing is mentioned as being on the higher side, but many guests feel the quality of the food justifies it. Some suggest the potential for improvement with a new chef on board. Overall, the consensus is that dining at The Old Ship Aground is a delightful experience, well worth the visit for anyone seeking good quality pub food in a charming setting.
Rooms
The rooms at The Old Ship Aground are generally praised for their cleanliness and spaciousness. Many guests describe the rooms as clean, comfortable and adequately furnished for a pleasant stay. There are several mentions of rooms with beautiful views of the harbor and sea, often enhanced by balconies and French windows.
Guests appreciate the large, airy and well-maintained rooms with some noting the luxury and well-decorated interiors. The beds frequently receive compliments for their comfort and the overall ambiance of the rooms is often described as cozy and homely.
However, some reviews indicate that certain rooms require updates and improvements. Issues like outdated decor, tiny TV screens, small bathrooms and occasional maintenance problems are noted. Despite these drawbacks, the overall sentiment is positive with the majority finding the accommodation satisfactory, especially for shorter stays. The historic charm and period features of the rooms also add to the overall appeal.
In conclusion, while a few rooms might benefit from refurbishment, the general experience at The Old Ship Aground is one of comfort, cleanliness and charming views, making it a favorable choice for many travelers.
Beds
Located in a charming, quiet spot, 'The Old Ship Aground' has garnered much praise for its impressive bed quality and comfort. Guests repeatedly highlight the extreme comfort of the beds, often describing them as super comfy, very comfortable and even heavenly. King-size and superking beds are frequently mentioned as spacious and plush, contributing to a restful night's sleep with crisp white linens adding to the experience.
The rooms themselves are noted for being large, clean and comfortable, enhancing the overall stay. Despite occasional mentions of rooms not being ready and housekeeping lapses, the majority of reviews underline the excellent bed quality. While there are rare mentions of issues like bed springs or a lumpy mattress, these are vastly outnumbered by positive comments praising the comfort and size of the beds.
Appreciated extras like extra blankets and comfy pillows add to the feeling of a well-thought-out guest experience. Overall, 'The Old Ship Aground' seems to provide a restful retreat with beds that numerous guests have described as the most comfortable they've ever slept in.
Cleanliness
The Old Ship Aground consistently excels in cleanliness according to various guest reviews. The rooms are frequently described as fresh, clean, airy, spacious and comfortable. Guests often emphasized the spotless condition of their rooms and bathrooms with clean white sheets and towels being a recurring highlight. The staff appears diligent in maintaining cleanliness, ensuring that rooms are well-prepared and presented to a high standard, often using terms like super clean, exceptionally clean and spotlessly clean to describe their accommodations.
However, there are occasional mentions of areas needing attention, such as some room facilities requiring maintenance, the need for minor upgrades and sporadic issues with communal areas or specific rooms. Despite these isolated remarks, the overall impression is one of a clean and tidy environment, supported by attentive staff efforts. The hotel's general cleanliness, combined with its charming character and friendly service, make it a welcoming place to stay.
Staff
The reviews of 'The Old Ship Aground' overwhelmingly emphasize the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. Numerous guests have described the team as welcoming, very friendly and professional, creating a warm and hospitable atmosphere from the moment of arrival. Many reviews highlight the staff’s efficiency and their accommodating nature with several guests noting that they couldn't do enough to ensure a pleasant stay. The management, particularly Rosie and her team, receive special mentions for their exceptional service and commitment to guest satisfaction.
The staff's attentiveness and responsiveness are also praised, as they go the extra mile in solving problems and addressing the needs of the guests, including special requests and quick service during meals. The team’s local knowledge and willingness to engage in friendly conversations further enhance the guest experience, making travelers feel at ease and welcomed.
While there are sporadic mentions of the staff being over-stretched or stressed at times, these instances are overshadowed by the dominant narrative of a dedicated, hardworking and caring team. The overall sentiment reflects a high level of professionalism and dedication, leaving guests with a memorable and enjoyable stay.
Wi-Fi
The Old Ship Aground has a mixed reputation regarding its WiFi service. Guests' experiences range from excellent and good WiFi availability to instances where the signal was weak or a bit slow. While some found the WiFi service to be great and reliable, others noted that it could be average or even weak in certain areas. Despite these variations, some guests appreciated the opportunity for a digital detox when the WiFi wasn't at its best. The helpful staff and overall availability of WiFi contributed positively to the stay for many visitors.
Beach
The Old Ship Aground enjoys a prime location close to the beach and the sea. As a romantic old English pub, it offers a warm atmosphere right at the end of a coastal path. The hotel is perfectly positioned near the promenade, making it convenient for accessing other Minehead attractions. Guests appreciate the hotel’s lovely location on the doorstep of a kilometers-long beach, although it is noted that the beach is closed to dogs. The proximity to the beach enhances the overall experience with the pet-friendly aspect being particularly appreciated by many visitors.
Luxury
The Old Ship Aground offers a fantastic blend of comfort and affordability with guests frequently noting its excellent value for money. While it may not provide extra frills, the rooms are consistently described as good, decent and comfortable. The food also receives positive comments for its quality. Many visitors praise the overall luxurious experience, highlighting luxury accommodations, facilities and service. The staff, breakfast and dinner further enhance the luxury feel of the stay. Additionally, the scenic views and prime location add to the appeal. As a bonus, it’s a pet-friendly hotel, making it a luxury option for guests traveling with dogs.
Dog Friendly
The Old Ship Aground stands out for its exceptional dog-friendly facilities and services, making it a haven for pet owners. This hotel warmly welcomes dogs, creating a super dog-friendly atmosphere that is a refreshing change from other accommodations. Both dogs and their owners are made to feel right at home with tea and coffee facilities also catering to canine companions. The hotel is particularly accommodating, offering rooms with stunning harbor views where dogs are welcome. Guests consistently highlight how very dog-friendly the establishment is, making it an ideal choice for those traveling with their furry friends. However, for those who are not fond of dogs, this might not be the place to stay given its strong emphasis on accommodating pets.
No, The Old Ship Aground doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Old Ship Aground.
Yes, The Old Ship Aground welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Old Ship Aground.