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Summary of reviewsThe Royal Hotel in Scarborough presents a charming destination with numerous appealing attributes, especially highlighted in positive reviews. Its prime location near the South Bay offers easy access to Scarborough's beach and vibrant town center, attracting visitors interested in exploring shops, restaurants, and historic sites. The hotel features beautiful Victorian architecture that adds character, creating an alluring backdrop for stays, all enhanced by the warm, welcoming, and efficient service of its staff. Guests frequently commend the accommodating nature of the staff, who enhance the hotel's inviting atmosphere, with specific hosts like Shannon and Lewis at the reception noted for their outstanding service.
A typical day at the Royal Hotel starts with a breakfast experience that, while occasionally mixed in opinion, is rich in variety with celiac-friendly options and fresh items that cater to diverse tastes. Dinners provide value and are often marked by specific events that guests enjoy. While the dinner experiences vary, with some suggesting improvements needed for consistency, the dining atmosphere remains pleasant.
Rooms at the Royal Hotel underscore an effective blend of old-world charm and modern comforts. Travelers often enjoy spacious accommodations with beautiful sea views, despite some areas in need of updates. Cleanliness is generally well regarded, with special attention during festive seasons enhancing the ambiance. The historical charm of the hotel, characterized by its 1837 Victorian interior and iconic Grade 2 listed entrance hall, captures the elegance of a bygone era, earning appreciation from history enthusiasts.
Families and dog owners find the hotel welcoming, with specific amenities and conveniences designed to accommodate their needs. The dog-friendly environment ensures a hassle-free stay for those traveling with pets. However, some practical considerations, such as paid WiFi in guest rooms and occasional spatial constraints in family accommodations, might require attention.
In summary, the Royal Hotel stands out for its historical charm, strategic location, and hospitable environment, creating a memorable experience despite minor areas for improvement. Show more
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Categories
Historic Hotel
Dating back to the 1830s, this hotel exhibits grand Regency architecture. It may incorporate fabric from the earlier 1725 Assembly Rooms and has attracted notable guests including Winston Churchill.
Hotel for Honeymoon
Offering upscale 19th-century grandeur, the Royal Hotel is centrally located and provides easy access to Scarborough's attractions. Its historical charm and convenient location make it a good base for a honeymoon.
Dog Friendly Hotel
This hotel is dog-friendly and offers upscale 19th-century grandeur.
Family Friendly Hotel
Romantic Hotel
Cheap Hotel
Room Types
Double RoomThis room comes with a TV, tea and coffee making facilities and an en suite bathroom.
Single RoomThis single room features a work desk, TV and an en suite bathroom.
Twin RoomThis room comes with a TV, tea and coffee making facilities and an en suite bathroom.
Double Room with Sea ViewThis room offers sea views and features a TV and an en suite bathroom.
Twin Room with Sea ViewThis room offers sea views and features a TV and an en suite bathroom.
Superior SuiteThis suite includes 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a bath and free toiletries. The suite has carpeted floors, a seating area with a TV, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe as well as sea views. The unit has 1 bed.
Family RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The family room has carpeted floors, a seating area with a TV, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, as well as heating. The unit has 3 beds.
Standard Family RoomOffering free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The family room has carpeted floors, a seating area with a TV, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, as well as heating. The unit has 2 beds.
SuiteThis suite features 1 bedroom, a seating area and 1 bathroom with a bath and a shower. The suite features a TV, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor as well as sea views. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
7.1
Good
Location
The "Royal Hotel" in Scarborough boasts a superb location, receiving praise for its proximity to a myriad of attractions and amenities. Nestled near the South Bay, the hotel provides easy access to both the beach and the vibrant town center, making it an ideal spot for those looking to explore shops, restaurants, and historic sites. Guests appreciate the beautiful views of the sea and the convenience of a nearby tram service. The historic Victorian architecture of the hotel adds a touch of charm and character to their stay, with its grand, ornate features often highlighted as a delightful backdrop. The hotel also garners attention for its cleanliness and accommodating staff, who consistently provide friendly and efficient service. Many visitors note the excellent value for money, particularly during festive periods, when the hotel is beautifully decorated. For those traveling with pets, the hotel’s dog-friendly policy is an added bonus. Overall, the "Royal Hotel" stands out as a well-situated and characterful choice for anyone planning a visit to this charming historic fishing town.
Breakfast
At the Royal Hotel, the breakfast experience garnered varied opinions from guests, though many found it notably positive. Numerous reviews applauded the breakfast for its quality and variety, with phrases such as excellent, outstanding, and fantastic frequently mentioned. The buffet style received praise for being well-stocked and offering a wide selection that catered to different tastes, including celiac-friendly options. Guests appreciated the freshly cooked items, highlighting eggs and sausages, as well as the availability of hot dishes, cereals, croissants, and fresh fruit.
However, the breakfast experience wasn't without its shortcomings. Some guests reported issues such as food not being replenished swiftly enough, leading to queues, and occasional lapses in the temperature of hot items. Some found breakfast to be lacking in value, particularly when not included in the accommodation price, describing it as basic for what was charged. Despite these mixed reactions, the overall consensus tended to veer towards satisfaction, with comments about lovely dining settings and friendly service adding to the positive aspects of their stay.
The breakfast at the Royal Hotel thus represents a noteworthy offering in a convenient location, with a diverse selection that successfully caters to a wide audience, but with a few areas in need of improvement to enhance the guest experience.
Dinner
The dinner experience at the Royal Hotel offers a mixed bag of reviews, highlighting both commendable and lacking aspects. Many guests appreciated the dinner's value for money and noted the food as nice and plentiful, with some enjoying excellent meals without reservation issues. On occasions, the New Year's Eve gala meal was specifically praised as lovely. Breakfasts seem to fare better, with a good choice and reasonable quality.
However, frequent criticisms cite bland food, limited choices, and poor quality, with some meals described as basic or below hotel standards. Issues like cold food, drying out under heat lamps, and overly salty dishes were also reported. The dinner service sometimes felt rushed due to short serving times, and the buffet, in particular, disappointed a handful of guests with its limited selections resembling school dormitory meals. Despite these points, there are hints of potential with mentions of superb dinners and good buffet variety, suggesting it might be hit or miss depending on the day. Overall, while there are glimpses of satisfying experiences, consistency in quality appears to be the hotel’s main challenge.
Rooms
The Royal Hotel offers a blend of old-world charm and modern comforts, creating a stay with diverse experiences. Guests often praise the spaciousness of the rooms, with many enjoying beautiful sea views. The hotel stands out with its elegant architecture and impressive entrance, although some areas and rooms indicate a more dated style. Cleanliness generally receives favorable mentions, with many rooms described as tidy and comfortable. The helpful and friendly staff enhances the guest experience, making visitors feel welcome throughout their stay. While some rooms have been newly refurbished, others reveal signs of wear and could benefit from updates. Notably, the hotel decor during festive seasons like Christmas adds a special touch to the atmosphere. Despite occasional issues with heating, room size inconsistencies, and minor maintenance needs, the Royal Hotel delivers a pleasant stay with its character-filled ambiance and advantageous location close to amenities.
Beds
The Royal Hotel receives mixed reviews when it comes to their beds. Many guests rave about the comfortable and cozy beds, often highlighting their size and the quality of the linens, with several describing them as big and exceptionally comfy. Soft sheets and a warm quilt contribute to a snug sleeping experience for many visitors, making for a restful night.
However, not all travelers share the same sentiment. A significant number of guests find the mattresses too hard or uncomfortable, often complemented by pillows that are equally firm. Some visitors note dissatisfaction with beds made up of two singles pushed together, which they find less than ideal for a good night's sleep. Issues such as noisy beds, mattresses without protectors, and outdated bedding detract from what could be a more pleasant stay for a few.
Despite some critical feedback, the hotel maintains a reasonably positive impression overall due to the standout comfort for many guests and spacious accommodations with sea views—elements that continually draw guests to the Royal Hotel.
Cleanliness
The Royal Hotel, nestled in a prime location with picturesque views over Scarborough, offers a mixture of charm and history. Guests frequently highlight the welcoming and helpful staff, as well as the spacious and well-equipped rooms. The hotel's grounds and common areas are often described as clean and tastefully decorated, especially during festive seasons when Christmas decorations add an extra touch of warmth and cheer.
Many visitors comment on the overall cleanliness being satisfactory, with bathrooms and linens often noted as spotless. Despite this, there's a recurring theme suggesting that while surface-level cleanliness meets expectations, a deeper clean across rooms might be needed. Dust and cobwebs in more obscure places, such as top corners, lampshades, and under beds, seem to be a common oversight. Some rooms, while clean at first glance, reveal items left behind or lack attention to detail upon closer inspection.
The hotel's decor and facilities are described as somewhat dated, with a need for modernization to match the beauty of the building's heritage. Issues like stained carpets and curtains, worn-out furnishings, and signs of dampness and mold indicate areas that could benefit from refurbishment. However, despite these drawbacks, visitors often agree that the hotel provides good value for money, particularly given its central location and friendly service.
In conclusion, the Royal Hotel manages to charm many with its historical character and strategic location, offering a pleasant stay that could be enhanced by addressing some detailed cleaning and renovation needs.
Staff
The Royal Hotel is praised extensively for its friendly and accommodating staff, who consistently go above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay for guests. Many reviews highlight the reception team, describing them as pleasant, helpful, and informative, contributing to a warm and welcoming atmosphere upon arrival. Shannon and Lewis, who work in reception, are particularly noted for their outstanding service, with guests appreciating their attentiveness and kindness.
Across various departments, the staff's dedication to providing excellent customer service is evident. Whether it's the cheerful bar staff or the courteous housekeeping team, each member seems committed to enhancing the guest experience. The hotel is often described as having very friendly staff who are not only approachable but also accommodating, frequently going the extra mile, such as allowing room switches when necessary.
A few isolated comments suggest improvements could be made during peak times or in certain situations, but overall, guests are impressed by the team's politeness and professionalism. The positive interactions with the staff contribute significantly to the hotel's charm, along with its superb location near the beach, train station, and shopping areas. Additionally, the hotel's lobby and main reception area receive compliments for their inviting ambiance.
The staff's hard work and care for the guest experience are clearly reflected in the overall enjoyment of the visitors, making the Royal Hotel a recommended spot for travelers seeking a friendly and supportive environment during their stay.
Wi-Fi
When visiting the Royal Hotel, travelers may want to keep in mind some details about the WiFi situation. While Wi-Fi is complimentary in communal areas such as the lounge and bar, accessing the internet from guest rooms incurs an additional cost of £7 per device, per day. This charge has been noted as surprisingly high, especially given the expectations of free room WiFi in many modern hotels. Some guests have expressed dissatisfaction with the necessity to pay for WiFi, pointing out that this practice feels outdated and should be included in the room rate. Additionally, the quality of the internet connection has been described as intermittent and not being up to par, adding to the frustration of paid usage. For travelers who are reliant on having consistent internet access, especially in private spaces like their rooms, these factors are worth considering when planning a stay at the Royal Hotel.
Family
The Royal Hotel offers a positive experience for families, standing out as a lovely family hotel with friendly service. Guests appreciate the efforts made to cater to families, such as upgrading to newly decorated family rooms. However, the accommodations have some limitations for families with more than three members, often requiring them to book additional rooms, which may not always be cost-effective. The facilities demonstrate adaptability for families with disabilities, ensuring comfort for guests who need wheelchair access. While the overall atmosphere is pleasant and mostly clean, some logistical challenges arise, like navigating through luggage left by guests waiting, which can create inconvenience, especially for those with specific mobility needs. Overall, despite some spatial constraints and early dining timings, the hotel offers a welcoming environment for families, particularly those requiring adaptive facilities.
Historic
Nestled in a prime location overlooking the south bay, the Royal Hotel is a captivating blend of historical elegance and vintage charm. The hotel, graced with a stunning Victorian interior, transports visitors back to a period of grandeur with its remarkable 1837 architecture. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a magnificent Grade 2 listed entrance hall and an impressive sweeping staircase, which echo the opulence of a bygone era. The rich architectural heritage of the building, characterized by classic fittings, columns, and grand staircases, creates an aura of nostalgic splendor.
While the majestic décor and splendid period features showcase the hotel's illustrious past, the overall ambiance is both warm and inviting. The staff are praised for their friendliness and attentiveness, enhancing the guest experience. With exquisite old-world charm, the hotel exudes elegance, offering cozy, vintage furnishings that are appreciated by history lovers.
Although the hotel exhibits signs of wear and some areas require a bit of tender loving care, the allure of its historical significance remains undiminished. The Royal Hotel is a true testament to Victorian splendor, offering a reflective glimpse into the opulence of yesteryears. It's a place where history and hospitality seamlessly intertwine, making it a charming destination for those seeking a touch of the past amidst modern amenities.
Dog Friendly
Royal Hotel offers a warm welcome to dog owners, providing a genuinely pet-friendly environment in a convenient location close to town. Canine companions are greeted enthusiastically, making it a great place for travelers who wish to bring their furry friends. The hotel features comfortable, clean, and spacious rooms and allows dogs to stay overnight, ensuring a hassle-free visit. Although dogs aren't allowed in the dining room, guests have the option to enjoy their meals in a lounge area nearby, where staff are more than willing to serve breakfast so that pets can remain with their owners. The hotel atmosphere is praised for being incredibly accommodating to both pets and their owners, with dog-friendly amenities and considerate service from the staff, particularly in the bar area. While there is an extra charge for bringing a dog, it is minimal, making this hotel an affordable option for pet owners. Overall, Royal Hotel proves to be a popular choice for dog lovers looking for comfort, convenience, and excellent service during their stay.
No, Royal Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Royal Hotel.
Yes, Royal Hotel welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Royal Hotel.