Navigator Hotel

The hotel's signature feature is its prime seafront location, offering lovely sea views from many rooms and the restaurant, making it a memorable choice for guests. While some reviews highlight its charming, old-fashioned character and welcoming atmosphere, others express significant disappointment with its dated condition and ongoing renovations, which can impact the guest experience. The hotel appears to be a good fit for budget-conscious travelers seeking a friendly, laid-back stay by the sea, as well as walkers and cyclists exploring the coast. Families are also made to feel very welcome. Many guests appreciate the attentive staff and excellent food. It's advisable to inquire about the specific room condition and potential renovation noise when booking, and be aware of the lack of a lift for those with mobility concerns.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel offers a range of amenities, though many are impacted by its dated condition and ongoing renovations. Guests appreciate the comfortable bar area, which is often described as friendly and welcoming, and the availability of bottled water on landings with an honesty box. However, several guests reported issues with Wi-Fi connectivity, noting it was often non-existent in bedrooms and only available in public areas. Rooms sometimes lack basic conveniences like a shelf in the shower for toiletries or sufficient space for belongings. A significant point of concern is the lack of a lift in the three-story building, making steep stairs challenging for guests with luggage or mobility issues. Additionally, some rooms have windows that do not open properly or are painted shut, leading to poor ventilation and no fan. The bar has been noted to close early, particularly on Sundays.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest feedback on room comfort and cleanliness is mixed, often reflecting the hotel's ongoing renovation. Many guests found their rooms to be clean and the beds comfortable, ensuring a restful sleep. However, a significant number of reviews highlight issues with dated room conditions, including flaky paint, peeling vinyl flooring, and old, dirty curtains that do not block light effectively. Bathrooms are frequently described as small and barely functional, with issues such as broken or chipped tiles, loose toilet seats, and showers that are tiny, have mold, or suffer from low water pressure and inconsistent hot water. Some guests reported noisy conditions from both within the hotel and the street, impacting sleep quality. Additionally, issues like broken lamps, non-working balcony doors, and damaged shower fixtures were also noted, indicating a need for comprehensive updates.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining experience receives largely positive feedback, with many guests praising the food quality and value for money. The breakfast is consistently highlighted as excellent, offering a full English fry-up and other options like porridge, though some guests desired a wider variety of choices such as cereals, fruit, or yogurt. The restaurant itself is noted for its fabulous sea views, enhancing the dining atmosphere. Many found the evening meals to be delicious, freshly prepared, and generous in portion size, with some mentioning exceptional dishes like Sunday lunch and apple pie. While most appreciate the home-cooked style and attentive service during meals, a few guests found breakfast portions to be small or the coffee limited. It's worth noting that the restaurant may have limited hours or be closed for functions on certain evenings, and some guests experienced issues with smoke in the dining area.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts an enviable location directly on the seafront, offering stunning sea views from many rooms and the dining area. This prime position is highly praised by guests, providing immediate access to the beach and promenade. It is also conveniently within walking distance of the town center, shops, and other amenities, making it ideal for exploring the area. Public transport, including buses to Chichester, stops directly outside the hotel, and a Tesco is less than five minutes away for essentials. While the location is generally considered safe and excellent for coastal walks and cycling routes, one guest expressed feeling unsafe when venturing off the seafront alone. There is no onsite parking mentioned, but guests noted the availability of convenient public parking nearby.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive high praise for their friendliness, helpfulness, and attentiveness. Many guests describe them as welcoming and accommodating, going out of their way to ensure a pleasant stay, even providing family-friendly service to children. The owner is also frequently mentioned as being a fantastic and extremely good host. Guests appreciate the polite service and the staff's willingness to assist with specific needs or queries. However, some isolated incidents of less responsive service were reported, such as delays in addressing room issues like a stiff door lock or a lack of follow-up on complaints. Despite these few instances, the overwhelming sentiment is that the staff are a credit to the hotel, contributing significantly to a positive atmosphere and making guests feel extremely welcome.

Additional Information
The hotel is currently undergoing extensive renovations and is under new management, with many guests noting that while the property is dated and tired in places, visible improvements are being made. This refurbishment can sometimes lead to construction noise during the day or building materials being present in hallways. Guests should be aware that the hotel operates with a dog-friendly policy, welcoming pets in certain areas, and even offering water bowls and treats for canine companions. Some unique room configurations were mentioned, such as a shower box near the bed in some accommodations. There were recurring issues with the hot water system, with several guests experiencing cold showers or fluctuating temperatures, a problem that some long-term visitors noted has persisted for years. It is advisable to confirm booking details as some guests did not receive email confirmations.