The Marine

The hotel offers a memorable seaside escape, renowned for its seafront location with direct beach access and stunning views that captivate guests. Its signature feature is its prime position, making it an ideal destination for couples seeking a romantic getaway, families enjoying a coastal break, and especially dog owners who appreciate the accommodating policies. It also serves as an excellent base for sightseers and walkers eager to explore the picturesque coastline. Guests consistently praise the excellent breakfast and the friendly, helpful staff who go above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay. To enhance your experience, consider requesting a sea view room for breathtaking vistas. For breakfast, a helpful tip is to order fruit or porridge separately if you desire them before your cooked items, to ensure optimal enjoyment. If you have mobility issues, it is advisable to inquire about room accessibility, as some accommodations are located at the top of the building, requiring ascent via many stairs.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel provides pleasant bar and lounge areas that are often described as comfortable and offering appealing sea views, along with a welcoming restaurant and orangery for dining. While a lift is available, it only reaches the first floor, meaning many upper-level rooms require guests to navigate multiple staircases. Parking is provided, but guests frequently note that the car park is small, can be difficult to locate, and is often full, sometimes necessitating parking on the main road. Wi-Fi is available, though some guests reported difficulties connecting or limited coverage in certain areas. Rooms are generally equipped with coffee and tea making facilities, often including the appreciated touch of fresh milk in a flask, though a few guests encountered issues with cups not fitting the machines. Some rooms feature balconies and TVs, which are noted as being small with limited functionality. Guests should be aware that rooms typically lack a mini-bar fridge or USB points. The effectiveness of air conditioning and heating units varies, with some rooms being described as chilly.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Many guests find the rooms to be clean, spacious, and comfortable, with some describing them as well-decorated and having a modern feel. However, a notable number of reviews indicate that some rooms appear tired, bland, or dusty, with issues such as chipped furniture, scuffed skirting boards, or stained carpets. The beds are generally reported as comfortable, contributing to a restful night's sleep, though a few guests found them to be hard or noted lumpy pillows. Rooms are typically equipped with coffee and tea making facilities, often including fresh milk in a flask, which is a highly appreciated touch. While many rooms are described as quiet, some guests experienced noise from the lounge area below, noisy children, or functions with reverberating bass. A recurring issue in sea-facing rooms is noise from pigeons, which can also enter rooms if windows are left open. Bathrooms receive mixed feedback; some are spacious, but others are described as small or in need of updating, with issues like black grout or mould on tiles. Showers are frequently mentioned as fiddly to operate, not consistently providing hot water, or being small and located over a bath without a removable head.

Dining & Food Quality
Breakfast is a consistent highlight, frequently described as excellent, amazing, and offering a very good range of choices, with many considering it among the best they have experienced. Guests appreciate that breakfast is served by attentive staff rather than being a self-service buffet, ensuring prompt delivery. Options include full English, fruit, and porridge, though some found the bacon to be fatty. The coffee machine at breakfast is a point of mixed feedback, with some noting long queues and frequent need for refilling, preferring table service for hot beverages. Evening meals and restaurant food generally receive positive reviews for being delicious and of high quality, with generous portion sizes. However, some guests found the food to be average or noted issues like overcooked chips or rubbery calamari. The menu is sometimes perceived as limited, with suggestions for more variety. The restaurant atmosphere is described as lovely, bright, and relaxing, though a few guests felt it lacked a cozy ambiance. The hotel is also noted for accommodating special dietary needs, such as dairy allergies and gluten-free options.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts an excellent location directly on the seafront, offering fabulous views and direct beach access. This prime position makes it ideal for long walks along the coast, with the town of Whitstable accessible via an enjoyable 15 to 20-minute walk. Guests appreciate its proximity to local attractions, including the Whitstable high street, Whitstable market, and Tankerton Slopes. Parking is available, but guests note it can be difficult to find, small, and often full, with some resorting to parking on the main road. The hotel's car park entrance is sometimes described as a small track on a side street. Accessibility within the hotel can be a challenge due to many stairs leading to upper floor rooms, as the lift only serves the first floor. This makes some rooms less suitable for guests with mobility issues or older individuals.

Staff & Service
The staff consistently receive high praise, described as excellent, friendly, helpful, and attentive. Many guests highlight their professionalism and efficiency, noting that staff members go out of their way to ensure a pleasant stay. The check-in process is frequently mentioned as quick and easy. Guests particularly appreciate the pet-friendly service, with staff being very accommodating to dogs, even providing special attention like sausages at breakfast. The family-friendly service is also noted, with staff being kind and attentive to children. While the majority of feedback is positive, a few isolated comments mention instances of inexperienced staff, staff bickering, or a lack of attentiveness in some areas, such as staff chatting at the coffee station. There was also an instance where a manager was perceived as dismissive regarding noise complaints. However, overall, the staff's commitment to service is a recurring theme.

Additional Information
The hotel is notably dog-friendly, allowing well-behaved dogs in the restaurant and orangery, and even providing complimentary sausages for canine guests at breakfast. However, guests should be aware that dog beds are not typically provided, and there are rules regarding dogs on furniture. As an older property, some areas are noted as being in need of updating or refurbishment, with some rooms described as tired. Guests have occasionally reported issues with heating in rooms, finding them cold, or experiencing water supply interruptions. A unique concern for some sea-facing rooms is a pigeon problem, which can lead to noise and even pigeons entering rooms if windows are left open. Guests should also be aware of potential noise from functions held at the hotel, particularly bass reverberation, and early morning deliveries or bin collections. The hotel is part of the Shepherd Neame group, a detail mentioned by several returning guests.