Camelot Castle Hotel

45 readers found this review helpful

I looked forward to treating myself to a one or maybe two night stay at someplace "fancier" than I usually stay and based on the hotel website I thought I found the place. I arrived very tired after traveling many hours and was looking forward to a nice bath and rest - but this was not going to happen at this place. First they booked me for the higher price room when I had asked for the less expensive room. When I informed them of this they did not offer to make any changes, and being tired and it being late I thought maybe they were booked and could not make changes so I agreed to the room they booked me in (only to find later the place was almost empty). When I asked if the room had a bath, I was told it did not, just a shower, but I could use the community bath down the hall (a institutional looking room with just a tub).
The room was absolutely disgusting. The floor was more black than tan, the head board to the bed was cloth and stained with dirt, the furniture and television was old looking like they were picked up in a rubbish pile, and here is the topper - THE BEDSPREAD HAD BLOOD STAINS ON IT - on the underneath that was against my sheets - and the blanket was so old it should have been thrown away. Afraid to catch a disease or worse, bed bugs, I told them I could not stay and left. Oh...they did offer to provide me with a new bedspread when they saw the blood I spoke of...no thank you. Being so tired I was upset, but it turned out better since I found the most wonderful place to stay right in the center of town; The Cottage Tea Shop...now that is where you should stay. Wonderful owners, Vic and Sandy, very clean, very cozy, and wonderful breakfast included (Camelot Castle was going to charge extra for breakfast. The health inspectors should be taking a close look at this place.

41 readers found this review helpful

I think the title of my review says it all. I have stayed in hotels all over the world and this had to be THE worst!
What a wasted opportunity. The Hotel is in a stunning location with stunning views but the hotel interior is just awful. The Hotel Inspector would have a field day!
The entrance hall is semi-grand with a revolving door, impressive stair case and antique furniture (despite the pictures of various celebrities in Hard Rock Cafe Stylie Photos) but as soon as you go up the stairs the nightmare begins!
Our room was horrendous. We were there for a wedding and it felt like I was getting ready in my Grandma's spare bedroom.
The furniture looked as if it had been found in a skip, the carpet was threadbare and the blue swirls gave me a migraine, the curtains were flimsy, the bathroom was a joke, a plastic pod that you couldn't turn round in and the TV I swear was from the 1950s!!
There was no duvet, just a croched blanket and I woke in the night shivering.
And despite the proximity to the sea, the large sash windows were painted shut so we couldnt even hear the sound of the sea.
The staff were rude and the bar was very expensive!
Over all I couldn't wait to leave, which was a real shame as I was so looking forward to going.
I wouldn't recommend any one to stay there. I can't understand why they don't revamp the rooms - it could be so beautiful.
I feel so angry just thinking about it - I wish now I had asked for my money back!

37 readers found this review helpful

this hotel is fabulous on the first floor but that is as far as it goes
the accodation on the second floor is not fit to be let as holiday accomdation the rooms are very disscussting and the toilets are as likewise
spoilt our hoilday and we walked out and came back home all 286 miles.

39 readers found this review helpful

Arrived at the hotel 5pm on Friday the 21st November 2008, left at 5.30pm. On arrival we were given the key to Room 115 (no offer to show us to the bedroom) luckily I had a torch on my car keys, it was needed to find the light switches in the dark corridors. On finding the bedroom I have to say it was the worst room I have ever seen. In my previous employment I virtually lived in Hotels and Guest Houses all over the UK and the continent and this was the worst. There was no lampshade just a singly bulb hanging from the electric cord. The wallpaper was peeling, the furniture mismatched and damaged. The only window was sealed shut with mastic and painted over with the fastner removed. The bathroom if you could call it that a plastic pod was horrible. I went to Reception to say that we did'nt like the room and was given keys to rooms 107 and 109 - these rooms were no better so we left.
We found accommodation at the Wotton House Hotel which was like a Palace in comparison. That evening sitting in a Pub in Tintagel we got talking to another couple who had also booked into the Camelot Castle Hotel and were complaining bitterly about their room, they decided to do the same as us and leave as soon as possible.
The Hotel website gives a false impression and they should certainly not be charging £49.00 per person per night for rooms of such a poor standard. I feel sorry for people who have travelled a long way for such poor accommodation.

36 readers found this review helpful

booked one night at the castle for husband and myself, paid extra ten pounds each for breakfast. received warm welcome on arrival - manner of staff, including cleaners is outstanding. shown around dining room and bar then handed keys to room. noticed weird paintings covering every wall, along with many photos of celebs, upon inspection, clearly not taken at hotel!! room very basic, dreadful condition - peeling wallpaper, awful decor, nothing matching whatsoever. ancient tele on equally ancient rickety wooden stand. windows filthy. four poster bed soooo uncomfortable. ensuite bathroom a joke - just a plastic pod with loo, sink and shower, barely enough room to turn around!
We were in bed and heard a knock at the door, my husband shouted 'hello', another knock, then another, then we heard keys in the door and in walked a young lady! She did look embarrassed that we were there - she handed us a "private letter". It thanked us for our valued stay etc then offered us another night at 40% discount. But I can quite honestly say this was the worst accommodation I have ever stayed in so obviously didn't take up the offer. The breakfast served quickly and of a high standard but definitely not worth the money! It is such a shame as the hotel is in a prime location with stunning, breathtaking views. If only the right person could go in and do a major refurbishment!!!!

30 readers found this review helpful

Phew...luckily we didnt book to stay the night after reading the shocking reviews of the Hotel..
I have loved reading all the reviews and have provided me with a great night in's entertainment ..lol
We popped in to have a cup of tea/coffee and immediately got a creepy feeling as we entered the 'Hotel' It wasnt long before we got the giggles as we looked at all the celeb pics 'Friends of Camelot'.. more like 'the totally unconnected with Camelot !'
After waiting an age to be served over priced drinks we couldnt help wondering what 'The lightbox ' was as it looked so facinating from the description, i wasnt sure what to read first as it all looked so unbelievable (urr hum ..lol) After we inquired to see if we could look at the lighbox we were told that Mr Stouton was too busy to chat to us and he had just arrived from a trip away (with the fairies?) Mr Stourton appeared with a wide grin to inform us that he would be happy to show us the 'Lightbox'.. what joy !
My wife and 6 month old child were led down through a sinister set of tunnels to a room adorned with Mr Stourtons fantasy... paintings- He went on to sing us a song which was all very nice, but i wasnt sure where to look to be honest, it was all a bit Cheesy but horses for courses i guess..
We were then taken to the Lightbox, expecting something not dissimilar to Disney Pixar effects... but no, it was as described.. a box with lights built to contain his Paintings (basically to make them look better than they are ) After i burbled my way through an uneducated art critique my wife and i were hoodwinked into purchasing a painting .. hurrah ! mind you it was a bargain at £100 ... ;0(
To cut a long story slightly short ... it was an experience we will never forget... a strangly hideous looking Hotel, an alcohol/garlic breathed deranged owner who tries to barinwash people with false newspaper articles of stories of one of his painting selling for 1 million pounds ..
A great laugh, in fact im thinking of booking a night there just for a laugh, perhaps the 1970's TV's show 1970's shows .. i like those !
Hope this doesnt put you off... if you have a good sense of humour you should go because we have dined out on this story for over a year now.
By the way i sold my Investement for £76 on Ebay after listing it 6 times with no interest... so you may want to think twice before 'investing' .. your probably better off investing in the other Camelot as you might just win !
Cheers all !

30 readers found this review helpful

This hotel was chosen for a three night break because of what it had to say about itself on its website. While the description of the views & surroundings are completely accurate, the hotel is a complete disappointment. An impressive front door leads to a large reception area with a threadbare, taped joint carpet. Dining room & bar are well decorated, but you can wait several minutes for someone to attend the bar, and for all the blurb about international chefs, the food is disappointing. The hotel is adorned with totally out of keeping paintings. The bedroom was awful, threadbare carpet, wobbly fourposter bed, ancient tv that was impossible to see from the bed. The room was clean, but the enclosed balcony had filthy windows, a peeling crumbling ceiling, and a door that you couldn't open from the balcony side. All in all - and this was also the opinion of many other guests - Camelot offers very poor value for money.

1 reader found this review helpful

Have just enjoyed a special 5 day break at this beautiful location on the headland next to Tintagel Castle, of Arthurian Legend. The food at this hotel is excellent and the service is quite outstanding. Visiting here is like coming home to a family after a long time away. Everyone is so happy to see you and nothhing is too much trouble for the staff. Marek and Henryk and the reception staff will do anything for guests and Peter and the restaurant staff are courtesy and service personified. Of course one should also mention the friendly ladies who ensure the rooms are cleaned to a high standard. In fact everyone seems to be capable of doing almost every task
Rooms are comfortable and although there is some renovation currently underway, this is unobtrusive. The walls of the hotel are amply supplied with paintings and pictures of "the Friends of Camelot"which contain some surprisingly impressive names. All this points to a commitment to the family ethos with which all the staff are imbued and to which they respond. When you visit Camelot you can be sure of a a family style welcome (children and pets included), the opportunity to enjoy wonderful scenery and cliff walks and to immerse your self in the timelessness of myth and legend. After all, where else can you sit at The Round Table of King Arthur.

31 readers found this review helpful

If i could rate this as zero or minus I would!
On arriving at the hotel, we were impressed by the views and the hotel exterior but my partner was a bit freaked out by the atmosphere which seemed to seep from the dirty, tired brickwork. On entering the hotel we were greeted by a group of sour-faced Eastern European workers from the reception area which was placed among the photos of various Hollywood "Royalty" and a strangely sinister smiling man whom, we assumed, was the owner - John Mappin. We were checked in and given the key to our room, then left to carry our own luggage and shown where the "lift" was but advised to "mind our fingers" as the doors of the lift are dangerous (!)
Upon opening the door of our room we were shocked into breathlessness, but not through delight. We were confronted with peeling wallpaper, threadbare carpets, our bedding had a huge hole in it, the tv looked like it was from the 1970s and was teetering dangerously on a precarious wheeled trolley from a decade before. There were damp stains on the ceiling and curtains and the heating didn't work. And as for the "state of the art communications system"... It was a brown and cream Binatone push button telephone!! The electrics looked downright dangerous. We were especially wary of the adaptor housing 5 plugs held in place by some black masking tape!
Everything said before about the "toilets" is true! Expect a "port a loo" in the corner of your room with a plastic floor and not enough space to turn around in with your arms anywhere but firmly by your side.
My partner spent all of two minutes in this room (just enough to take photos) and stormed to reception to complain. Jolly receptionist seemed nonplussed by this and merely offered him the key to a "better standard" room. This room was actually worse. We were staying with our 18 month old son and he spied a "Winnie the Pooh" toy on the windowsill. Upon picking it up (as kids do), it's head fell off and copious amounts of black stuffing fell out! My partner again stormed back to reception with aformentioned toy in hand (and also the tv remote control which appeared to be held together with tape!) and upon reaching reception again (after damaging his fingers on the lift) was given the key to yet ANOTHER room.
This was the worst yet. It was just about big enough for two people to stand in at the same time if neither breathed! This was the final insult and we got our baggage and left despite having driven for 6 hours from London for our "retreat". Again, the staff did not seem surprised that we didn't wish to stay. This seemed like a normal occurrence in the hotel.
Overall the place had a most sinister atmosphere, no doubt because of the huge scientology connections which we only found out about after. Mr Mappin seems to have his fingers in all sorts of pies, including sending me weekly poetry emails and extracts from his latest musical album (I kid you not), however, if he used his energy in updating his hotel rather than bribing stars to have their photos taken with him, no doubt he'd have a better business!
Please see the photos we've attached and BE WARNED! Do NOT stay at this place.

1 reader found this review helpful

The Camelot Castle Hotel is amazing, no website, pictures, words or interpretive dance could do it justice, stop reading this review and book NOW! Seriously its that good.
The building itself had more character than a Tolkien book and the views were breathtaking. The staff made us feel very welcome, always greeting us with a smile and were very helpful throughout our stay.
I cant recommend this place enough, take your wife, take your lovers, for gods sake go alone........ just go, you will never regret it and you will never want to leave.
Now, i must go and book my next trip there.......