Dolphin Hotel St Ives

Rooms decor a bit tired, shower not great, small compact bathroom, headboard dirty marks on it

Reception was a bit random - not unwelcoming, but no chat or real friendliness when I checked in or check out. That said, I didn't eat in the hotel and it was a one night stay for an early work start. So it was fine.

Windows didn't fit well. Fine as warm and sunny but would be very draughty other times of the year. Kettle needs replacing. Room next door smokers and smell in corridor and unable to sit on our little balcony. Would be far better to have allocated smoking areas away from rooms.

A bit scruffy outside in some places but they were having some renovations done.

Loud, renovating and breakfast ok

The hotel was unfinished. Work was being done to update the hotel, making the reception untidy. The hotel had very gloomy corridors, asking for a deposit upfront for our dog (which has never happened before). we wasnt allowed into the breakfast room with our dog, and they didn't do food. Bar was very overpriced, too

Building work

All the spiders in the corridor, the dirty windows, weird wiring, loose sink and lack of emergency (or any) information in the rooms and security. Despite AI suggesting that the hotel had been refurbished, since housing asylum seekers, our room door did not automatically shut (i.e. close from the outside) when we exited. I have never before stayed in a hotel which did NOT have guidance in case of fire (e.g. escape route and RVP) clearly posted inside the room.
The `gluten-free' (GF) breakfast consisted of GF bread (or toast) and that was it. The condiments were in open jars and so not suitable for a coeliac. Apparently the kitchen staff (kind, but not inspiring) were supposed to have offered a separately cooked option (i.e. not from the buffet) but they did not ask and did not inspire confidence that they would understand the problem if they should use the non-GF implements to cook a GF breakfast.

No secured access to rooms. Overpriced beverages in the bar. Dining room in a different location to the main building.
Poor customer service.

It was noisy at night time with people walking past the hotel but that couldn't be helped as it is near the town centre. There wasn't a hairdryer in the room.

Just the breakfast.

WORST HOTEL EXPERIENCE — COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE

One of the worst hotel experiences I have ever had. Absolutely shocking management and a complete lack of professionalism.

I booked two rooms for 8th and 9th August to attend a wedding, while the wedding host had booked 20+ additional rooms. The hotel was contacted well in advance on 10th July, and my rooms were confirmed.

Despite this, the hotel cancelled the wedding host’s 20+ rooms without informing them. Even more shocking, on 8th August at 11:00 AM, guest names were handed to reception and the arrangements were discussed, yet nobody mentioned that the rooms had been cancelled.

The issue was only revealed when wedding guests started arriving. This left the wedding host extremely embarrassed and under enormous pressure, having to deal with disappointed guests at the last minute. Completely unacceptable for such an important occasion.

Reception staff were poorly trained, understaffed and unable to manage check-ins efficiently. Communication was extremely difficult.

The rooms were also dirty and far below an acceptable hotel standard. The hotel appeared to be operating with only two housekeeping staff on 8th August, which clearly affected the service and room quality.

What should have been a joyful wedding celebration became a stressful and embarrassing experience because of terrible communication, poor organisation and inadequate management.

WORST HOTEL. WORST MANAGEMENT. ZERO COMMUNICATION. ZERO PROFESSIONALISM.

I would strongly advise anyone to avoid this hotel, especially for weddings, group bookings or important occasions. I will never stay here again and would not recommend it to anyone.

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nothing