Reviews

The Bay hotel was a great stay in a great location as a short stroll to the high street and also the beach with a pier. All our needs were met as lots of local attractions and towns within a short drive or walk. A very nice short break.

We love staying at the Bay hotel, it is bright, clean and has everything you need. There are lots of thoughtful touches too

Everything worked in our rooms, which were clean and well furnished. They fully met our expectations.

We only spent one night here and had rooms 7 and 4. Room 7 was spacious and clean. Room 4 was much smaller but still well appointed and clean. The house seemed very clean overall. There is no staff on site (which in a way felt nice as it was non-intrusive, but I can see how other guests found this challenging), and there is a lounge as well as a kitchen area that guests have access to. Overall I would stay here again, it was a nice, clean house. The mattress in room 7 was a bit uncomfortable because you could feel every spring. One of the fridges in the kitchen smelled very bad and was full of food, I suspect food had been left behind by previous guests. Maybe the cleaning staff could look into this. This is probably a disadvantage of the fact there is no staff on site, that there is nobody around to notice things like this.

My husband and I stayed here for the night for our anniversary a couple of weeks ago and loved it, so I decided to bring my mum here for a stay. Very happy with this amazing hotel. Thank you, we will be back next year 😊

Overall very very nice excellent location. Downfall nowhere to hang your clothes

After visiting Leiston for a charity motorcycle ride out, I had decided to stay overnight. First time staying at this establishment, I had read reviews and decided it was suitable for my needs. It gives the vibe of an upmarket hostel which was more than enough. The room was clean and comfortable. All the pass codes to gain entrance and WiFi were sent in plenty of time and worked first time . Plenty of eating establishments within walking distance. Recommended .

We were visiting various friends in the area Coastal Lodge was ideal. We had a standard double ,even though quite small had everything you would need. Loads of plug sockets ,hooks big mirror. Then the use of a kitchen if needed. Would stay again.

I stayed for one night at the coastal Lodge whilst visiting a friend. The room was clean, the shower was very efficient with good hot water. Bed was comfortable. All as you would expect from a place to stay. Entry with the key codes was absolutely fine and there was plenty of parking.

As regular visitors to Southwold we were familiar with the building as the Blythe Hotel and loved the update. The move to a comfortable Apart-Hotel concept has been comfortably achieved with lots of nice little touches that make a big difference

Lovely hotel, rooms were very clean and comfortable and fantastic location.

Rooms lovely and clean with good access to parking mins walk to the town local pub and shops so great location only remark is the noise from doors banging you need to fit dampeners to doors they slam shut many times 6am which is disappointing and wakes people up during the stay

Very clean, good walking distance from town with appreciated extra touches like water, pastries and a nightcap!

Very clean and really interesting hotel - rooms where excellently designed -quirky but great! Self check in was an absolute breeze and very unique. Highly recommend

Had a fab second stay at the Bay Hotel, the rooms are very spacious and beautifully decorated. Situated minutes walk from the centre and the beach, with great facilities, complimentary water and snacks all day

lovely location. code door check in works well. our bedroom was fine. the bathroom could do with a shelf or something to put your things. eg raise the mirror and put shelf above washbasin? needs hooks on bathroom door . just few suggestions to make it easier. fridge on ground floor was very good for cold water. will be back. thank you

Nicely refurbished room in a hotel close to town centre.

We were so pleased when we rocked up! The room was beautiful with a lovely view and so many thoughtful freebies…even free nightcaps. Everything was spotlessly clean. The only drawback was the 10am checkout. When you are only staying for one night, it feels so early. Our visit would have been transformed by a midday checkout. Maybe something to think about? Anyway thank you Bay Hotel for a lovely time overall.

Only thing wasnt happy about there was long black hair all over floor in bedroom and ensuite. Perhaps cleaner forgot to hoover the flooring after previous persons there. Sadly that wasnt acceptable to me!! Otherwise place is lovely 😎

Great hotel find! Very clean, stylish and comfortable! Rooms are easy to access with codes and communication with staff before check in was great! Location is perfect for high street and beach accessibility! Would definitely stay again!

The Bay Hotel is excellent The receptionist was very friendly and helpful and informative

Okay you’re 5 min walk from the centre but it’s a nice walk and gives you chance to check the cafes and shops out The Bay is super clean and nice place to stay so I would not hesitate to recommend it

Ideal place to say if you just need somewhere to sleep at good price for area. Self check in works well. Communication was good from owners. Provision of fan was much appreciated in the heatwave. Snacks and drinks very good. Very clean room (No.4). The windows in this room were in need of some urgent maintenance.

Fabulous place to stay. Lovely, cosy room, extremely helpful and friendly staff!

What a wonderful treat it was to stay at the Bay Hotel in Southwold- Rooms are Comfortable, Clean, and welcoming with complimentary teas, coffees, water and snacks with quirky little decorations for added interest. The Staff we met were lovely and friendly. I would definitely recommend a stay.

The property is excellent with clear entry information for arrival. The room was very good, but it is expensive and for the cost very minor things annoy, there are provisions provided, crisps, biscuits and water however there is no choice of decaffeinated coffee and no sugar alternative if you have to have these don’t expect them like the majority of hotels provide - so for the cost you would have thought this would be done All in all excellent room and very good facilities

Room was clean and spacious and bed comfy. Was a spot of blood on one pillow though. Fan worked really well. Only problem was that the toilet didn't flush so had to get engineer in. Still not flushing every time after visit. Would definitely book again.

We have just got home from two nights staying at The Bay . It is a perfect location for visiting Southwold and the parking was a game changer . We could not fault the hotel it has everything you could need and more . The fridge and fan were a godsend with this weeks weather. We will definitely be booking to return later in the year Thanks for a great stay

Wouldn't recommend taking dogs here unless they're confident with stairs, which our daschund isn't. Also going out for late night piddles is a chore unless you're ground floor.

The bay hotel was a lovely place to stay , lovely room in the perfect location , staff were great couldn’t do any more for you , little perks like biscuits tea coffee for us & treats toys for our dog , overall great place .

Lovely hotel great location.Lady on reception excellent nothing too much trouble

Lovely stay thank you, very clean and comfortable room with everything you need. Little treats with tea and coffee facilities and cold water in fridge as well as a whiskey nightcap in the evening from the reception area - all thoughtful details . Location good as close enough to everything and an enjoyable stroll away from the centre.

Excellent room and good communication. Will definitely book hotel again if we come to Southwold 👍

Lovely building in a fabulous location. Recommended.

This is a lovely hotel in a great location. The room was clean and spacious and although no staff were on site other than check in, the digital entry pads work fine. Would definitely visit again.

Well once again Patric to you and your team: what a brilliant hotel would recommend to anyone to stay here :

Easy check in. Nice clean room. Well stocked with goodies.

Slight mix up with room preparation was sorted immediately and very much to my satisfaction. Wonderful place, Wonderful people. Again, highly recommended!

We only stayed one night but will definitely return. Great place with some nice touches.

Lovely hotel in Southwold. Great location, easy walking distance of everything and very comfortable. Some lovely touches such as a free tot of whisky when you arrive! Very helpful hosts and would definitely recommend it to others.

I spent three days at the hotel. My room was clean and comfortable and when I had trouble working the smart tv it was soon quickly resolved. I liked the help yourself coffee and teas and bottled water. I can certainly recommend it as a great place to stay.

The accommodation was unusual as it was laid out almost like a hostel, rooms with tea and coffee but all other facilities in a communal area. Once we were familiar with this it was fine. All very clean throughout with very attentive housekeeping staff

It all started with a simple phone call : what a brilliant service the manager Patric could not do enough: and the hotel itself was out of this world: clean/ tidy/very welcoming would recommend to anyone: especially if you have a dog as the hotel is dog friendly 🐶

We really enjoyed our stay at the Bay Hotel. The rooms are big and beautifully appointed. We couldn’t book breakfast but there are cafes nearby. We really liked the breakfast at the Pickled Kipper cafe on the High Street.

Lovely hotel. Room clean and nicely decorated. Check in very easy. Very nice touch with refreshment tray and nightcap left in reception to help yourself. Less than 5 mins walk to shops. Ideal!

Rooms tidy, neat, clean. Well appointed with a small fridge (dog has Butternut Box food so needed to keep it chilled). Had a family problem meaning we had to leave unexpectedly and the BHC kindly allowed us to return for the night we had paid for but been unable to use. Very understanding of them and much appreciated. Will will return. Although we did not imbibe, I thought the complimentary wee dram at reception was a thoughtful idea - might have it in my coffee next time! Great breakfast at The Cafe on the Green at the bottom of Pier Road. The only problem was having to run the water for hot water for a long time, such a waste of water AND as no extractor fan there was condensation build up on the new paint work....

Me and Fiance had a wonderful day n night in Southwold and decided on the Bay Hotel - the Simple check-in , doggie treats - wonderful room with balcony - and a free small night cap in the evening was all appreciated. was not expecting to have a lady on reception on our arrival but she was great. I have traveled a lot in the UK and will definitely come back to this gem of a place.

Nice clean room but very small for a King size deluxe ! It appeared to be just a small room with a king size bed in. We were fortunate that there was only us cooking in the shared kitchens but i dread to think of the chaos and cleaning if the place was full of people all wanting to do breakfast. All in all it suited our needs for a couple of nights and the effort going into it cannot be faulted.

We enjoyed our 3 day stay at The Bay, the check in is easy via the codes sent on the day of arrival plus there was a member of staff there who offered to carry bags etc. The room was clean and tidy with plenty of tea, coffee and snacks available plus a fridge with cold water, top ups for these were available in the reception area. The Bay is ideally located just a 5 minute walk from Southwold centre where you will find an abundance of cafes and pubs. We enjoyed the breakfasts at Duchies on high street and the relaxed atmosphere at the crown for late afternoon drinks. Would recommend a visit to both Aldeburgh which has quaint shops and cafes and Thorpeness for a relaxing afternoon whether on the pebble beach or by the boating lake. The hotel although not the cheapest was good value and we’ll certainly be returning in the future.

Super room, clean and comfortable. Great location. Welcoming staff.

Walking distance of town , View okay but very noise at night & early morning with cars. Liked the French doors & balcony Perhaps little coffee machines in room for better coffees & teas. But overall good 👍

Location very good, service excellent, room clean with everything you need, only small complaint, I was not told on booking that it's a dog friendly hotel, I don't know if I was booked into a dog free room, it would have been nice to know at time of booking, there was some disturbance from the dogs, but not too much, would stay here again

WE HAD A FAB STAY, PERFECT LOCATION AND VERY QUIET. ROOMS WERE LOVELY AND SPACIOUS AND CLEANED DAILY WITH CLEAN TOWELS. OVERALL A FANTASTIC HOTEL AND WOULD DEFINITELY VISIT AGAIN

This was not our first time in Southwold but it was our first stay in The Bay Hotel. Absolutely loved it and 100% recommend. Easy check in and such a great location - especially as we managed to get a car park space! The room was delightful, the complimentary tea, coffee, etc & biscuits (and crisps!), plus bottled water, were a pleasure to find, and the nightcap on the reception desk was such a thoughtful and lovely touch - we were so impressed! Loved having the games to borrow too. Thank you for a great stay.

Just wanted to say how much we appreciated all the little touches, the hotel looks beautiful from the outside and the Adnams suite with king size bed and en-suite walk is bathroom was delightful. The tea, coffee, biscuits and even a whisky nightcap were very welcome for our overnight stay :)

We booked this the night before we arrived as a last minute break. The room and bathroom were lovely and spacious & clean. Plenty of tea & coffee and snacks available. A shot of whiskey in the reception when we came back from an evening out was a lovely touch. We will definitely be back.

Very nice large room. Newly refurbished, tastefully decorated. We both slept very well in the comfortable bed. Generous with the snacks and water and a nice idea to have extra in reception in case you ran out . Regular change of towels .Managed to use the car park for 2 of the 3 nights but street parking was not a problem. Could have done with some heating on in the evening as it did turn very cold Easy walk to the pier or to the town . Would definitely recommend.

The hotel is set just 5 min walk from high street. Great car park. Unmanned reception; all access by codes - worked very well. Rooms were spotlessly clean, good size and comfortable. Ample water; tea; coffee etc plus welcome snacks. Only downside was very poor hot water pressure. Shame as lovely new shower fittings, but had to run sink hot tap for around 2 minutes before turning on shower otherwise no hot water. Except for this annoyance, the hotel was a very nice place to stay and we enjoyed our visit to Southwold very much. Thanks!

Very clean & well thought out accommodation that had everything we needed thank you.Lovely communal areas and simple easy to follow instructions.

Great location for my needs. (Business meeting). Easy no human contact access to property & room. Room was very clean & comfortable. Great bed. Great shower but wash basin was far too small. You could not use it for anything more than a hand wash.

A little gem in Southwold. Best we don't tell everybody or we wont be able to get in again

Nice hotel, lovely comfortable room and a balcony to relax on with a glass of wine

Good, but could improve alot. Such as not seeing anyone human contact from staff. No welcome and information packs. No fire alarm in room. Coffee and tea facility not replenish during the stay. Toilet smelt of sewage. There was no blind at window on the base of stairs. As we stayed in the suit, it would have been lovely to have 2 chairs and table.

Our second stay and rebranded Bay Hotel and already looking forward to coming back. Lovely dog freindly hotel in a great location. Rooms immaculate and super friendly helpful staff. A much needed perfect Easter break for us. Thank you so much

We stayed in the Adnams Suite, room was beautiful and bright. The Bay window is perfect for watching the sunset! Comfortable bed, great shower, immaculately clean, and the little extras in the room were very welcome. Would benefit from a full length mirror and somewhere to sit and get ready with a mirror and plug socket. But a very comfortable stay, in a great location and we would definitely stay again.

Thanks for a nice little stay over, we would happily come back again.

Lovely hotel, freshly decorated rooms. Modern bathroom with lovely shower. Will definitely return. Receptionist was a lovely lady and very helpful.

Having stayed 2 nights at the Bay Hotel, i would recommend it to anyone. The staff were happy, smiling and professional. The room was very clean and well specked. All in all outstanding, and we will be staying again. Thank you.

Good location, lots of extras, comfortable bed, very clean. Could only get the shower to run lukewarm and no instructions anywhere.

We decided at the last minute to visit Southwold and were so pleased to find this lovely place. It was spotlessly clean, fresh, and tidy, and the little extra treats were such a thoughtful touch. Thank you for making our trip such a pleasant and comfortable stay. We enjoyed it so much that we ended up staying an extra night! Highly recommended, and thank you again.

Very pleasant stay. Previously stayed when the hotel was the Blyth however it ended up going downhill so stopped several years ago so its nice to see the place revived. Coffee/Light breakfast options would be good

We had a lovely stay and the hotel was great from start to finish. We used to stay here when it was the previous hotel, and it has improved by about 1000% since then. The whiskey shots in reception were a really nice and welcoming touch, and we also loved the basket with extra coffee, teas, and supplies that you can stock up on for your room. The board games available to use were another thoughtful addition. We decided to extend our weekend stay by an extra night and called to check availability. The owner kindly gave us a lovely upgrade as a gesture, which was very much appreciated. The rooms are modern, bright, and very clean, and the bed was super comfy. We’re very happy with our stay and would definitely return.

Fabulous large room, great comfy bed and a shower to die for.. only negative comment I would make is that although there are lots of lights, there was not one to enable you to read a book or newspaper. However we were made most welcome and will definitely be returning again 😃

A really friendly and warm welcome on arrival at The Bay Hotel, with the added bonus of free parking on site. I was shown up to my room which was tastefully decorated and had nice touches of complementary glass bottles of water, crisps, biscuits and a wide variety of teas, coffees and hot chocolate. A comfortable nights sleep and only a couple of minutes walk to the High Street with an array of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Would highly recommend if looking for somewhere reasonably priced to stay in Southwold.

Table with kettle on requires fixing to the wall It is to unstable with a kettle full of boiling water Fridge in the room Great item to have however the light stays on all night

We had the most loveliest stays. Room very clean and warm.Happy and efficient service from all staff inside. Great location to shops and peir. Our four year old walked it and happily rode her scooter to skate park just down the road. Thank you. We would be happy to return and recommend 😀

immaculately set up hotel in prime location with its own parking, the only issue for some is that they have no fools there, However this is not an issue as there are plenty of local cafe's and takeaways.

Comfortable, high quality accommodation. Highly recommended.

We were impressed by the refurb of the Hotel (formerly known as the Blyth). The decor was fresh with some lovely retro touches and the room was warm and clean. The bathroom was a good size with a fantastic shower. The receptionist was very friendly and keen to hear any suggestions we had for improvements. We'll definitely stay here again..

We stayed here for one night and had a brilliant stay with our dog Ted. The room was clean, comfy and peaceful, with tea/coffee/milk etc provided. The rest of the hotel was also very pleasant and Laura on the front desk was lovely. Very good location for walking into Southwold and exploring Suffolk.

Excellent location, friendly welcome, easy and excellent value

Great place, easy to find, self checkin great instructions, will definitely stay again

I’ve stayed at this hotel before it was refurbished. It was delightful, lovely clean rooms and hot shower. Enjoyed the complimentary snacks in the room. The reception area was beautifully decorated for Christmas. It was easy to find somewhere for breakfast. I’ve only given a 4star for location as it’s at the edge of town. I don’t mind this as I enjoy the 5minute walk to the pier or sea front. I shall be back.

If you're looking for a room only with no stress or fuss this is for you. Simply book online, receive your entrance details and the rest is easy. Very clean and tidy and quieter than most hotels.

Couldn’t find a fault with the room also perfect location for exploring the town will stay again when in the area

Stayed for one night for work purposes. Quiet, clean, warm, private, parking.

We have stayed many times over the years here but first as newly refurbished Bay. Great effort and good job. Rooms and hotel look great. Small details. Room needs better lighting around mirrors and plugs too far from desk / dressing table Would like to see a wardrobe as well and maybe a waiting area or lobby as you enter for guests. Great service from Laura and room was spotlessly clean We had a great time and will definitely be back

As described and very helpful staff, nothing a problem and very professional. Many thanks Neil

Myself and my wife had a lovely stay at the Bay Hotel. The room & on-suite was spotlessly clean, It felt very spacious, luxurious and was tastefully decorated. Bed and pillows were very comfortable. Tea and Coffee making facilities and snacks were in the room. As it was close to Christmas, the Hotel was decorated with beautiful Christmas decorations and a bottle of Baileys and Whisky was left in reception for guests to have a free tipple! Although this hotel does not have a bar or restaurant, it is only a 5 minute walk from the main Southwold high street with plenty of places to choose from. We only saw staff when we were checking out, and they were all very friendly and welcoming especially the lady on reception. Thank you for a lovely overnight stay! We would definitely book again.

We will definitely be returning. The lady on reception was so warm and welcoming. The room we stayed in was immaculate, clean and comfy. The location is ideal 5min walk and your in the town or at the pier. Room was very warm, shower nice and hot, couldn’t fault it at all really. We will be returning.

The bay hotel has been newly refurbished and is a great place to stay in Southwold. The rooms are spacious and very comfortable. The location is ideal for exploring Southwold itself. There is no food or drink currently available, but there is plenty of choice nearby. Overall i enjoyed the stay and it was good value.

Lovely place, beautifully presented, clean and tidy. Would definitely stay again

The Bay is an excellent makeover of the Old decaying Blyth Hotel that used to be on this site. The new owners have spent a lot of money, with considerable care…it could perhaps benefit from some more personal touches, but I quibble and it is excellent value.

We had a lovely stay at the Bay Hotel. The room & on-suite felt very spacious, luxurious, fresh and beautifully decorated. A nice surprise to see a good selection of drink and snack selection. Once we figured the key-code entry, for both hotel and our room, checking in was easy and convenient. The only issue we had was the # looked smaller inside a lock icon & more difficult too see. A visual photo to circle this would probably be helpful. We would definitely book again. Thank you

We had a lovely recent stay at the Bay Hotel with my partner and our dogs, enjoying Southwold and the surrounding area The hotel was spotless, comfortable and excellent value for money We will be back and would recommend to anyone else

Very comfortable and clean, close to all amenities, thank you

We really enjoyed our stay at The Bay Hotel. Friendly staff, fabulous large room with great shower, nicely decorated and very comfy bed. There was plenty of parking and the location is superb. We will definitely be back.

Beautiful, clean and spacious room. Highly recommended.

This is a lovely hotel, well situated in the High Street of Southwold. The decor is modern, the rooms are very clean and the amenities are high quality. There is ample parking behind the hotel, and it’s a short 10 mins walk to the beach. We will definitely be visiting again.

Had a fantastic one night stay. Lovely clean, large room for 2 adults and one child. Great facilities in the room with tea/coffee/hot chocolate/bottles of water and a small kitchenette. Would definitely stay here again. A great addition to Southwold.

A lovely old building, beautifully refurbished. Large, comfortable, well-equipped room (Saxon). Friendly, helpful staff. Parking. Good location. Breakfast isn't served but available at plenty of places in the town.

Had a very comfortable stay at The Bay. Super clean, well equipped rooms, easy check in and check out. Definitely would go back.

My wife and I spent the night at The Bay Hotel the day after our wedding as a little mini-moon, and it was absolutely perfect from start to finish. Booking was straightforward, and Patrick went above and beyond to make sure everything was just right for us. We reserved a suite for ourselves and three rooms for our family, and every single one was excellent value for money. The rooms were spotless, comfortable, and beautifully decorated — modern but still full of character that reflects the history of the building. The lady at reception was welcoming and couldn’t have been more helpful, which made the whole experience feel really personal. It was the ideal place to relax after such a special day. We were both so impressed and will definitely be coming back. Huge thanks to Patrick and the team for making our stay unforgettable!

We enjoyed our stay at the Bay Hotel and it was great to find a well located hotel that allowed us to bring our two dogs and had a walk-in shower that suited my disabled husband. He struggled a little with the staircase but the room was perfect with lots of space and a comfortable bed. Car parking on site was also handy and we were able to find an EV charger not far away.

Stayed 6-9th October. 10/10 Room fabulous and so spacious.spotlessly clean. Booked a double but upgraded to a suite which was very much appreciated. Comfy bed, nice little extra touches in room and night cap drink on reception. Lovely staff. We look forward to coming back.

Patrick and his team have made a great job of the renovations, our room was clean and very comfortable. All the staff we came into contact with couldn’t have been more helpful. Perfect location for visiting Southend and will definitely be back.

Super location. Really enjoyed my 2 night stay here. Staffed for part of the day and the staff are lovely.

We had a very well appointed large room with super quality bathroom. This lovely old hotel is being tastefully refurbished. We have known it for 50+ years and are so pleased that new owners have a passion to restore it to its former glory

Rooms appeared to have been recently refreshed and were to a good standard. The WiFi didn't reach out room but otherwise no complaints. Would stay again.

The Victorian property has been beautifully restored and Southwold is stunning. The property is walking distance to restaurants and cafes. Large bedrooms and modern bathrooms.