The Woolacombe Bay Hotel

Absolutely amazing place to stay, sea views are to die for and The rooms are very luxurious , the restaurant Is delicious but on the expensive side, We particularly liked the cinema, which was very comfy. Breakfast is really nice with amazing views, it is so nice to sit in your room and look out at the sea and see the rabbits on the green, would love to come back!

I cannot stress enough how poorly staff are treated at Woolacombe Bay Hotel. From day one, it was evident that this is a company that doesn’t care for the well-being of its employees. They regularly break work laws, with their split shifts that start at 7 am and end late into the evening, with little regard for proper rest in between. The culture here is one of bullying and cruelty. The head chef Eddie and a colleague named Carolina seem to take pleasure in picking apart their staff's flaws. Andrea, the head waitress, is known for regularly targeting staff with unnecessary harshness, including shaming individuals in front of the whole team. Despite numerous complaints, the management, is complacent and does nothing to address these toxic behaviours. The hotel itself, while grand in appearance, is in dire need of refurbishment, especially the breakfast room. Go to breakfast at your own risk, there were multiple occasions where gone off milk was accidentally served to guests. When I mentioned we should change suppliers as this happens often I was shot down. However, the most concerning aspect is the appalling staff accommodation, which is not only disgusting but also violates multiple safety and health laws. There are fire hazards everywhere—no fire exit, no fire door, windows that don’t open, and live wires exposed in several flats. The living conditions are horrendous, with many rooms lacking proper lighting. In one apartment the roof fell through and it was just left to deteriorate further. The front doors of the staff accommodations are so old that the apartments are freezing, and the outdoor stairs are incredibly dangerous, especially when it rains. I personally fell down the stairs twice, and when I reported it to the manager, I was told nothing could be done. This sums up the management's complete disregard for staff safety and comfort. To make matters worse, most of the staff seem to struggle with addiction issues, which is likely a result of stress and poor working conditions. The owner, Sally, is rude and dismissive of any concerns, only caring about the hotel’s profits while completely neglecting the welfare of their team. I would strongly advise anyone considering employment here to look elsewhere. The owners attitude towards their employees is reflected in the dire living and working conditions. If you are thinking about staying at the hotel, I would recommend you don’t and that you choose a business that truly values its staff.

We had an absolutely fantastic stay. Everything was faultless. Check in was warm and friendly which was a recurring them among all the staff. They were all genuinely friendly and happy to help. The spa and gym facilities are excellent. There are plenty of "breakout" spaces to relax in. Breakfast was fresh and well cooked. The room and hitel in general very clean and spotless. Housekeeping and cleaning carried out throughout the day. Would definitely recommend and stay again. Thanks for a wonderful time.

We went to celebrate my wife's birthday, spending the last weekend of October.at the hotel. The service we received was first class, nothing was too much trouble. The staff were so attentive and made our stay very enjoyable. Special thanks to Jonathan who was always smiling and chatty, making us feel really welcome.

On our way to Woolacombe, we consulted a guidebook that praised the town’s “astounding sandy beach.” The book was right, but it didn’t prepare us to be equally astounded by the Woolacombe Bay Hotel. It all starts when you first behold the hotel’s imposing, half-timbered structure, which is separated from the beach by a lush green meadow. Once inside, you’re surrounded by lovingly maintained 19th Century elegance and warmly welcomed at the reception desk. Our dormer-style room, while a little tight (we were glad not to be traveling with much luggage), was beautifully kept up, with a clean and modern bathroom. No complaints about our ocean view, either. The downstairs bar, which opens out towards the beach, is sunny and comfortable. Our bartenders were genuinely friendly and conversational, which made for a festive cocktail hour. The hotel’s elegant restaurant also has an open, sunny feel and its staff is professional and gracious. The menu has a lot of variety and is surprisingly well-priced. Bottom line: we were astounded to have experienced a truly five-star hotel in what we expected to be just another coastal holiday setting. Bravo, Woolacombe Bay Hotel!

Perfect location by the beach, outstanding staff who were friendly and efficient, immaculate accommodation, great food and the spa and pool are brilliant. My sons also loved the cinema. It’s amazing to have all of this in one place and we feel genuinely rested after. It was a super stay and we’d love to come again.