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Where the Rivers' Fal and Percuil meet to join the open sea, St Mawes boasts the perfect picture postcard retreat and at the heart of the village, right on the quay you will find the Ship and Castle Hotel. Once The Ship and Castle Inn, and a warren of small fishermen's cottages (remnants of which can still be seen at the rear of the existing building) The Ship and Castle is now a 54 bedroom hotel with all the charm and character one would expect for its location. Our bar and lounges offer the perfect location for a peaceful day in St Mawes watching the world go by, or enjoying a traditional Cornish Cream Tea. We have a selection of sea view rooms which understandably are in high demand and are well recommended to make your stay that little bit more special.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Mid-range
Location
The Quay, St Mawes TR2 5DG England
Ship and Castle Hotel
3.5 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Ship and Castle Hotel garners a blend of feedback. Patrons commend the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms, yet some have encountered cleanliness lapses and insufficient towels. While the amenities boast comfortable settings with impressive views, there are mentions of maintenance neglect.
Opinions on value diverge, with the cost being reasonable for some but disappointing for others, considering the service and amenities. The staff's friendliness is acknowledged, despite grievances about communication and facility upkeep. Although room decor is sometimes criticized as outdated, the overall atmosphere is dampened by less vibrant communal spaces.
Atmosphere
Uninviting
Rooms
Neglected
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Underwhelming
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Visited the Ship and Castle for a long weekend trip, via Booking.com. Left feeling disappointed by the general air of what seemed like ‘end of season blues’. The staff seem worn out and disinterested and the ‘superior’ room was worn out and shabby too. Paint patchy and peeling off the wall, carpet worn out, scribbled note onto the windows frame instructing us not to open it ever because it was broken. The bathroom was clean and toiletries were provided but the water pressure was dreadful and showering took ages. The room was clean but just less than we were hoping for, when there didn’t appear to be anything better on offer. Breakfast was poor and therefore avoided on the last morning in favour of a more modern offering in the bakery downstairs. There was also a lack of information about things (car parking, breakfast times, evening dining times). This hotel could be great, it has fabulous views and is in a lovely location in this traditional Cornish village, but it’s just a missed opportunity. Would not stay there again.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Parking is in the village car park around the corner and up the hill
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bernie Korycki, General Manager at Ship and Castle Hotel
Responded 13 Sept 2022
Thank you for taking the time to share the experience of your stay at The Ship & Castle Hotel on TripAdvisor. I am sorry to read that there were some elements of your stay that met with your dissatisfaction. Please accept my apologies for any shortcomings. Please be assured that I am taking your comments on board and will act upon it for the benefit of our future guests. Should you wish to discuss any aspects of your stay in greater detail please do not hesitate to contact me direct at the hotel. Kind regards, Bernie Korycki
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Room allocated did not have a good view of the harbour which we thought we would have had as we upgraded. Remedied immediately by a very helpful receptionist and swift housekeepers who pulled together quickly sort the room. View was excellent day and night (I watched a heron land on a rowing boat and fish for his midnight feast). Food was good and Barman had an excellent knowledge of the area and wonderful sense of humour.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Car park is a short walk away and reasonably priced. Loading for 30 mins outside the hotel...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bernie Korycki, General Manager at Ship and Castle Hotel
Responded 1 Jul 2023
On behalf of the team I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for writing a favourable review of our hotel on TripAdvisor following your recent stay. Your feedback is very much appreciated and we are grateful to you for your kind words of praise. I look forward to welcoming you back in the near future. Kind regards, Bernie Korycki
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It’s intriguing …. this hotel has stunning views BUT …… We arrived to find a sign on reception desk saying the kitchen was closed so no dinner available (yes I appreciate low occupancy but really we could have been notified before we arrived?) No heating in the bathroom - apparently none of the bathrooms have heated towel rails that work Adequate only ‘deluxe sea view room’ - no biscuits / wall mounted soaps etc / small rooms Plus has to be the asset of the 2 lovely female staff on duty behind bar & reception - try not to loose them ship & castle otherwise your reviews will be even more ‘spikey’ than mine !! Overall this hotel does not at all play to its assets
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Go for location location location but not hotel is only like a good B&B
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bernie Korycki, General Manager at Ship and Castle Hotel
Responded 8 Mar 2024
I am sorry to read that you did not fully enjoy your stay at Ship & Castle Hotel. We strive to ensure that all guests enjoy their time with us and I will take your comments on board to ensure they are properly addressed. Please feel free to get in contact with me directly through the hotel should you wish to discuss matters further and I do hope we can welcome you back to our hotel in the future to show you the improvements we have made. Best wishes, Bernie Korycki
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Booked via lastminute.com for a midweek break. We were charged for the room upon arrival, despite having paid online prior to our trip. This was refunded when we provided proof of payment. We booked a double room, and were given a twin. The reception team said they would have a double cleaned, and would collect us from the originally assigned twin room. After waiting 40 minutes, we enquired with the reception team - who then advised us that they did not have an available double room for the duration of our stay. We expressed our disappointment, and requested a good will gesture, which they said that they would look into. We did not receive a good will gesture or any compensation, and no staff communicated with us about this during our stay. The room was fine, clean and the beds were comfortable. The room had poor sound insulation and the water pressure in the shower was low. We did not eat here as St Mawes has lots of food/drink options. The hotel was serviceable for the price. Note for future guests, there isn’t a car park but the St Mawes car park is nearby and reasonably priced.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bernie Korycki, General Manager at Ship and Castle Hotel
Responded 14 Sept 2024
Thank you for sharing your feedback following your recent stay with us. I sincerely apologize for the inconveniences you encountered during your visit, particularly regarding the booking confusion and room allocation. I understand how frustrating it must have been to be charged again upon arrival despite having already paid online. I am glad we were able to resolve this, but it is clear that this should not have happened in the first place. I also deeply regret the mix-up with your room type and the miscommunication that followed. We should have been more transparent with you, and I apologize for the lack of follow-up regarding your request for a goodwill gesture. While I’m pleased to hear that the room itself was clean and comfortable, I’m sorry that the sound insulation and shower pressure were not up to standard. Your feedback has been shared with our team so we can make improvements in these areas for future guests. I truly appreciate your patience and understanding, and we hope you’ll give us another opportunity to provide you with the seamless and enjoyable experience you deserve. If you do decide to stay with us again, please feel free to contact me directly so I can personally ensure your stay is as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Thank you again for your valuable feedback, and I hope we can welcome you back in the future. Warm regards, Bernie Korycki
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Superb location right on the waterfront, with amazing views over the sea and the harbour below.
We had a Premier room which offered a balcony with table and chairs and views over the harbour.
Our room was warm, modern and well maintained. With a large flat screen TV (with basic Channels)
Parking is limited in the car park opposite by the harbour, far better to park in the main car park which is 5 mins walk away and £6 for 24 hours.
The restaurant offered a limited menu £20 for Two courses, £23 for three courses, the food was of a good quality and the dining room has large windows overlooking the beach / harbour.
The hotel is probably the best location in St Mawes, is also right next door to the Victory Pub (but no noise from it)
At night we were able to open our balcony doors and listen to the sea lapping in the harbour, the road and surroundings are pretty much silent from around 10.30pm and all you can hear is the sea.
The village is very popular and you need to keep this in mind when planning your evening meal as if you're not eating in the hotel surrounding venues get fully booked very quickly. We didn't have problems and were able to eat as we wished and try various venues.
It really is an idyllic position and St Mawes is accessed by a good road (Which is a nice change for Cornwall which has some narrow lanes)
There is also plenty going on, from the local rowing club rowing around the harbour, and many locals & tourists jumping from the harbour walls into the Sea.
Also the sea walls were lined with parents and their children with Crab lines, and most seemed to catch some, Probably not large enough to eat, but the larger crabs can be purchased from the stall on the harbour.
There is also a bakery restaurant beneath the hotel that offers a good selection of cakes etc.
It was great to sit on the balcony and watch the various ferries come and go as well as various other activities, it really was quite a lively village with plenty going on, mainly around the beach / harbour or of course eating / drinking.
The hotel has a nice bar and this was well stocked and popular in the evenings.
Staff at the hotel were friendly and efficient, we experienced no issues at all.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:First floor Premier rooms offer a nice balcony and sea views.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where do we start! St Mawes is a beautiful little harbour village but what a huge disappointment the hotel was. Unkept, dirty paintwork, big holes in the carpets. Our room smelt musty. The 3 nights we stayed there, despite asking and hanging the appropriate sign on the door, requesting our room to be serviced, it was not. Each day we were having to ask for clean towels and one night we were told that they could not give us any bath towels because their delivery of towels would not be until the following day. Having insisted that we needed towels for a shower they provided us with 2 hand towels. Breakfast was poor. The quality of the fruit provided was several days past its best. Being a well travelled couple, neither of us can remember being so disappointed in a hotel. Having paid almost £350 for a 3 night stay, we expected, at the very least, a clean, well presented hotel, not one that looks like it’s been neglected for years.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bernie Korycki, General Manager at Ship and Castle Hotel
Responded 16 Aug 2024
Dear Cath I am sorry to hear that there was an issue with your room. We run regular maintenance checks on all rooms, but sometimes new issues occur. We have a maintenance worker at the hotel daily, so all issues should be dealt with promptly if reported. I can only apologise for the inconvenience caused and hope it didn't cause too much impact to your stay. Kind Regards, General Manager, Ship & Castle
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Just returned from a short stay organised by our daughters for our golden wedding and the hotel knew it was a special occasion as it was stated on the paperwork.
Room (101) at first looked ok apart from the view, we looked onto the bins etc. Furniture etc all looked fairly new but o0n trying the shower you had to have liposuction before you could get through the door. I know I am not skinny but even my husband struggled.
Only small shampoo provided, no shower gel or conditioner which in most hotels is standard. No drier either. Nice toilet roll holder but roll did not fit on so just plonked on windowsill.
The worst was come betime, it was a very warm night and you needed the windows open but the room/apartment facing our bedroom window had all doors and windows open and people were chatting and laughing very loudly until 1 am. I closed the window which made the room very hot to soften the noise but as the window glass did not even fit in the windows properly it wasn't much help. It did not look like a hotel room as it was a tip inside it, not even sure it belonged to the hotel, maybe staff quarters.
The price per night was £152.10 and I have stayed in better rooms at Premier Inn etc for £30 a night. I just hope my daughters don't see this review as they would be upset that their gift was not up to standard but feel other people should be aware.
I will finish on some positives, the hotel is in a fantastic location and the breakfast was lovely, bath towels were huge too, shame about the rest.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bit of a faulty towers going on here , very hit and miss . Our room was nice , great views filthy balcony . Paid for champagne to be in the room when we arrived as a birthday suprise and got Prosecco . Birthday banners a nice touch . Thought we would stay and have a meal in the hotel in the evening , sat down at a table that was pointed to us ( over there ) room temperature water on the table and no drinks offered to us by the waitress which you like to have when having a meal in the evening. Ordered the starters and mains and out came the starters in less than two minutes ( weird ) a bit too quick for my liking . Anyway my calamari was disgusting and looked like someone had scraped a chunk of skin off their foot and fried it in breadcrumbs, the pakoras were nothing like they should of been . Left the dining room after telling the waiter we weren’t going to eat that and no apology from him . Went to the manager and asked for the food to not be put on our bill and that we had Prosecco and not champagne and he again no apology . He offered to take the price of the breakfast off the bill saving us £20 . We ended up in the sports bar with two freshly cooked pizzas watching football not what we expected to do on my birthday which was a surprise for me and a lot of effort by my husband but let down by the hospitality and management of this hotel and the Idle rocks Hotel around the corner ,,, shame on you both your attitude stinks . Iv taken a photo of the calamari,,, disgusting .
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christopher Meadows, General Manager at Ship and Castle Hotel
Responded 3 May 2022
Dear T, Many thanks for taking the time to write a review of your stay. I am very sorry to read that on this occasion we appear to have fallen below the high standards we like to offer all of our guests. We are unable to offer drinks at the table as we are so short staffed, it isn't something we like to do, unfortunately we have no other option. As for your meal, we get a lot of good feedback and compliments. If you were unhappy at any point if you had alerted the server, s/he would of certainly ensured that you were given another option from the menu, that you might of enjoyed. If memory serves, I did apologize and as such offered to take the price of the breakfast off the final bill as recompense for the Prosecco/Champagne mix up. Your feedback is very important to us so that we can address any shortcomings and ensure they are not repeated. if you wish to discuss your stay, or your feedback further, please don't hesitate in contacting me at the hotel.
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Stayed at the Ship and Castle for two nights. Lovely location right by the water and staff were very friendly. We stayed in a Standard Double room, unfortunately the mattress was very uncomfortable and didn’t make for a peaceful nights sleep. The water pressure from the shower was also very poor.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bernie Korycki, General Manager at Ship and Castle Hotel
Responded 18 Sept 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write a review of our hotel on TripAdvisor following your recent stay. I am pleased to read that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you found (nearly) everything to your satisfaction. We very much appreciate your comments and please be assured that your review has already been passed onto the team for them all to see. We certainly hope to see you return in the future and until then please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further assistance. Kind regards, Bernie Korycki
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We paid and extra £80.00 for an upgraded sea view room It was a horrible room Paint peeling, a view of a roof and chimney. The hotel head office considered this as a sea view room, we did not. The operations manager at the hotel also agreed with us that we had not received an upgraded room. I can only liken this room to the worst we have ever stayed in as a backstreet b&b in Blackpool with canvas on the floor, if any of you know what canvas is. The people on our coach who had not paid extra had better sea views and rooms than ours. The only saving grace for this hotel in that the bed was comfortable and the linen very clean.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bernie Korycki, General Manager at Ship and Castle Hotel
Responded 28 Aug 2023
Thank you for taking the time to share the experience of your stay at the Ship and Castle Hotel on TripAdvisor. I am sorry to read that there were some elements of your stay that met with your dissatisfaction. Please accept my apologies for the mentioned problems. Please be assured that I am taking your comments on board and will act upon it for the benefit of our future guests. Should you wish to discuss any aspects of your stay in greater detail please do not hesitate to contact me direct at the hotel. Kind regards, Bernie Korycki
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Gloucester, United Kingdom26 contributions12 helpful votes
There is a lift and my 92 year old mother in law,managed but the floor in the dining room had a lot of levels so she struggledcas iwrtially sited. The hotel worked very hatd to assist though. Not sure acwheelchair woukd manage but on sticks ok.
Hi the main car park is about 500 mts away from the hotel it cost me as an OAP £30 for the 7 days money paid at the machine.
I must say we didn’t move the car very much so depending how busy it is you might have to wait for a space when you come back in. We used local buses and the ferry to get about.
Hope this helps.
Glossop, United Kingdom3 contributions4 helpful votes
I couldn't answer the question on room choice with a numbered room, some of the rooms have a sea view, the one I stayed in doesn't, but was still a nice room.
Parking is limited in this area, and legal street parking is the best option. I do not know what parking, if any, the hotel provides.
St. Mawes is an unspoilt village that is pressed against the sea by the hills behind.
We served a wide variety of Bottles Cornish real ales sourced from Skinner's Brewery in Truro.
There is a hair dryer supplied in each room.
Regards
Matt Reed
Assistant Manager
The Ship & Castle Hotel
There are more places to choose from in the St Mawes area.
PRICE RANGE
S$105 - S$167 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandCornwallTruro DistrictRoseland PeninsulaSt Mawes
NUMBER OF ROOMS
54
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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