A E Douglas
Google
UPDATE: Following my original review, the General Manager responded to me personally via email — however, addressed us incorrectly as “Mr. & Mrs. Douglas,” despite being clearly informed of our names and that we are not married. This kind of careless handling sums up our entire experience: surface-level politeness, but no real attention to detail.
His public reply here is misleading. While he suggests the matter was “discussed,” in reality it was not resolved. My concerns — including the poor room condition, the mishandling of our anniversary dinner at The Jetty, the dismissive treatment by staff, and the 4am noise — were acknowledged but largely brushed off. No meaningful resolution or gesture was offered despite us spending over £500 on food and drink.
This reply feels more like damage control than genuine customer service. It reinforces my view that guests outside wedding groups or “VIPs” are treated like afterthoughts.
We won’t be returning. If you value attention to detail, special occasion service, and staff who truly listen — look elsewhere.
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 out of 5)
Extremely Disappointing Anniversary Stay – Not Worth the Price
We stayed at Harbour Hotel Salcombe from June 14–16 to celebrate our anniversary, but it turned into a frustrating and underwhelming experience.
While Helen at reception was lovely and helpful in switching our room (the lift was broken and my partner couldn’t manage stairs with a heavy suitcase), that’s where the positives ended.
The room had a clogged sink, a strong musty odor, and worn carpets. A supposed “complimentary Salcombe gin” turned out to require purchasing tonic from the minibar — not exactly the thoughtful gesture it appeared to be. Worst of all, under the tissue box lid was a hidden toilet roll. I’ve travelled to 250+ destinations and never seen anything quite like it.
We booked The Jetty restaurant in advance and informed the hotel that it was our anniversary, requesting a table with a view. No acknowledgment, no note, no effort. When we reminded them, we were told it was “first come, first serve.” On the night of our celebration, we weren’t seated until past 8pm (despite a 7:15pm reservation), and the table eventually offered was clearly an afterthought. Cloe, the staff member in charge, was dismissive and unprofessional.
Add in noisy wedding parties, having to call reception at 4am to stop the next-door noise, and over £500 spent on subpar service and drinks — and the experience becomes not just disappointing but frustrating.
We will not return. If you value your time, money, and special occasions, look elsewhere.
