Crown Spa Hotel Scarborough by Compass Hospitality — Restaurant in Great Britain

When we first arrived at the Crown Spa Hotel in Scarborough we were surprised at how it looked. There was no parking to be found and glad we had taken a taxi to drop us off for the day. When we went in, we had prebooked a spa day with massages, afternoon tea and access to the facilities.

We went to the desks and got directed down some stairs, and told where to get changed (group gender change areas with free lockers) and told the facilities were next to change area and would be collected when massage was ready. We though OK and went down into this dark area where there was a very small pool with zero seating area to relax. There was a jacuzzi style bath that was quite large that seemed to work for about 10 minutes at a time.

It wasn't nice, the pool was crowded with about 15 people in a space where it should be about 4 people max to swim. A group of women decided they were going to just wait in the centre of the pool and we had to swim around them, then they decided to all swim in a row blocking the pool so we got out. We tried the big bath and the water really hurt eyes so came out and found an area where there was a sauna, steam and ice room. These were nice but the water fountain tasted awful and nowhere else to get anything. There was some very uncomfortable chairs left out in this space but people had left towels on them so were not usable.

My wife asked about drinks at the reception and then told we couldn't have them in there but we could in their spa area. We questioned why we were only being told of this spa area now when we were booked in as a spa entry and told we could go up now. This changed everything, we were in the state to ask for massage early and leave as the facilities which we now realise must be their normal club area and not where we should have been directed. We didn't question it as the person who directed us had a deputy manager badge on so assumed we were doing what we were meant to be.

Moving to the actual spa area was lovely. There was a relaxation room and access to the same style of spa facilities such as sauna, steam and ice room. I really enjoyed the ice room after the sauna and could relax on the beds in relax room. The afternoon took a nice turn then. It was easy to get drinks and there was a call button if you wanted anything and in there, people couldn't seem to do enough for you wanting to support anything. Drinks were not expensive, we just had cola and for the 4 drinks we had, it was about £4.20 - there was loads of water jugs they were regularly refreshing in the spa area.

We had afternoon tea booked and moved it to earlier in the day, we went up and enjoyed the time. My partner had a really nice hot chocolate and I had an okay coffee but the foods were nice and we took some away as it was very filling.

The massages were wonderful, I had a lady named Lisa who was from England but had lived in Australia for a long time. I get a lot of pain in my upper back and shoulders and although our massages were only 25 minutes, my back has felt generally great since (2+ weeks) and she managed to fix issues that have bugged me for about 2 months. Lisa was easy to talk to, and answered all questions I had about things. I wish we had booked for longer in hindsight but it was really good and appreciated.

Overall, the day was a good day but if my wife had not asked about drinks - I think it would have been quite different and we would have left unhappy. That one question gave us a lovely afternoon and put in the right place for...

We have been visiting the Crown Spa for a number of years, and stayed again during early January 2025. I'm sorry to say that it's likely to be our last visit.

There are lots of positives about the Crown Spa. The building and location are lovely. We had one of the large rooms.on the 1st floor and it was warm and spacious with a very comfy bed, a sofa and coffee table and a gorgeous rainfall shower. The reception staff were lovely (we had seen both members of staff on previous years). In terms of the food, we ate room service for dinner and this was delivered quickly and was very nice. Breakfast was fine but not stunning - on one of the two days it was plated (but we guess it was pre-prepared in bulk rather than cooked fresh per person) and on the other it was hot buffet. The quality of the ingredients is good and we do appreciate that there are logistical challenges to providing freshly cooked breakfasts in a large hotel. Overall, we were quite comfortable with our choice to breakfast within the hotel.

Unfortunately there are negatives that spoil things. We spend a lot of time in the hotel in January because we don't want to walk down into the town at night in the cold. Unfortunately, the bar area was very cold and when we asked about the "crackling fire" that is advertised on the website we were told by the staff that they had never seen it lit (we have only seen it lit once during all the times when we have stayed). If you arent going to light the fire when it's -6C outside, you are never going to light it! You used to be able to get a lovely selection of teas in the bar and, though these are still on the menus on the table they are not available. More disappointing to me was that I couldn't even get a decaf coffee, which I need as I can't tolerate caffeine because of a medical condition. This meant that we ended up sitting in the room when we would have preferred to be in the public areas relaxing. We also noticed that basic maintenance is not being undertaken. In the room, the reading lamp that was broken last year was still broken this year, and the feature lighting in the bathroom was still flickering. The furnishings are beginning to look tired and damaged. Downstairs, the number of missing lightbulbs and lampshades is simply staggering. In one fitting in the dining area we calculated that 40% of the downlighters and 80% of the uplighters weren't functioning. This was the same last year and it's inconceivable that no-one has noticed so we can only assume that this basic maintenance isn't being prioritised.

This all might sound a bit petty - it's not a bad hotel at all. But we go away during January to be pampered and for a bit of luxury. The Crown Spa used to feel this way to us but, sadly, we just haven't felt this the past couple of years. We love going back to the same places year on year as you build up relationships with the building and the people but, very sadly, we will be looking to make new memories...

Left feeling disappointed after being robbed by hotel staff, privacy ignored and not getting any value for the money we spent. DATA BREACHED

When we first booked our stay, I received a WhatsApp from a number in Peru, detailing my full name, phone number, and arrival details. It was clearly a scam, but what concerned me most was how my personal data had been leaked. I contacted the hotel several times to ask if they had experienced a security breach, but my inquiries were completely ignored. This set a troubling precedent for what would ultimately be a disappointing experience.

We stayed over the bank holiday weekend for a wedding, booking two nights at £170 per night, including breakfast. Typically, we opt for a Premier Inn unless we’re planning a special getaway, but this time, I wanted to treat us to a supposedly nicer hotel. Unfortunately, the experience fell short of expectations.

Upon arrival, we barely recognized the hotel. It looks nothing like the images on the website. The online photos depict a well maintained, charming building, but in reality, the exterior appeared dated, and in need of a fresh coat of paint.

Reception staff were lovely and even offered us a tour, which was a promising start. However, within ten minutes of settling into our room, the shower began leaking from the tap in the wall. Reception quickly moved us to another room down the hal. No issue there, as these things happen. Yet, both rooms showed signs of a rushed rather than thorough cleaning, with marks on the sheets, dirt on the windowsills, and no air conditioning.

The old TV was poorly positioned, making it impossible to watch from the bed. For £170 per night, these amenities should not be lacking, especially when budget hotels provide them as standard. Worse still, the bathroom in our new room had black mould on the ceiling and a this shower tap liked falling off!

Breakfast was another letdown. We found our own table across the sticky, night club feeling floors Having traveled frequently for work, I’ve encountered my fair share of disappointing breakfasts, but this one might take the prize. The room was stuffy, the food had an unpleasant smell, and the staff, though clearly hardworking, seemed overwhelmed.

The worst part of our stay, however, was what happened while we were at breakfast. We had left a "Do Not Disturb" sign on our door, only to return and find it removed, a sponge left in the corner of the room, and a bottle of shower gel missing. Although it was just a £1 item, privacy should be respected, and stealing is stealing.

I would have preferred to discuss these concerns directly with the hotel, but at check-out, no one asked how our stay had been, and after being moved rooms, there was no follow-up. I’m not the type to cause unnecessary trouble for staff, but a simple check-in would have prevented...