Sandycove Hotel Reviews 

The service was appalling, the staff attitude very unhelpful, the 'superior pet free room' that I booked costing £250.00 /night was in a shabby condition with large iron burn on the carpet and stank of dogs. We found the place to be so bad that we booked in another nearby hotel for the night. Unfortunately I had paid in full prior to our arrival and have since had to waste more of my time attempting to recover my money.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS! I would give 0 if I could. While the coastal view and the spa facilities were genuinely very nice, that is where all the positives end.
The condition of the hotel and our room in particular was very poor. Much of the furniture was chipped and was inexpensive flat-pack pieces from ikea, the paintwork throughout the room was either very badly done or peeling, and several areas clearly hadn’t been properly maintained. The lighting in the room was also faulty – the lights could not be kept on without constantly flickering or flashing, which made the room uncomfortable to use. The carpet was visibly dirty throughout the hotel, which only added to the feeling that the room had not been properly looked after.
The restaurant experience was equally disappointing. The dining room itself was freezing, which made the meal uncomfortable from the outset. The furniture in the restaurant also looked completely out of place for a hotel claiming a four-star standard it felt more like the type of basic seating you would expect to see in a motorway service station rather than a hotel restaurant the bar felt like I was like sitting in a burger king.
The service made matters worse. Our food was left sitting on the pass for around ten minutes while the waitress cleared an already empty table. Watching our food sit there getting cold while this happened was incredibly frustrating. Throughout the stay the service felt rude, uncaring and generally uninterested and nothing could be charged to the room which is not a standard I expect.
The biggest issue here is the significant gap between how the hotel is presented on your website and the grim reality of the experience. The marketing sets the expectation of a high-quality four-star stay, but the condition of the rooms, the décor, the maintenance, and the level of service simply do not reflect that.

We booked Sandy Cove Spa Hotel expecting a relaxing coastal getaway based on the polished photos and promises on the website. When we arrived, the sea view was amazing and we were really looking forward to our stay! (This is the only good bit of the narrative!)

From check-in - we had to wait 5mins before being welcomed, Finally, when a chap arrived, the service felt disorganised and cold, i.e. a basic welcome and nothing more about where things were and what to do.

The room itself did not match what was advertised online. The website suggests 'modern, and well-maintained rooms', but ours had a broken toilet flush. I went straight down to reception to report this and they would send someone straight up. (Great!) After about 30 mins when no one had turned up, I went back down to reception to find out that reception had sent the maintenance guy to the wrong room. When the guy did turn up, he carried out a temporary fix but the broken parts were left on the toilet. (Unreal!)

The spa — a major reason why we chose this hotel — was another letdown. We unaware you had to book a time slot, (max 1 hour) even though we were paying guests at the hotel. From speaking to the guy working at the spa, they had external guests booked to use it; meaning, we could't book certain times. We had to plead with the guy to let us in before it became too busy, due to technical difficulties on their spa booking system. On entering the spa, the supposed heated pool was cold, the steam room was not functioning, and there was a distinct lack of loungers. The overall area felt neglected rather than relaxing. The spa facilities that did not live up to the hotel’s marketing hype!

The location and views are beautiful, but they aren’t enough to compensate for the gap between expectation and reality. We checked out early, feeling that the hotel overpromised and under delivered. As we left, we found the hotel management to be unhelpful, unfriendly and were not interested in offering any solutions or compensation! P.S. What's worse they took that to be a cancellation, meaning they wouldn't refund our deposit of £30.

Probably the worst hotel we have ever visited!!

Please be sure to do your research before making a booking!!!

I stayed on Friday 16 January after booking a special offer I saw on social media.
The spa is beautiful and very aesthetically pleasing. However, it felt more limited than expected: the sauna and steam room are quite small, there are only six loungers, and the system of booking one-hour slots (up to 20 people at a time) felt awkward and made it hard to relax and use the spa in the way you can at other places. There’s also no jacuzzi/hot tub, which would have been a great addition.
The restaurant experience was the main disappointment. We had an 8:30pm booking. Drinks and our starter arrived in good time, but we then waited around 1.5 hours for our main course. Tables seated after us ate before us. We were seated where we could see into the kitchen, and it looked like our order ticket had been put to the back of the queue, which meant we didn’t eat until nearly 10pm.
To add to the frustration, our mains were a salad and pasta, plus a side of fries and onion rings, so nothing particularly complicated. We were offered a drink due to the delay, which was appreciated, but we weren’t offered a dessert menu, possibly because the kitchen had closed by the time we finally received our mains.
We spent nearly £80, and overall it was a really disappointing evening. The staff were genuinely lovely and the venue itself is nice, it’s just a shame the service let it down.
I emailed the hotel directly afterwards but didn’t receive a response, which is why I’m leaving this review. I hope this feedback is taken constructively.

Beautiful views… but that’s where it ends.

We stayed for 2 nights for a wedding with our toddler and baby and had no hot water until the morning we left. Staff were rude, unhelpful, and completely uninterested. On the morning of the wedding (I was a bridesmaid) they didn’t even respond, so I had to wake my mum up just to use her shower.

I’ve emailed 3 times since and still no proper reply. Looking at other reviews, it seems this lack of response is a common theme, which speaks volumes about how little they value their guests’ experiences.

If you’re looking for a wedding venue – I’d think twice. Views mean nothing when the service is this poor.

Me and my partner had our wedding day at the venue here and everything was made so special, from the beautiful views to the amazing staff. We cannot thank them enough and we will definitely be revisiting!

Ps - amazing food at the hotel restaurant!

The Sandy Cove hotel is certainly placed in a perfect spot, the view from the front of the hotel is spectacular and I’m sure the rooms with a sea view are lovely. Unfortunately we were given a family room at the back of the hotel with a view of a dirty wall and a skip! We couldn’t quite believe it as we had paid a lot of money for two nights, but as we were there for a family wedding we didn’t make a fuss.
To make things worse it was also a public walkway directly behind us ( between the skip and our room) so we had people and vans passing by looking in our room.
I really think things could easily be made better by painting the wall and making it look prettier and a hedge or fence put up.
The wedding ( on the sea side of the hotel) was wonderful and the food lovely. The staff were polite but it seemed very short staffed.

Stayed for 1 night stayed in a deluxe room which was small, poor ikea furniture and stained carpet and head board. View was beautiful and food was good but we had the tasting menu and unfortunately the waitress knew no more about the food than we could read from the menu wine with that we were served was unchilled so had to ask for ice. Carpets in hallway but dirty on arrival and reception is very poor and in need of work.

Took my Granddaughter to you for Afternoon Tea. We both enjoyed a very delicious array of Sandwiches, Scones (cream & jam) & little Cakes. A real credit to you. We were well looked after, with views looking out to sea. Couldn't have been better.
Thoroughly recommend.
Thank you.

As wedding photographers, we have had the pleasure of capturing many special moments at the Sandy Cove North Devon Hotel and we can honestly say that it is a true hidden gem. The hotel is set on a cliff top with breathtaking views of the Atlantic coastline and an area of outstanding natural beauty that truly makes time stand still.

For couples looking to escape the hustle and bustle, the hotel offers a chance to explore the rugged and magical beauty of Exmoor National Park, relax and indulge in the spectacular sea views, or simply soak up the surroundings. The hotel is located right next to the stunning, secluded Broadsands Beach and just a short drive from other amazing beaches of the Atlantic coastline.

One of the many things we love about this hotel is the ever-changing seasons and the breathtaking views that come with each one. Whether you're visiting in the spring, summer, fall, or winter, there's always a great reason to visit and the view is never the same twice.

The hotel itself is a luxurious haven with comfortable rooms, beautiful food, and an unmatched location. The staff are always welcoming and accommodating, making sure each guest has a memorable stay. As wedding photographers, we were impressed by the attention to detail and the beautiful spaces available for wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Overall, we highly recommend the Sandy Cove North Devon Hotel to anyone looking for a truly magical and unforgettable experience. Whether you're planning a wedding, a romantic getaway, or just looking for some peace and quiet, this hotel truly offers something for everyone. As photographers, we feel grateful to have had the opportunity to capture so many special moments here and we cannot wait to return.

Kindest regards,
The Kensington Photographers