The location was good,the views were good,checking in easy,so the problems began on closer scrutiny.The so called refurbishment was a botch!And close up things were not clean there were hairs in the bathroom long dark ones I have short blonde hair and the husband is bald!!!We had been on 2 long walks 8 miles in total and we were looking forward to a shower but the shower did not work!It is not easy to have to go to the bar and ask about the shower we just had baths and did enjoy a night out.The next morning we went to the smugglers cafe for our breakfast which is prearranged and we did pay for B@B to find it doesnt open on a monday!!and hadnt opened on a monday ever!
So if you are stupid enough to ignore this review and stay on a sunday ask for money off.The person checking us in must know this but unless you hang around till lunch time you have nowhere to complain.This trip was for our 30th wedding anniversary and the Merchants was advertised as a boutique hotel and refurbished lies lies lies!!!

We booked through the Internet for 2 nights B&B stay in this "Hotel" If I had walked past this dump I would not have stayed - the outside of the rooms were as dirty as the insides, windows filthy, wardrobe dirty inside with hanging wires and paint pots on the shelf inside!
"Castle view "- only if you craned your neck to the right of the very large windows - we propped open the sash window with a paint pot (it did come in handy!) No drawers anywhere,broken curtain rail (fell off when opening curtains)broken shower ,water went everywhere except onto you! The designer Bedding - Mmmm clean inside but dirty cover on the top - no notices anywhere to inform where to go in case of fire!!
It was our Anniversary on the 12th and we thought the irish night would be brilliant but guess what! no irish music on Wednesday as it said on the Website yet another nail in the Merchants coffin!! The Guiness was poor they served as well. If we could have booked somewhere else for the night we would have done -
Sorry Merchant you are going to have to get your act together this could have been a top class place!!
Worst thing of all was the breakfast taken further up the road at a Cafe! was not made aware of that until we booked in that afternoon!

we waited 20 minutes at the bar to check in, everyone around was getting served but us so i spoke up.....the bar man, was the most rudest, arrogant person you will ever meet and if they had not had our card details we would have walked out there and then.
the pub is filthy, the staff ....should be looking for other jobs.
The room was on the 5th floor, it was clean, tidy and had a beautiful sea view as promised...we cannot fault the room.
However we were given the keys and pratically dumped with no breakfast details given....we did find the cafe did breakfast and wow it was wonderful.. we had to push keys through pub door as it was closed when we left at 11.40am!!!!
For a clean room this is great...for friendly staff...forget it

well what can i say i read the review on this page and was not sure what to expect thankfully i was very surprised the rooms were large with towels tv/dvd player tea/coffee making and basically you check in at the bar are given the keys and taken to the room and they tell you that the breakfast is at the cafe two shops up in the morning excellent it is as well and basically was left to it for two days to come and go as you pleased will be booking again this year defiantly also you must go on the ghost hunt on a Thursday at 8.30 meet outside the golden ball the tour guide is excellent its 1 hour of fun at £3 each its a must never stopped laughing the guy is a star