“A wonderful hotel”
Date of review: 27 May 2011
We have just returned home from a twelve-night stay at The Bell Rock Hotel in St Mary's. This was our second visit to the hotel. We stayed in the very comfortable Room 21, which is on the ground floor and next to Reception. Our room was spacious, very clean, well maintained and comfortable and our "en suite shower room" was a "Pod", which we affectionately called the Tardis. We took our laptop with us and found that whereas in the rest of the hotel, reception was poor, in Room 21 we had no problems as it was near the router which was located in Reception.
We had all our evening meals at the hotel and the food was varied and tasty. We had a minor blip with one dish, but it was immediateloy taken away and replaced with an alternative - no fuss, no argument - just apologies and good-nature. The Chef has a gift for puddings and our waistlines are now proof of this!
The breakfasts were always excellent - quick service, good selection and, again, served by good-natured, attentive and friendly staff.
We have never seen hotel staff work so hard and so willingly and all had a cheerful word or greeting - even if we met outside in the street! And twice, we asked for things that weren't strictly available, and they turned up (miraculously) the next day. Absolutely remarkable!
The atmosphere in the hotel is very friendly and what is also reassuring is "Mine Hosts" are there regularly and sit in the bar area each evening, chatting with the guests and ironing out any little problems they may have or advising on trips to take and places to see, before taking their own evening meal from the menu offered in the dining room.
The pool area is clean and well-maintained; the pool itself is small and nice and warm! There is a small sun terrace near to it, which faces south and is out of the wind, and it is nice to dry off here whilst sipping one of the excellent wines that are on offer (and all at VERY reasonable prices).
So really, we would be hard-pressed to find even one minor criticism of this most charming hotel except (maybe) it caters for the older generation rather than the young trendies. We consider ourselves as "older trendies" anyway - and as you have gathered, we were more than happy at The Bell Rock Hotel.
Special thanks to Daniel, Adrian and (of course) the delightful Martina who managed to always make everyone smile.
Date of stay: May 2011
Visit was for: Leisure
Travelled with: spouse/partner
Member since: 04 March 2007
Recommended by this reviewer? Yes
