Marine North Berwick

Marine North Berwick, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its stunning coastal location, elegant design, and exceptional service, making it a highly recommended destination for both leisure and golfing enthusiasts.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The Marine North Berwick generally receives an overwhelmingly positive sentiment, with many guests rating it as "Excellent" and expressing a strong desire to return. The overall guest review score on one platform is 8.4 out of 10, highlighting satisfaction across various aspects of the stay.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud the hotel for several standout features:

• Service: The staff are frequently described as very friendly, accommodating, helpful, attentive, and exceptional, going above and beyond to ensure a fantastic stay. Concierge, front desk, and restaurant staff often receive specific mentions for their excellent service.
• Location: The hotel boasts a "perfect" and "stunning" location with "amazing views" over the Firth of Forth and the golf courses. It offers beachfront access and is ideal for golfers and those seeking a scenic coastal retreat.
• Design: The property is celebrated for its "gorgeous" and "beautiful decor," housed in a majestic, lovingly restored 19th-century Victorian building. The interior blends classic elegance with a contemporary feel, featuring chandeliers, parquet flooring, antique furnishings, and "maximalist-chic wallpaper."
• Amenities: The hotel offers "excellent spa facilities," including an indoor swimming pool, thermal suite, hydro pool, saunas, steam rooms, and a gym, with beauty treatments and fitness classes available. Other appreciated amenities include a snooker table, putting green, Nespresso machines in rooms, free Wi-Fi, free parking, and free bike rentals.

3. Room Quality

Rooms at Marine North Berwick are generally noted for their comfort and thoughtful design. They are described as spacious, with high ceilings and "very comfortable" beds, often featuring pillowtop mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets for a "divine slumber." Many rooms offer "stunning" and "immaculate" views of the sea and the golf course. The decor is unique and lovely, combining old and new elements with dark wood, rich finishes, velvet-covered headboards, and distinctive wallpaper. Bathrooms are typically roomy, with some including baths, and equipped with designer toiletries.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Marine North Berwick is a significant highlight:

• The Lawn Restaurant: This award-winning restaurant is tastefully decorated with bay windows offering sea views, serving an extensive all-day menu of high-quality British and Scottish dishes. Mains are typically around £30, and guests consider the food "outstanding" and "well worth it" for the attention to detail and local produce. The Lawn also offers traditional Sunday lunch.
• Breakfast: Guests can enjoy a "highly-rated" breakfast (scoring 8.3), which includes continental, Full English/Irish, buffet, and à la carte options, with a tempting selection of pastries and various egg dishes.
• The Bass Rock Bar: This bar and lounge is praised for its selection of cocktails, international wines, award-winning whiskies, and local spirits, alongside Scottish craft beers and ales.
• Afternoon Tea: While savory items like sandwiches, goat's cheese tarts, and a highly-praised "best ever" sausage roll receive excellent feedback, some guests have found the scones to be hard and bland, and the sweet selection confusing.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Marine North Berwick are consistently highlighted as a major strength. Guests describe the team as "exceptionally staff," "super friendly," "attentive," and "totally committed to making your stay fantastic." Many mention feeling "truly welcomed" from the moment they arrive, with staff across reception, spa, bar, and restaurant exuding warm Scottish hospitality.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel's location is one of its most celebrated attributes:

• Neighborhood: North Berwick is described as an "illustrious seaside town," the "Biarritz of the north," known for its cultural scene, independent shops, and excellent local eateries like the Lobster Shack. It was recently named the best place to live in the UK by the Sunday Times.
• Attractions: Marine North Berwick overlooks the historic West Links golf course and is a short walk (9 minutes) from North Berwick Golf Course and West Bay Beach. Other nearby attractions include North Berwick Harbour, the Scottish Seabird Centre, Bass Rock, and North Berwick Law.
• Transport: The hotel is easily accessible, a 5-minute walk from North Berwick Railway Station, and about a 30-40 minute drive from Edinburgh. The hotel also offers packages that include daily return train tickets to Edinburgh.
• Accessibility: The hotel offers wheelchair accessibility, including accessible parking (one designated space), accessible public washrooms, a concierge desk, path to the elevator, registration desk, spa, pool, fitness center, restaurant, and lounge. There is also lift access to other floors and at least one accessible room.

7. Value & Pricing

Marine North Berwick is positioned as a premium property. Room prices typically range from $301 to $350 per night, which is slightly above the city's average of $251-$300. However, many guests consider it "good value for money," justifying the premium with its prime location, luxurious amenities, breathtaking sea views, and superior service. While average prices are around $236/night, deals can sometimes be found from $164/night, with March and Tuesdays suggested as potentially cheaper times to book. Breakfast is available for a fee (GBP 18 for adults, GBP 12.50 for children).

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring issues have been noted by guests:

• Lack of Air Conditioning: Several guests mention the absence of air conditioning, which can lead to rooms becoming very warm, especially in summer, and opening windows may invite insects. Management is reportedly aware of this and may address it.
• Bathroom Condition: Some older bathrooms have been noted as needing updates, with mentions of mouldy filler around baths, missing covers from shower dials, and occasionally poor water pressure.
• Room Lighting: A few reviews point out that some rooms are poorly lit, making activities like reading difficult.
• Noise: Rooms located near function suites can experience noise disturbances, impacting sleep quality.
• Breakfast Presentation: While the breakfast food itself is highly rated, there have been occasional comments about poor presentation or broken dispensers.
• Afternoon Tea Scones: The scones served with afternoon tea have been described as sometimes hard and bland.

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