Union Hotel

Hotels
6.6 (1419 reviews)
Union Hotel, Chapel Street, Penzance , Penzance , GB

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Bar
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good location
Clean and tidy common areas
Cons:
Unclean rooms
Dated and uncomfortable furniture
Overpriced

Categories

Cleanliness
5.24
Multiple mentions of unclean rooms and issues with cleanliness.
Service
8.21
Staff were friendly and helpful, contributing positively to the experience.
Location
8.25
Many reviews noted the great location in the town center.
Room Quality
5.7
Reports of dated rooms and uncomfortable beds detracted from the quality.
Amenities
6.23
Some amenities were acceptable, but issues were raised about the state of facilities.
Value for Money
5.69
General sentiment indicated that the hotel was considered overpriced.
Food and Beverage
7.24
Breakfast received positive feedback, though some mentioned inconsistencies.
Overall Experience
6.21
Overall sentiment reflects mixed feelings about the stay, with both positives and negatives.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 13:15

Property Description

Historic 17th-Century Building

Located in the heart of Penzance, The Union Hotel offers a unique stay in a historic 17th-century building. Enjoy traditional style rooms with excellent sea views of Mount's Bay, centrally heated with modern amenities like TV, radio, and tea/coffee facilities.

Dining at Hamilton’s Restaurant and Nelson’s Bar

Indulge in a full English breakfast at the theatre bar, a favorite spot of Charles Dickens. Hamilton’s Restaurant serves homemade dishes with local produce, while Nelson’s Bar offers free WiFi and live music on weekends for a vibrant atmosphere.

Explore Penzance’s Vibrant Scene

Immerse yourself in Penzance's vibrant scene with a variety of restaurants, cinemas, and theatres just minutes away. Experience Cornish cuisine and global menus, all within walking distance from the hotel.

Book your stay at The Union Hotel for a historic and lively Penzance experience.

Important information:

Live music is played until midnight in the on-site bar every weekend, and occasionally on week days. Guests in the standard rooms or located on the first floor may experience disturbances. All guests are welcome to attend for free.
If you have any questions regarding this, please use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details provided in your confirmation.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:30 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

6.6
Based on 1419 reviews
Cleanliness: 5.24
Service: 8.21
Location: 8.25
Room Quality: 5.7
Amenities: 6.23
Value for Money: 5.69
Food and Beverage: 7.24
Overall Experience: 6.21
O
Olu • couple • gb
8
Best for the price
Pros:

Excellent food

Cons:

NA

2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
M
Marcus • couple • gb
6
Pros:

Location great
Veiw great
Breakfast plentiful..

Cons:

Generally decor tiered
Beds uncomfortable

2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
K
Kathryn • couple • gb
4
Pros:

Breakfast. Location.ballroom.Lounge

Cons:

We were put in 3rd floor room because we wanted a sea view. Room was an effort to get to and was freezing cold. Said we wanted to change but had to wait until next day until manager was in. Then we changed. Hotel is obviously old but carpet is FILTHY. Windows don’t fit, toilet is old, shower hardly works.bathroom has cracked tiles.

2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
S
Simmons • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

The booking was for my mum. She ended up on the 3rd floor which was hard work without a lift. The staff were extremely helpful in moving mum to a room on a lower ground. They also helped her with a few other things that she couldn't manage.

Cons:

The hotel is a bit run down but it was very clean.

2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
L
Lucy • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

The breakfast was very nice but I would have preferred real coffee

Cons:

The band in the bar on Saturday night meant it was noisy in the room

2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
R
Roy • couple • gb
5
Location good, hotel very tired, needed a lot of work
Pros:

good breakfast, plenty of choice,

Cons:

Bed was extremely uncomfortable as Mattress was well used, no hairdryer in room, wardrobe was unusable due to sloping floor of bedroom + coat hangars were too wide in wardrobe, unable to open windows

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
S
stuart • solo_traveller • gb
9
NIce hotel in central location with friendly staff and nice breakfast
Pros:

friendly staff and tasty cooked breakfast in nice breakfast room. Central location in town centre
Comfy well appt room with bath and tea/coffee. TV bit small and difficult to watch from bed as on side wall

Cons:

Quite pricey at £105 for October one night stay

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
T
tim • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Location

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
P
paul • couple • gb
5
Enjoyable. Would return to UH but a better room
Pros:

Good

Cons:

Perfunctory room clean and in poor state of repair.Apparently awaiting refurbishment.

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
G
Geoffrey • couple • gb
3
Pros:

The setting and the staff in the breakfast bar

Cons:

The shower could not be used by elderly people. There was no grip mat and nothing to hold on to.
The mattress was far too soft and very uncomfortable.
The floor of the bedroom was uneven and difficult to walk on without feeling seasick.
When I asked for tea bags and toilet rolls to be delivered, they were not delivered.

2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
A
Andriy • couple • gb
10
2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
L
Lucy • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Comfortable room
Very generous breakfast

2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • gb
5
2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
W
Warren • solo_traveller • gb
7
Union Hotel, Penzance
Pros:

A lovely period building, ideally situated in Chapel St with it's varied shops. Also, only 5 minutes walk from the quay where the Scillonian sails to Scilly. Staff were friendly.

Cons:

The building badly needs a decorative update, particularly in the public areas. Carpets are stained, the walls need a paint and the artwork is faded. This needn't be expensive, even a paint would help.

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
C
christine • solo_traveller • gb
6
Pros:

Loved where it was situated and staff were lovely

Cons:

On arrival I would have expected the young guy to help me upstairs with my suitcase and bags as it was on top floor I really struggled. Last morning my breakfast was cold as he had forgotten about me so must have been lying in the kitchen, hence I couldn't eat it all.

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
M
Margarida • solo_traveller • pt
6
Nao recomendo
Pros:

Hotel antigo a precisar de remodelações.
O quarto no 3°andar sem elevador.
Sem ar condicionado e janela que só abria 20cm.
Cama de roupa branca e muito limpa e confortável mas colchão de molas duras.
A mini TV  sem controlo remoto, não funcionou e mais parecia um monitor de PC.
O banheiro era razoável, mas não havia um único gancho ou suporte para pendurar toalhas.
Os espelhos — tanto no banheiro quanto no quarto — estavam mal posicionados, ficavam altos ou baixos demais.
Não tinha ar condicionado e a janela só abria 20cm. Havia sim uma ventoinha escondida num armário que só vimos no seguinte dia.
A internet não funcionava de todo....não existia mesmo!
Os cafés da manhã eram muito bons. Entre os funcionários, destaca-se o Sr. Laurent — sempre atencioso, discreto e educado.

Cons:

Hotel antigo a precisar de remodelações.
O quarto no 3°andar sem elevador.
Sem ar condicionado e janela que só abria 20cm.
Cama de roupa branca e muito limpa e confortável mas colchão de molas duras.
A mini TV  sem controlo remoto, não funcionou e mais parecia um monitor de PC.

An old hotel in need of renovation.
The room was on the 3rd floor with no elevator.
No air conditioning, and the window only opens 20 cm.
The bed linen was white, very clean, and comfortable, but the mattress had hard springs.
The tiny TV, without control, didn't work and looked more like a PC monitor.
The bathroom was decent, but there wasn't a single hook or rack to hang towels.
The mirrors—both in the bathroom and the bedroom—were positioned awkwardly; they were either too high or too low
The breakfasts were very good.
Among the staff, Mr. Laurent stands out—always attentive, discreet, and polite.

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • couple • gb
8
Pros:

Food was good, the bed was comfortable. The staff were helpful. The location is 5 minutes from the ferry terminal which was ideal. The history of the building is interesting,

Cons:

Car parking is first come first served, we were fortunate to get a space. The bedroom was small but had the basics. The building and decor is a little run down in places, but being old it must take some maintenace.

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
N
Nick • couple • gb
10
2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
K
Katherine • couple • gb
4
Won’t use this hotel again.
Pros:

Bar staff very friendly good atmosphere in pub.

Cons:

Very outdated shabby door lock very loose. Waited very long time for breakfast, server was busy clearing but meant by the time she served breakfast eggs hot but rest was cold! No toast no beans as requested but could not eat it so left! Obviously been cooked and left just us to serve. Other guest arriving after us not pre booked got served before us seemed there’s was served hot.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
J
Jenny • solo_traveller • gb
3
Pros:

Close to the train station and shops

Cons:

The room had a musty smell, there was also a strong smell of detergent or cleaning products which didn't help. The building has a lot of history it is just such a shame the hotel is in such a state of disrepair. It needs some major investment- new carpets, beds, furnishings, paints etc. The breakfast room was small and there was not enough tables for eveyone. The breakfast was small and average at best. I stayed in the family room, I would not bring my child here again

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee