Margate House

Margate House in Margate, United Kingdom, a Michelin Key Selected property, is widely lauded as a captivating boutique hotel offering a delightful blend of comfort, style, and exceptional hospitality.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Margate House is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "superb" and expressing a strong desire to return. Review scores for staff and comfort are particularly high, often reaching 9.9 and 9.8 out of 10 respectively, indicating a highly satisfying guest experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise Margate House for its unique charm and thoughtfully designed interiors. Key highlights include the beautifully decorated communal areas and rooms, exceptional service, and a warm, friendly staff that makes guests feel at home. The attention to detail, from classical music playing upon entry to well-stocked mini-fridges, contributes significantly to a welcoming atmosphere. Its "make-yourself-at-home attitude" is also a frequently mentioned positive aspect.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Margate House are described as sanctuaries with spacious layouts, luxurious furnishings, and distinctive, eclectic decor. The interior design often features a playful approach to color and pattern, with dusty pink, terracotta, and burgundy tones, complemented by exposed brickwork and bobbin-themed furniture.

Each room boasts superb amenities such as air conditioning, heated bathroom floors, and rainfall showers. Guests appreciate the high-end toiletries from brands like Haeckels and Le Labo, complimentary snacks and drinks, and Nespresso machines. Beds are often king-size and noted for being supremely comfortable with crisp white bedding and cloud-like pillows. A unique feature is the deliberate absence of televisions in rooms, encouraging guests to relax and enjoy books instead. Rooms come in small, medium, and large sizes, with the larger rooms often featuring seating areas and partial sea views.

4. Dining Experience

Margate House offers a high-quality continental breakfast, which can be delivered directly to the room or enjoyed at a communal table in the dining area. The breakfast typically includes freshly baked croissants from local artisanal bakeries (like Staple Stores), locally produced yogurt, coffee, and apple juice. Some guests have noted the availability of a "cooked breakfast" as a bonus, prepared with top-quality ingredients. While there isn't a full on-site restaurant for other meals, the hotel features an honesty bar in the drawing room for evening drinks. Future plans include adding a restaurant and speakeasy bar on the lower ground floor. The hotel also partners with local eateries, such as "The Good Egg," for hot breakfast deliveries.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Margate House receive glowing reviews, consistently highlighted as "excellent," "hospitable," "warm," "friendly," and "attentive." Guests appreciate the personal touches, such as complimentary drinks on arrival and seamless communication via WhatsApp for any needs. The team is praised for being helpful, making guests feel like they are staying in a home away from home.

6. Location & Accessibility

Margate House is ideally situated in the Cliftonville area of Margate, overlooking historic Dalby Square. Its location is considered perfect for exploring Margate, being a 5 to 7-minute walk from Walpole Bay Beach and approximately a 10-minute walk from the town center. Nearby attractions include the iconic Shell Grotto and Margate Caves, and the Old Town with its pubs is also close by. Margate train station is about a 15 to 20-minute walk, though a cab is recommended for those with luggage due to some uphill sections. Free street parking is available, and guests are provided with permits.

7. Value & Pricing

Margate House is often considered one of Margate's most stylish and coolest boutique hotels, yet guests note it remains one of the more affordable options for a high-quality stay by the sea. Rooms reportedly start from £115 per night. Average prices range around £186 for a weeknight and can go up to £354 for a weekend night, with October typically being the cheapest month and June the most expensive.

8. Common Complaints

While feedback is largely positive, some minor points of criticism include that certain rooms, particularly "small" rooms, might be considered petite for the price, though they are still well-appointed and comfortable. There have been mentions that the bar area could have longer opening hours. It is important for potential guests to note that Margate House is an adults-only hotel and does not permit pets. Additionally, the property features several staircases and no lift, which could be a consideration for guests with mobility issues. The absence of a dedicated on-site dinner restaurant is also noted by some, though external dining options and future plans for a restaurant alleviate this.

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