The Albion Hotel

We had a wonderful 4 night stay at the Albion, in a room looking out over the bay. We enjoyed the meals and the staff were all very pleasant. We did think a luggage rack would have been useful, as would some hooks behind the door for wet coats and bags

What a wonderful hotel. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel special. Lily and Isabelle on reception showed us the facilities and then up to our double deluxe ocean facing room. Tastefully decorated with flawless linen; quiet and immaculately clean (including the terrace, which was jet washed to perfection by a cheerful young man). The view is spectacular. The bay is lovely and lively without being overcrowded. We ate lunch a couple of times; and dined a couple of times. All was excellent - good portions, beautifully presented in the glorious restaurant. It does get busy (as it also has non-residents to dine), but if you eat early, and are decisive diners (we are), this is no issue. All the staff are just wonderful - Laura and Maya particularly stood out. Most of the staff are local, too: I really like to see a business both supported and supportive of local people, as well as visitors. My partner is gluten intolerant and they have a separate fryer and take it all very seriously. There is an easy parking place which belongs to the hotel just next to it. This is not an inexpensive stay - and that’s because it costs money to maintain and run a business like this. For us, it was money well spent, and we are already planning our next visit. Well done to all concerned.

Such a shame to be leaving this review, this was our second visit to this hotel now and I have to say I think it will be our last. Not sure if the novelty has worn off as it is no longer a new hotel or if something has changed within but this time around was completely different to our first visit. Walked in to no greeting and a blank from a member of staff who was walking away from reception. Waited for 10 minutes for a staff member to check us in, didn’t feel very welcoming at all, just took our name and handed over the card for our room, no have a nice stay or anything like that. The room standards for cleanliness has dropped dramatically, dusty and dirty, I even found a sock under the bed. Didn’t look to have been cleaned at all really, just had a bit of a tidy up, the shower hadn’t been cleaned, still hair all in the bottom of the shower, the bin in the bathroom hadn’t been emptied, the amenities wasn’t refilled as they was last time and the room itself was dusty and dirty, I even found a sock under the bed. Didn’t look to have been cleaned at all really, just had a bit of a tidy up. In the restaurant the staff were very cold and distant, poor customer service skills in my opinion, the food is very over priced for what it is, very small portions. If staff had been more on it they would have sold far more drinks and cocktails and probably some coffees too, but they didn't seem to be bothered. We only ate there once during our stay due to all of this. Very nice looking hotel and the views outside were amazing, just a shame for the customers service we received and the cleanliness of our room. I don’t think we will come back again, the first time it was amazing and we couldn’t fault it, so my husband booked it for my birthday as a surprise but I do have to say I was quite disappointed.

We stayed at the Albion for our wedding night and a few days for our mini-moon. Overall, it’s a beautiful hotel in a fantastic location, and our room was stylish and comfortable. However, considering the premium price, we left feeling that the service didn’t quite match the standard we were expecting. We appreciate that no hotel is obliged to make a fuss of special occasions, but knowing it was our wedding stay, a small gesture such as a complimentary celebratory drink would have been a lovely touch. It’s something many hotels do well, and while it certainly wasn’t expected, it would have made the stay feel far more memorable and given us a reason to return for future anniversaries or celebrations. Unfortunately, it was the little details throughout our stay that let the experience down. During our room service breakfast, several items were forgotten. We had to call reception to request condiments, butter and seasoning, and by the time they arrived we had already finished eating. Breakfast service was also inconsistent. Our first morning was excellent, but on the second day the experience was noticeably different. Portion sizes varied, we weren’t offered condiments like other nearby tables, and after ordering coffees we waited around 20 minutes before eventually being told the order had never been put through. We were sitting right next to the bar where the coffees were being made, so it was frustrating that it was simply overlooked. Other guests who arrived after us were served and finished before our breakfast even arrived. We completely understand when a restaurant is exceptionally busy, but that wasn’t the case during our visit. The Albion undoubtedly offers a wonderful setting and beautifully presented rooms, but at nearly £1,000 for a three-night stay, we expected a more polished and attentive level of service. Sadly, it was the repeated need to chase basic things that detracted from what should have been a really special stay. We enjoyed aspects of our visit, but at this price point, the overall experience didn’t quite represent value for money.