After the bank holiday weekend and the boom in staycations this year due to covid we have researched tripadvisor for most recent best and worst reviews of the hotels and accomodation operated by Britannia in Southport.

Royal Clifton Hotel & Spa

BEST

Paula is amazing 5/5 - posted Aug 28th Just want to say how accommodating this hotel is and how amazing Paula on reception is! We travelled to Southport to stay elsewhere after using booking.com was turned away and said there was no availability. Attempted booking here thinking the same would happen again but as we were stranded had no choice. Paula informed us it had however went out of her way to accommodate us, so friendly and reassuring! Thanks Paula! Lisa (swinger)

WORST

Not Royal but ropey 1/5 - posted Aug 30th I have returned a day early from this hotel and asked for a refund for the second day`s rate. It is frankly covid dangerous. I paid 297 with parking for 2 nights with breakfast and was allocated a seafront room. Had to wait until 4pm to be admitted. Didn`t see any signs of exceptional cleanig. Old sock found under bed. Pillows in wardrobe...no pillow slips on.
No bath mat. shower over slippy bath...no slip mat...glass screen over bath. Net curtains shredded. Alarm went off at 2.30am no explanation the next day. Covid precautions poor. That finished me off at breakfast after the first night. too many people...no masks worn. No gel station. A pandemic incubator waiting to happen. not satisfactory. If I had known this was a Britannia I would not have gone.

Prince of Wales Hotel

BEST

Surprised 4/5 - posted Aug 30th Having read other reviews I thought we were in for a miserable experience this Bank Holiday staying at Prince of Wales hotel in Southport. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find our room, which was very large, had been recently redecorated, with new curtains and carpets, and was very clean - perhaps the effect of COVID precautions but very welcome. Staff were all very helpful, some more cheerful than others, but no different from most places we visit. The outside of the building is run down, but the rear extension seems to be more modern and in better condition. Some beautiful public rooms from Victorian times - we had a look in at some of them but didn't try any food or bar services. I hope our experience convinces others that the place is not as bad as some of the reviews suggest.

WORST

Worst hotel I’ve stayed in 1/5 - posted Aug 30th Worst hotel we’ve stayed in. Injury sustained deep cuts on my foot from broken glass on entry to the hotel after a boxing match attended by drunks and yobs was held in the hotel ballroom.
I have asked to be reimbursed for my stay and given compensation and if not addressed will be pursuing with the small claims court and talking to the media.
1. Dirty carpet covered in bits
2. Cobwebs
3. Had to change room as the one we were staying in had closed windows and no key to open them
4. Noisy ~ both rooms we stayed in had an alcove where you can hear word for word the tv and conversations going on next door
5. Absolutely useless for vegetarians: whilst the breakfast was ok and it was possible to choose toast and cereal the choice on offer was extremely limited and absolutely no vegetarian options for breakfast or dinner. In fact for the 3 nights we were here I was left with different varieties of cold potato salad followed by dry roast potatoes and vegetables. They turn the juice machine off at night so you’ll buy from the bar. Not sure giving guests access to juice affects their takings at the bar from alcohol. In addition no labels on the food items. On Saturday evening the waitress kindly went to the kitchen to get us some apple juice which was much appreciated.
6. For some reason after 10 am the keys automatically lock you out of the room so my partner had to keep returning to reception to get a new key every morning.
7. On Sunday 29th August we were unlucky enough to be staying at the same time as a boxing match was being held in the…. Ballroom. After our evening meal we returned to the hotel after a walk to a bevy of yobs and drunks. Broken glass on the entrance to the hotel and people staggering around. Not at all homely welcoming or even safe. If this is the clientele that the event attracts then maybe holding it in a hotel at a family seaside hotel is irresponsible not to mention dangerous. The hotel is dog friendly so Worst hotel
we’ve stayed in.
1. Dirty carpet covered in bits
2. Cobwebs
3. Had to change room as the one we were staying in had closed windows and no key to open them
4. Noisy ~ both rooms we stayed in had an alcove where you can hear word for word the tv and conversations going on next door
5. Absolutely useless for vegetarians: whilst the breakfast was ok and it was possible to choose toast and cereal the choice on offer was extremely limited and absolutely no vegetarian options for breakfast or dinner. In fact for the 3 nights we were here I was left with different varieties of cold potato salad followed by dry roast potatoes and vegetables. They turn the juice machine off at night so you’ll buy from the bar. Not sure giving guests access to juice affects their takings at the bar from alcohol. In addition no labels on the food items. On Saturday evening the waitress kindly went to the kitchen to get us some apple juice which was much appreciated.
6. For some reason after 10 am the keys automatically lock you out of the room so my partner had to keep returning to reception to get a new key every morning.
7. On Sunday 29th August we were unlucky enough to be staying at the same time as a boxing match was being held in the…. Ballroom. After our evening meal we returned to the hotel after a walk to a bevy of yobs and drunks. Broken glass on the entrance to the hotel and people staggering around. Not at all homely welcoming or even safe. If this is the clientele that the event attracts then maybe holding it in a hotel at a family seaside hotel is irresponsible not to mention dangerous. The hotel is dog friendly so broken glass and little paws seems a lethal combination.
8. No toiletries or even hand soap in the room.

Scarisbrick Hotel

BEST

Good value for money 4/5 - posted Aug 30th Basic but clean. We enjoyed a larger room than expected which was clean and had plenty of tea, coffee, and milk. Furniture was a bit scratched but everything worked. Staff were friendly. It’s also in a good location - not too close to the ‘beach’ but only a 5/10 minute walk away.

WORST

Weekend break 1/5 - posted Aug 30th Just had a quick weekend break and stayed in the Scarisbrick.
The room we had was a basic double, it was very clean, sanitised and fresh, bed lined was clean and fresh too, we had no complaints about the room at all.
However, the hotel is long passed it’s sell by date so be warned that the decor is more 70’s b&b the 4 star hotel.
The room keys need re programming every time you use them and some of the more unsavoury residents have got used to this and have been known to wait until a room go out for the day then get a key programmed for their room so they can go and rob it, staff make zero checks as to whether it’s your room or not so don’t leave anything valuable or your car keys in the room.
For breakfast go to the Weatherspoons 100 yards away it’s much better and cheaper.
If you book a superior room be prepared to get a standard single with no explanation as to why.
They were pretty quick at giving full refunds to those who complained so the staff must be used to it by know.
The “disco” was open Saturday night, we called in out of interest, retro 90’s hits, cash only bar, limited drinks and what looked, and tasted, suspiciously like water down cheap spirits in expensive bottles.
The hotel has very limited parking so don’t bank on being able to get a space, the street out the back has plenty of spaces and is part of the “RingGo” app so you can pay for tickets without having to get up at silly o’clock in the morning, costs about £7.5 a day.

Pontins Southport Holiday Park

BEST

Bank holiday weekend 4/5 - posted Aug 30th we came to pontins for bank holiday weekend, we do evrry year, had a brilliant weekend, chalets were both clean, staff were amazing, nothing too much trouble including helping my wheelchair user friend in the pool, the blue coat team put on amazing entertainment all weekend, kids loved crocs party on the Saturday. thank you everyone for all your hard work

WORST

Absolutely disgusting hovel of a place -1 star should be 0 1/5 - posted Aug 30th Me and my 2 sons daughter in law and baby went to pontine Southport and as soon as we entered the gates my son said it looked like prison, all the blocks of rooms were disgusting the place needs knocking down , no phone signals at all the best part about it was the beach day we had , it was an absolutely hovel of a place even in the arcades they were broken ,it was a shambles how it’s run and they charge people for a disgusting accommodation as we booked club apartments , thank goodness as a family we had fun with the baby at the beach ,we also had a great day out in Southport town centre , we did not eat in pontins at all , DO NOT BOOK ,STAY AWAY DONT GO HERE ,I wish I had looked at trip advisor 1st before booking , next trip away will be centre parcs with my family

Normally I travel around Europe quite a bit - only Belgium came close to having the same standard level as British Hotels - all the hotels I have stayed in abroad are far superior to those of British Hotels. Even then to be fair, the Belgium one was undergoing refurbishment, and a quiet word at reception got me a far nicer room.

In the UK, to keep shareholders happy, cheap labour is necessary. If one can understand that a hotel with 20 rooms has a cleaning staff of just two people to clean all rooms, corridors, toilets etc., as well as each of the rooms, in just three hours a day - i.e. less than five minutes in each room per cleaner - then it can be understood as to why the cleaning standards are less than satisfactory.

Add to that, many British Hotels are animal friendly - and having witnessed just how irresponsible a great many dog owners are at cleaning up after their dogs and knowing that the cleaning staff have the same amount of time to clean each room - is the reason why I would never stay in an animal friendly hotel.

It is rare to find animal friendly hotels abroad, cleaning standards are very high and the staff are generally very pleasant and willing to help, in any language.

Originally Posted by said

Normally I travel around Europe quite a bit - only Belgium came close to having the same standard level as British Hotels - all the hotels I have stayed in abroad are far superior to those of British Hotels. Even then to be fair, the Belgium one was undergoing refurbishment, and a quiet word at reception got me a far nicer room.

In the UK, to keep shareholders happy, cheap labour is necessary. If one can understand that a hotel with 20 rooms has a cleaning staff of just two people to clean all rooms, corridors, toilets etc., as well as each of the rooms, in just three hours a day - i.e. less than five minutes in each room per cleaner - then it can be understood as to why the cleaning standards are less than satisfactory.

Add to that, many British Hotels are animal friendly - and having witnessed just how irresponsible a great many dog owners are at cleaning up after their dogs and knowing that the cleaning staff have the same amount of time to clean each room - is the reason why I would never stay in an animal friendly hotel.

It is rare to find animal friendly hotels abroad, cleaning standards are very high and the staff are generally very pleasant and willing to help, in any language.

Well that's "travelling" days over with your vaccine status.

Originally Posted by said

Normally I travel around Europe quite a bit.

I've probably travelled around Europe (just for a start) more times in a fortnight alone, than you have in your lifetime...

I can assure you that only the very best, top class hotels abroad are worth using and the cost will be out of most people's reach.

You truly have a fertile imagination based on your previous postings.