Blog Details

We are a Visit England Accredited Hotel with rooms situated throughout 4 floors. The hotel has no lift due to the grade 2 listed building status meaning we can't make alterations to install one. We will of course, help with luggage though.

Our food is traditional and cooked using fresh produce of fish, meats, vegetables & dairy sourced from Scilly & Cornwall where possible. Our style is not nouvelle cuisine or a fancy Michelin Star type restaurant.

Our experienced staff offer excellent & attentive service, far beyond the normal expectations for a 2 star rated hotel

Our swimming pool is 8 metres x 4 metres and so neither small, or Olympic size! An unusual extra facility compared to even many other hotels. Its size is governed by available space, and is covered in and heated.

Our rooms are comfortable & furnished to the same standard. All are en suite with either bath, shower or both, and some are compact, hence the special offer lower tariff for these.

The hotel is situated in the centre of Hugh Town, at the quieter side and is ideally positioned for easy access to the harbour for inter island boats to the inhabited islands of Tresco, Bryher, St Agnes & St Martins.

I try to post regular photographs of the islands, and you can see more of the hotel in the photo galleries on the right hand side of the page.

If you would like to contact us please feel free to email or telephone:
contact@bellrockhotel.co.uk Tel. 01720 422575

Thursday, 8 September 2011

Our First German TripAdvisor Review!

“Kann das naechste Mal kaum erwarten....”

Was soll ich sagen....es war RUNDHERUM einfach super!
5 Tage durften wir in diesem "Kleinod" von Hotel verbringen. Vom ersten Tag an haben wir uns willkommen und sehr wohl gefuehlt. Das Personal zuvorkommend und herzlich. Das Essen abwechslungsreich und excellent zubereitet. Zimmer und Bad sehr sehr sauber. Die Lage des Hotels ist wirklich zentral und trotzdem sehr ruhig.
Bitte von den "2 Sternen" nicht irritieren lassen, das Hotel haette fuer mich locker "4" verdient.
Es herrscht insgesamt ein sehr familiaeres Klima, dies wird wohl noch unterstuetzt durch die netten Abende, die man, wenn gewuenscht, in dem Salon mit Bar geniessen kann und somit jederzeit mit anderen Gaesten, hauptsaechlich Englaendern, in Kontakt kommt.
Spielesammlungen und eine kleine Bibliothek runden das Ganze ab.
Fuer uns war's einfach traumhaft und wir koennen unseren naechsten Scilly Urlaub kaum erwarten.....

***Rough Translation***

What can I say .... it was all around just great! 5 days we spent in this "jewel" of the hotel. From day one we felt very comfortable and welcome. The staff courteous and cordial. The food prepared varied and excellent. Room and bathroom very very clean. The hotel's location is really central but very quiet. Request of the "two stars" must irritate the hotel as would have earned for me "4". There is overall a very homely environment, this is probably supported by the nice evenings, which can, if desired, be enjoyed in the lounge with a bar and thus any time with other guests, mainly English, comes in contact. Games and small library collections round out the whole thing.
For us it was amazing and we can hardly wait for our next holiday ..... Scilly

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Guest Review Extracted From TripAdvisor

“Excellent and good value hotel”

Reviewed 2 September 2011

This was our first time on the Isles of Scilly and we were delighted to have chosen this hotel, based on the reviews we had read. We agree with all positive thoughts about Bell Rock, which is well-situated, well-run by friendly yet extremely polite staff and provides good food. Our comment about the food is that we thought the breakfasts extremely good as were the evening meals but whilst there was nothing at all wrong with the main courses we had, we both felt the standard of the starters and desserts was superior.

Having viewed the rooms on the hotel's blog, we opted for room 18, which was cosy rather than spacious and had a lovely view towards Tresco. It was spotlessly clean as was all the hotel. The only suggestion I would make is to change the dark coloured hand towel in the ladies downstairs toilet. I don't like dark coloured towels because you never know if they are dirty or not! Paper ones would be more hygenic.

We found Paul Hicks coming into breakfast to inform us of his boat trips very helpful and preferred this to having to go down to the harbour to book. We felt comfortable with his manner and did not feel at all awkward to decline on days when we had decided to do something else.

We hold happy memories of our stay here and do not hesitate to recommend this hotel, which considering prices at some of the other hotels, is extremely good value.

Stayed August 2011, travelled as a couple


***Footnote From Daniel***

Thank you for your kind words about the Bell Rock Hotel. We are really pleased you enjoyed your stay here, and that the reviews you read prompted your visit. I am sure your review here will also help others in the future.

I have taken on board your comments about the towels in the public toilets. It is a very good point, and we shall investigate the options to provide paper towelling facilities for the 2012 season. As you say, some people prefer to use paper; but at the same time others will prefer towels, so we will look to provide both.

Friday, 2 September 2011

Guest Review Extracted From TripAdvisor

“We loved it and we will be again”

Reviewed 30 August 2011

We arrived after our daughter's wedding needing a peaceful rest. The hotel room provided all we needed. Breakfasts were as big as you wished for both in choice of cold and hot. Evening meals gave a good choice of starters, main meals and sweets. The staff were attentive and during our stay developed a raport with us which made us feel valued. The hotel is excellently positioned with short walks to the beaches, boats and shops. The added bonus is the visit each morning by a local boatman to talk you through the trips he is offering that day without the pressure to buy. This hotel rovides for all ages from my 85 year old mother downwards.
Airport and harbour transport is always on arrival.

Room Tip: All rooms are quiet having stayed here on three occasions and sampled rooms on all floors.

Stayed August 2011, travelled with family


***Footnote From Daniel***
We are really pleased you enjoyed your restful break on Scilly, staying here at the Bell Rock Hotel. We are even more delighted that this looks to be your 3rd visit! We hope to see you again soon.

I just also wanted to make a note about arrival & transfers for others' information as you have brought it up.

If arriving to Scilly on either the Helicopter or Fixed Wing Aircraft, there are dedicated transfer minibuses that automatically meet each flight to transfer people to their accommodation. It is always more economical to purchase a return ticket with them.

If arriving by sea, it is advisable to pre-book a local taxi if you require transport from the quay, as there are not always taxis available on the quay.
Your luggage will automatically be delivered from the ship, to your accommodation on St Mary's as long as you have labelled your luggage accordingly. The local haulage companies unload the ship's containers straight onto the lorries & vans, and charge a small fee for the service (2011 prices: £1.20 per item). If you wish to take your own luggage from the ship, just wait where they are unloading them & let the guys know when you see your luggage!

I hope this helps those that are new to the islands.

Monday, 29 August 2011

Guest Email of Thanks

----- Original Message -----
From: Laura Alborghetti
To: 'Bell Rock Hotel'
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 9:16 AM
Subject: Bell Rock Hotel


Dear Daniel,

After a few days in London I am back to Italy and to work now!

I just would like to thank you for everything you have done for me while I was on the Isles of Scilly. You and all your staff made my holiday special !

I really hope to come back in the future, thank you again

Kind regards

Laura Alborghetti

Friday, 26 August 2011

Guest Review Extracted From TripAdvisor

“Even better than last year!”

Reviewed 20 August 2011

As a rule we never repeat holidays but we enjoyed our stay at The Bell Rock last year we decided to go straight back and we were not disappointed. This year we had a lovely room on the first floor with a small but immaculate en-suite. The first impression of the hotel was of the high standard of cleanliness and it came as no surprise to see that the hotel had won an award for this. The food at both breakfast and evening meals could not be faulted and on the one occasion my wife was not enamoured with the veggie choice the chef produced an alternative. The standard of service was of the highest quality and the waiting staff manage to combine efficiency with being very personable.
Everything about our stay was perfect. Many thanks to Daniel and his outstanding staff.

Stayed August 2011, travelled as a couple

Guest Review Extracted From TripAdvisor (and Daniel's footnote)

“Nothing wrong, but It wasn't us”

Reviewed 23 August 2011

One of the things that staying at the Bell Rock has taught us is that whilst all the reviews give the Bell Rock good ratings, it all comes down to individual tastes and needs. This was the first time in 20+ years that we have booked B&B + Evening Meal and so we were not used to the formallity of a hotel dinning room where everyone sat at "their table" for their stay and also having dinner at 6pm is alien to us. in fact after the first evening when we came down at 7pm to find that 2 of the 4 main courses were finished, we decided to eat out for the next 2 nights.

Whilst we were there we meet several people who always come back to the Bell Rock for the same week evey year, so for these people it is great, but it was not our sort of place. As other reviews have stated the rooms are clean and the staff are helpful and it is close to the centre of Hugh Town

Stayed August 2011, travelled as a couple

***Daniel's Footnote***

It's a fair an honest review, but certainly not a bad one. I'm pleased you found the hotel and stay a comfortable & enjoyable one on the whole.
It is true that serviced accommodation to include evening meals does not necessarily suit everyone.
Dinner service runs from 6pm through to 8pm for last orders, and on the whole, dishes are usually available throughout, but as you say on this occasion, we had run out of the Lamb Shank which was extremely popular that night (I remember the evening service in question). Sometimes, a dish will be more popular than expected and run out; which is why I suggested that the next day, if you wished to eat later and particularly wanted a certain dish you could pre-order; although as stated, you chose to dine out for the remainder of your stay.
Many guests do tend to eat earlier rather than later, but I would disagree that it is a formal affair as we encourage a more relaxed, less stuffy environment.