Have just returned from a long weekend at the above hotel, 9th - 12th December 2011. After a long journey (first pick-up in Liverpool) we arrived late afternoon and were allocated room 411 and my sister and brother in law room 410 next door. The first thing we had to do was open the windows to let out the smell of sewage, we contacted a member of staff, and our our drivers and advised them that as I was asthmatic I could not stay in the room with that smell, and if necessary we would have to be moved to another hotel if there were no other rooms available. We were asked to give them a chance to rectify the problem - we agreed, and watched them pour copious amounts of solution down the toilet out of a five gallon drum. We went back later to check out their handiwork, as we stepped out of the lift I began choking and coughing with the fumes, my brother in law and husband's eyes were streaming as they had gone up first and opened the door, (Benidorm, as we named this arrogant person) had put so much bleach down the toilet the chlorine gas given up just sailed down the corridor. Our driver Lee (can't praise him enough) argued and just stated there was no way we would be staying in those rooms and contacted Gold Crest who we had travelled with, to inform them. We were moved to other rooms again at the back of the hotel, and asked not to inform other guests as they too would be requesting moves. Most of the rooms are small, the shower was a joke the plastic curtain would not stay closed you bent to get the soap etc and smacked your head on the bar, the step out was so high it was dangerous getting out. My sister and brother in law, were moved to room 514, right opposite the lift. Their room was so small the door could not open inwards, and opened onto the lift and vise versa. They thought they were posh with their two handbasins, but the shower was over the bath, facing outwards and not into the bath, the shower rail and curtain fell on top of her and the floor was flooded. There are two large pipes running through the rooms above and below which are hot constantly, the window opens up into the middle of the building with only a fire escape visable, and no fresh air. They complained of the heat in the room causing them bad headaches and stuffed up feeling as there was no relief from the relentless heat. There was an elderly lady in the same room below who complained of exactly the same thing. The noise from the lift constantly being used and people coming and going was also a great disturbance when trying to rest. There are two lifts, the smaller one nearly took the clothes off my back as we were moving up, there are no safety features to it. Low hanging ceiling lights in the bar area caused many people to bang their heads with resulting electrics coming away from the ceiling no apparent repairs were ever carried out. Another group who travelled with National, showed us photographs of sockets approximately 8ins square hanging off the wall with all the electrics showing.
Redeeming feature, the continental breakfast provided was o.k. The location for the town and coast was good. We have stayed in low star hotels before on many occasions, but this was totally the worst ever. The best rooms appear to be on the front, so maybe people who write good reviews on this hotel have never had to endure what alot of other people have, so please listen to all reviews as you could be put at the back and suffer the same fate. CHLORINE GAS COULD HAVE PROVED FATAL.

me and my partner have just stayed at the hotel on a trip with national holidays. One of the staff seemed to be extremely ignorant and kept walking away when we had a complaint about a strong smell of sewage. There was no other rooms as the hotel was fully booked and we got told we would have to pay. I myself has got asthma and we got told they had no bleach to clean put down the toilet, all they had was air freshner on top of the others we had already sprayed. They also came up with a suggestion of leaving our bedroom door open and open the fire exit door to let the smell pass out. not good when your using up prescious holiday time trying to sort out the sewage smell. the room was small and needs a major referbishment there was holes in the lilo floor and the shower was dangerous and some breaks in the tiles. However it was kept clean with fresh bedding everyday. The breakfast didn't have much choice but can't fault any of the meals.
I also cannot fault the national holidays as despite the hotel being a shamble the tours were fantastic and we managed to carry on and enjoy the holiday. Great location as right in the centre.
would i stay here again? ( sorry but no i wouldn't advise it unless you want the smell of sewage)

this hotel is a great place to stay we go every year and intend to return every year if people want 5 star treatment they should book into a 5 star hotel the staff are helpful at all times nothing is to much trouble it is alway s nice and clean it s in a good location for local shop s the food is alway s good and the girl s return to your table all through the meal s asking if your want more we alway s take our grandson and the staff alway s cater for his need s we intend to return in summer next year well done astoria

Great location good meals plus friendly and helpful staff. Rooms very clean, Ideal for visiting the battle fields or just sight seeing.