Having read all the reviews and checked out the website I was sure that this would be ideal for our family holiday, I have to admit I am a 3 star and above person, but the write ups all suggested that it was above and beyond the rating of 2 stars and that it had undergone a complete refurbishment.
How wrong I was......this is very much 2 star...if that! As for refurbishment, well I am not sure where it was done?? We were not greeted by anyone when we arrived and waited ages after pressing a bell, then it was very second rate service, babbled something about breakfast and the dining room then pointed in the general direction of rooms. When we walked through the bar to our rooms there were a few people looking dreary in dark surroundings....not at all welcoming! We found our rooms and were horrified, very drab and out of date furnishings, basic is the term I would use and more like a hostel I would imagine (never been in one but guessing it would be like this!) We were bitterly disappointed but thought we would go down to the bar have a drink and ask if they had any better rooms. The bar was closed....shutters down and all bodies cleared! That just confirmed what a huge mistake I had made, we decided we would have to look for somewhere else but gave this place one last chance by asking at reception if we could get a drink from the bar as we were residents, we were told "no" but there was a bar a short walk around the corner! I asked again, we are residents, does that mean that we can't buy a drink? same reply. So we duly went and drank somewhere else and decided that this was not the place for us! We had to find alternative accommodation for the 8 nights and went back to check out....funny thing is that it seemed a complete surprise that we were not happy with the basic standard of accommodation or lack of service! We lost our deposit but gained a nice holiday in a lovely hotel called the Cobo Bay, they can't do enough for you and the bar is always open, you can even order room service!! The Cobo is nearer to the beach and actually has sea views.......unlike the Wayside. Before we sorted out our new accommodation I was really upset, how could I have made such a terrible error in judgement? Well, I went on the reviews and what the website said....that was obviously a mistake in this instance which is why I am writing this now.......be warned! If you are looking for 2 star or lower then this will be fine, but it is not refurbished or modernised so therefore in my opinion misleading........sorry but someone has to warn others and speak the truth! Without doubt the Cobo Bay knocks socks off this and it is difficult to understand why there is only one star difference!!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
8 September 2011
Firstly I am very sorry that your expectations were not met and I am pleased that you did find accommodation that was suitable for your holiday.
The initial greet you received does seem to have been less than is usual and that has been addressed so as not to be repeated.
Our Bar is closed between 2pm and 5pm on Mondays – Fridays ,
20 yards from our rear exit joining our property is a Bar & Restaurant that is open all day.
You said that the manageress seemed surprised and indeed she was, as in the last 15 years nobody has told her they did not want to stay with us.
I would not like people to arrive here assuming we are a top 3 star or 4 star hotel because we are not, also although extensive refurbishments have been done, there are always other things to do and this is an ongoing process.
The Tudor Bar is an olde worlde bar as in all of our advertising and on our website, every table and all the chairs were replace just 3 months ago, the flooring was all new last year and it was completely re-decorated last year, the only thing not completed yet is the new lighting which is 30% done and will be completed shortly, Refurbished in this area does not mean modernised as we want to maintain the Tudor look.
The Restaurant & Grill was completely refurbished in May all new Tables, Chairs, Hard Flooring and featured TVs etc this is a lighter and more modern area for those who do not like the olde worlde look.
The 2 rooms that were allocated to you (like all the other rooms) both had new furniture and Beds, Accessories and Curtains 2 Years ago,
All rooms had New TV’s this year and one of your rooms, room 7 had a new Bathroom Suite last September,
Room 16, I agree is not one of our better rooms but still has all new Furniture, Beds, Curtains, TV etc but like most hotels some rooms are better than others, unfortunately we were fully booked so had nowhere to move you.
As I am also a retailer of furniture the quality of furniture in all the Wayside Cheers bedrooms is the same as I have supplied to other 3 Star Hotels in the Islands, and not what I would expect to sell to a hostel.
I don’t mind criticism where it is justified and a couple of points raised are helpful for us to improve further, however to score 1 for sleep quality when you did not sleep here 1 for cleanliness when our hotel is one of the cleanest in the Island is a little unfair, sadly our superb food and most of our other services were not sampled.
As an independent review, our latest Visit Britain who assessment that assess all the UKs Hotels was done in June and put every category of service, comfort, cleanliness, maintenance, decor etc, in a 3 Star Rating and overall score was a 3 star rating and for a 2 star hotel that is very good.
As well as the refurbishments mentioned above our Kitchen was completely renewed last year all garden chalets were completely refurbished 3 year ago,
you said you could not see where refurbishments had been done above is just some of it.
I am once again sorry we did not meet your expectations.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
