The Boat Inn Hayton

Hotels
7.1 (293 reviews)
THE BOAT INN 97 MAIN STREET, HAYTON , Retford , GB

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Garden
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good food
Cons:
Dirty rooms
Lack of amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
5.11
Several reviews mentioned rooms were dirty with dust, grime, and uncleaned bathrooms.
Service
9.08
Staff were consistently described as friendly and helpful across multiple reviews.
Location
8.62
Many reviews highlighted a good location near nature, although specifics varied.
Room Quality
5.57
Mixed sentiments were shared, with comments on old and unmaintained furniture.
Amenities
5.6
Comments indicated lack of basic amenities like Wi-Fi, and rooms lacking functionality.
Value for Money
6.56
Some reviews mentioned pricing issues, not feeling worth the cost of stay.
Food and Beverage
8.61
Food received positive feedback, although some found it overpriced.
Overall Experience
7.68
Overall experience was mixed; some positive elements tempered by significant concerns.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-09 02:57

Property Description

Charming Riverside Retreat

Nestled in the picturesque town of Retford, The Boat Inn Hayton offers a tranquil escape with modern comforts.

Scenic Surroundings and Convenient Amenities

Enjoy the lush garden, complimentary parking, and a cozy terrace. Indulge in delicious meals at the on-site restaurant and unwind at the bar.

Comfortable Rooms with Modern Touches

Relax in well-appointed guest rooms featuring a flat-screen TV, private bathroom, and a fridge for added convenience.

Experience a delightful stay at The Boat Inn Hayton and make lasting memories in this idyllic setting.

Important information:

The Pub/Restaurant is open 7days a week.

Please check the website for more details.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

7.1
Based on 293 reviews
Cleanliness: 5.11
Service: 9.08
Location: 8.62
Room Quality: 5.57
Amenities: 5.6
Value for Money: 6.56
Food and Beverage: 8.61
Overall Experience: 7.68
J
Jane • extended_group • gb
7
2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • es
4
2026-09-01 • via Nuitee
D
Denzil • couple • gb
10
2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
G
Groundhopper • solo_traveller • gb
6
Nice location.
Pros:

Location was nice thats all.

Cons:

Couldn't lock the room door. Room very dirty. Bed uncomfortable.

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
S
Stevie G • solo_traveller • gb
2
Disappointed - accommodation is poor.
Pros:

Walks down the canal and food and drink at the pub.

Cons:

The room was terrible. The door into the room did not open properly because it contacted the bed. One of the wardrobe doors could not be opened because it was blocked by the bedside unit.
There was a small fridge that was balanced on three legs on top of a unit and on top of that it had a vase with a flower that wobbled about.
There was no Wi-Fi and also there was no SIM connectivity.
You could not open the windows because you were facing onto the car park and the road.
There was dust and dirt under the bed there were bits of wall covering missing in the bathroom, the shower door was half off.
The room was really hot and there was no way to cool it down, no heating controls, no air conditioning.
It was advertised as pet friendly but it cost me another 25 pounds to have my two dogs there with me (this was not mentioned when booking) on the basis that a special deep clean would be needed. I understand that some people might be allergic to pet hair, although I don't understand why they would book into a pet friendly room. That said, looking at the state of the room I couldn't see that anybody did any cleaning there.

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
G
Garey • solo_traveller • gb
3
Would not stay here again
Pros:

The fish and chips was excellent

Cons:

The room was not clean. There were cobwebs on the carpeted stairs which looked like they had never been vacuumed. Cobwebs in the bedroom too. The fridge in the room had yellow water stains at the bottom. The lock on our bedroom door did not work so the owner closed the second room we were next too and told us he wouldn’t let the other room and we should lock the shared door.

2026-07-20 • via Nuitee
S
Shawn • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Very nice Hotel
Didn't eat but looked clean and smelt good.
Great outside seating with outside bar and food outlet next to the canal.
Very compfy bed with rooms next to the hotelm

Cons:

No breakfast. 😔

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
E
Elaine • solo_traveller • es
4
Disapointing
Cons:

Fridge shower dirty, generaL state of disrepair, Blinds in bathroom destroyed, plaster peeling, paint tired and old, no check in check out facility, guy arrived rushing to give me a key. Nobody answers the telephone, attached to a pub which doesn't open Mon/Tues. Don't know who manages the property but they deserve the sack. The entrances to the apartments haven't been cleaned either.

2026-07-11 • via Nuitee
O
Olivia • solo_traveller • gb
10
Very enjoyable, would recommend.
Pros:

Firstly, the pub itself is lovely, staff are kind and welcoming, including the locals who are in there. Checking in was nice, quick and easy!
I actually locked myself out of the room within minutes of going in after going to get more out of the car, they dealt with it quickly and didn’t make me feel uncomfortable in any way nor inconvenient which made me feel at ease! 😂🤦🏻‍♀️
Room was lovely, plenty of space, handy it had a fridge!! & very welcoming for my dog too. There are specific rooms for people with pets and others for those without which is great.
The location is so nice, has a little gate to the canal, lovely garden area with outdoor pub, freshly made pizzas available (lots of other food too) and I couldn’t hear a single thing from my room from the pub itself, as the rooms are within a seperate building which was convenient for sure. It was a very peaceful stay and I will definitely stay again when next visiting family.

Thankyou!

Cons:

The only thing I can think of is there’s not great signal there but that’s absolutely no fault of the pub itself it’s the area In general! (They do have WiFi which helps!)

2026-06-28 • via Nuitee
M
Mark • solo_traveller • gb
3
Over priced, not clean needs lots of tlc
Pros:

Location

Cons:

In need of lots of tlc , cobwebs, broken tiles in bathroom, loose toilet seat, entrance door hanging off,mouldy shower area, no WiFi as advertised.

2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
D
DAVID • solo_traveller • gb
2
Don't go there
Pros:

Staff were great, loads of parking space food was good

Cons:

The room was terrible, fridge stunk and had mould in it, black mould around the shower, stains on the bedsheets slept on top of the quilt, cobwebs in the room, the main light was full of dead insects, in the hall by the front door there was damp and the paint was peeling off of the wall emailed them with pics they didnt even have the courtesy to reply

2026-06-02 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • couple • gb
7
Overall good with friendly helpful staff
Pros:

For the price it was very good. The pub itself was lovely with great beer and food. However the rooms are a bit tired, which is reflected in the price per night.

Cons:

As above

2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
R
Rhianne • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-05-23 • via Nuitee
R
Rupert • solo_traveller • gb
5
Economic and functional but no real glamour
Pros:

Good location for my work. Pub food was good.

Cons:

Dirty room. Cobwebs. Grubby paintwork. Tired looking bathroom

2026-05-15 • via Nuitee
M
Maarjorie • family_with_children • gb
5
Not to be repeated.
Pros:

The meal we had in the evening was good.

Cons:

Beds were too soft, no seat to sit on,shower tray overflowed. The advertised fridge in the room didn't work. Needs blackout curtains.

2026-05-13 • via Nuitee
D
David • solo_traveller • gb
9
Excellent!
Pros:

The surroundings were great. The bar, restaurant and staff were exceptional! The food was excellent!

Cons:

The only thing I can think of that wasn’t perfect, and it’s a minor thing, was the WiFi. The room WiFi was nonexistent even though it said I was connected. It didn’t help that I couldn’t get a mobile signal. Strangely there’s a different WiFi in the restaurant which worked!

2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
V
Valentin • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • gb
4
Apart the the lovely atmosphere n food in pub it was very disapointing . We were told there was WiFi and wasn’t any at a
Pros:

Bed was ok shower ok .?mould around the shower .all room needs upgrading .

Cons:

NO WIFI. NOT OFFERED ANY CLEAN TOWELS OR TOILET ROLLS .

2026-05-04 • via Nuitee
C
Cotton • solo_traveller • gb
2
never again
Pros:

nothing

Cons:

the room was in a poor state cracked walls in side door hanging off hinges did not stay at i am in the process of asking booking.com 4 a full refund

2026-03-31 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • gb
10
2026-03-30 • via Nuitee