Schooner Hotel and Restaurant, Alnmouthback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The place has improved in my opinion since these reviews were written. Although still in need of a bit of TLC but when I visited the staff were friendly and helpful. The ale choice was limited but what was there was well kept and nice. The food also came in large portions and they would also serve Indian food in the bar. Hopefully the owners will continue to make improvents to really bring the place forward as time goes by
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I have never written a review for anything before and I hate to complain but I feel that the Schooner just left me with no choice. Where to start....
We stayed on the nights of the 31st July and 1st August 2009. If we hadn't had to be in Alnmouth for a wedding which meant that the village seemed fairly booked solid we wouldn't have stayed at all having seen the place.
It was �75 a night paid upfront before we'd seen the room (stupid of us I know that now). That price is outrageous for what the hotel is like.
The staff were elusive and seemed to prefer hanging out in a group together having a laugh to actually answering the bell in reception or, heaven forbid, cleaning the place which definitely needed doing - there's a difference between shabby (which is harmless and ok if they warn you) and dirty (which is not).
It is a promising location - nearest to the beach of all the Alnmouth hotels etc and has a good history to exploit but none of this at the moment made up for the avoidable flaws.
If we'd been told it was in the process of being refurbished then general shabbiness would have been ok. Unfortunately it was worse than just shabby decor, it was filthy and slipshod.
Cleanliness and maintenance...
The room door lock was broken (blamed on ghosts but suspiciously seemed more like an old and unchecked lock).
The shower head had a broken wall mount and was rested on the taps - the cleaner MUST have just ignored this.
The bath panel was cracked and mended with cellotape (really). Shower curtain was moldy and damaged. Bathroom skirtings and lino were grubby. The plug socket to the right of the bedroom window had a loose front and was caked in thick dust.
Most surfaces needed a good wipe down (the radiator had a thick layer of brick dust on the top).
The coffee tray was grubby with filth and biscuit crumbs.
In the corridor outside our room (230) the skylight surround was just filthy with dust and spider residue (eurgh).
We reported the lock on the door and then lost the will to keep pointing out the stuff which should be sorted by staff before guests get anywhere near the room..
I gave the room the once over with a damp cloth before we could bring ourselves to use it and it ruined our experience of Alnmouth and we have no plans for a repeat visit now.
Breakfast
The tea is kept in a thermos flask and tasted foul (there is no excuse for not having teapots and making the tea as required 9even the cheapest b&bs we've stayed in had these). The coffee was similarly foul.
Most disappointing of all was that the breakfasts were clearly cooked in batches and kept warm leading to not very warm food and fried egg with a plasticized coating. Breakfast doesn't have to be complicated but it does need to be fresh and well executed.
Again this seemed to be an area where the staff preferred to chat and lark about in the kitchen rather than cooking fresh and reasonable quality food.
I would never stay here again, never, I would camp or sleep in my car in preference (and I'm not a fan of camping). I can't believe how many times I needed to use the word filthy in this review. I really struggle to convey how grim it was.
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Interesting. I, too, had a good time here about seven years ago - but share Firedrake's reservations about the "haunted" decor etc. Called in Friday 15th this inst. and found it much improved - but didn't eat having already done so at the Hope and Anchor. At least, now, the decor relates to the name and setting! Lots of nautical information, prints and paintings etc. (No longer are we invited to buy the notion that "toad in the hole" was conceived locally when a golf ball struck a toad in its hole on the local links!) And whatever became of the vicar with the beer-bung embedded in his forehead? (Don't ask!)
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Sounds like it's really gone downhill. I had an excellent meal here about seven years ago! It was a bit shabby, and there were some very dubious claims made about the ephemera ... but that was at least entertaining!
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We made two mistakes booking into this hotel. One was not finding these reviews before we visited and two was booking for an evening meal. We ordered 4 starters and 5 main meals. All were sent back and we refused to pay. Chips were re-heated and rock hard, Lasagne was a solid lump dry and in-edible. Scampi was cold and the ale pie consisted of thin gravey and little or no meat. The room was ok but no chair so only sitting on the bed. No hotel information other than a menu!! This place badley needs a visit from the Hotel Inspector (Ch4 TV) AND Gordon Ramsey!
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Sadly, I have to agree with the majority of other comments. This was probably the worst service I have ever encountered in a hotel, and this was typified in the bar. Too many complaints to go into, suffice it to say that here is a pub/hotel with massive potential in a beautiful location, but it is just plain awful. Avoid.
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I live very local, stopped here 18 month ago to save the old drink driving rap.
I found the staff very rude especially when they tried to pass off shite gin for "Gordons" and I had the temerity to complain,It is not even worthy of a 1/2 * as hotels go.
THE BIG BREAKFAST no spoons to eat your cereal with, when staff eventually found complete disconcern,then the main fry up bacon from "Farmfoods" under cooked !!eggs as hard as squash balls !! time to leave,�100 later no one to complain to ,a email address thats non existant, needless to say I aint been back.
To be avoided at all costs
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One word sums this pub up, rubbish!! I and a couple of friends wandered into the schooner after a drive up from Newcastle and our experience of the place was not good.
Firstly after we had ordered food, staff were banging pots and cutlery in the restaurant area which was very annoying. The supervisor kept having a go at the staff for something which we could not quite make out! The tables and cutlery were dirty as well.
Food was rubbish, luke warm when served and not very much. They charged I think �6 for steak and ale pie and a few chips, which to be frank looked as though they had just been bought from Iceland!! The food tasted bland, service was rubbish and the toilets even worse. Oh yes no ice in the coke, so was luke warm as well!!
If your in the area, don't even comein!!
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Such a shame, this could be a great pub. Unfortunalty it is scruffy (no in a good way) and the staff are terrible andI urge you not to eat there.
I give it a 4, and that is for the excellent beergarden.
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I can confirm Ericmarco's review - except that he was lucky - he avoided the food. This was possibly the most disgusting meal I have ever had placed before me, and we waited the best part of an hour for it. This outfit claims to be 'one of the most respected hotels in the north-east of England'. If so, God help the north-east of England. Avoid at all costs.
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I went into this pub based on its excellent location at the end of this lovely village with a view over the sea. It says a lot that the ONLY positive thing I could find to say about it was the location.
Where do I start....the plant pots outside were full of discarded alcopop bottles(not a good start). On entering the lobby area the there was an overpowering smell of stale beer and cigarettes.The 'displays' of memorabilia were shabby.The real ale was sour, and when I complained the staff were rude. There was a preponderence of what appeared to be 16 year olds(maybe I'm just getting old), shouting and screaming at each other in a drunken and gauche manner.
I was not brave enough to even contemplate the food.
In summary if you like pubs to be welcoming, clean, serve good ale with pleasant staff-avoid!If your idea of a pub is similar to Dante's vision of hell-this is the place for you!
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