A NEW CONCEPT IN DOG FRIENDLY HOTELS IN SCARBOROUGH

Scarborough is unique in that it must be one of the very few resorts that can boast two very contrasting bays within a short walk of each other.

The South Bay has everything one would expect of a typical traditional seaside resort and more. It’s perfect bucket and spade territory with golden sands, safe water and deckchairs.

The North Bay  in complete contrast is wild with a rocky coastline and is popular with surfers.

The resort enjoys the reputation of being the original English seaside resort with its popularity with visitors going back to the early 17^th century. As a Spa town the resort was popular with the Victorians who have left their mark.

On Cliff Bridge Terrace you will find Scarborough’s newest hotel concept – The Bike and Boot.

Originally The Mount Hotel this impressive white washed Victorian building with wrought iron balconies was built in 1842 and stands proudly overlooking The Spa,  Valley Bridge and The South Bay and boasts some of the best views of Scarborough from its windows.

Once the haunt of Victorians coming to take the Spa waters now the hotel has a very different mantle – a new take on a funky seaside budget hotel with its own agenda.

For at the Bike and Boot you can bring your dog who will enjoy unlimited access to all parts of the hotel and even wash and groom Fido in the special facilities provided. But its  not all about your dog. If you want to get on your bike around Scarborough it has a bike storage and wash  area with brushes,  whilst for surfers there’s  a place to store your boards plus great drying facilities.

The hotel provides many extras included in the price such as free cake from 4.00pm with your cuppa, free parking – a particular boon in Scarborough and a film club that shows three films a day!

Arriving at the hotel on a mid-week afternoon we were fortunate to bag one of the parking spaces outside the hotel which we could keep with our special ticket until l.00pm the next day.

We easily found the nearest entrance to reception and were greeted with a lovely welcome. The reception is light and airy and decorated with bikes, helmets and ordinance survey maps – so different from the reception of the The Mount in the early 20’s  that my gran used to talk about with a stuffed parrot, potted palms, leather chairs, a receptionist with a lorgnette and hall porter who always wore tails!!!

The whole of the ground floor has been expertly planned so you can go from room to room  through eclectic changing décor until you end up in the restaurant.

There’s a beautifully furnished lounge with lots of sofas, chairs and elegant tables complete with board games, books and even places to plug in your laptop plus a 24/7 coffee machine and tea making facilities.  Its plush but yet has a touch of contemporary quirky elegance and the long polished wood bar with its high stools wouldn’t look out of place in any trendy top hotel.

Check in was seamless and both of us who are seasoned world travellers were impressed.  But when we exited the lift to our room we became a little confused by the décor.

We have both stayed at some very modern and quirky hotels in our jobs but what we saw was a car crash of interior décor. I love bright colours but the dull institutional green and garish orange made the place look cheap and nasty. Had some cosmetic work been done to the doors, the wallpaper that was obviously painted over it would have worked, but it looked like a do-it-yourself disaster. With a little more thought it could have been so different.

Our room was what we expected  with great views over the valley bridge, a fridge, a much appreciated expresso machine, pale oak furniture, exposed light bulbs and an open hanging space.  Instead of curtains a deckchair print blind, which didn’t really do its job keeping out the light or noise., but the bed was ultra comfortable.

However the bathroom was dark and dingy with a shower, plenty of toiletries but had a strange stainless steel small sink. I have seen these before but not in hotels especially of this calibre.

Dinner at the Bike and Boot is in the Bareca Restaurant again with lovely views. There is a no book policy and you just turn up between the designated hours.

A pre-dinner drink was in order and the range of cocktails is really amazing,and I can say I really know my cocktails having sipped them at hotels from the Savoy to Raffles in Singapore and the hotel’s mixologist is one of the best . I tried the Yorkshire Garibaldi with Masons Yorkshire Tea Gin, Campari and Orange Juice and it was perfection in a glass. The taste of the Campari was not dulled by the Gin and the orange gave it a kick – the only trouble was they hadn’t any Garibaldi biscuits – which it should be according to the menu  – served with but I didn’t care I loved it without.

We made our way into the restaurant which was not busy at all with only a handful of guests. I expected that the rest of the hotel had exhausted themselves during a days surfing, dog walking or cycling and had taken to their beds early.

We waited about 20 minutes to be served and were very impressed with the menu and decided to order starts and mains together.

Our Charcuterie Sharer consisting of a delicious ham hock terrine, salami Milano, Prosciutto, Spiniata Picante, with two delicious home made chutneys and a palatable flat bread. Good value and very well presented.

My partners main of Sirloin Steak was succulent and tender although it came with the wrong sauce whilst my Bareca burger was absolutely splendid smooth and cooked to my liking. The garnish was fresh and the bacon, cheese and fries made it a real feast. We asked for more cutlery but it never arrived and I ended up taking some from another table before our food went cold.

Our meal was really going well until we wanted to order dessert when somehow the restaurant became void of servers and the poor chef behind the counter had to shout three times for service as another guests sweets languished on the serving hatch for a period of over 25 minutes. In the end my partner went to the bar to order our dessert.

These teething troubles I presume will all be sorted out and reflect the hospitality  staff shortages after Covid.

However when my heaven on a plate did arrive in the form of a Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae it was well worth waiting for as was my partner’s Lemon sorbet.

Breakfast is continental style with a limited choice of uninspiring cold and hot food with only the hot being boiled eggs and waffles. But the pastries make up for what else is lacking.

The Bike and Boot is a wonderful concept for dog owners and I am sure when it sorts out its teething troubles it will be house full with visitors to Scarborough. It’s the kind of hotel we need to see more of it really is dog friendly in every sense of the word.

The Bike and Boot, Cliff Bridge Terrace, Scarborough YO11 2HA. Tel: 01723 655555. Visit: www.bikeandboot.com to book on line.

LIZ COGGINS IS A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH GUILD OF TRAVEL WRITERS