The Grotto

Location: Coast Road, South Shields, gb

Star Rating: 7.9 Stars

Property Type: Inns

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Check-out: 10:30 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Non-smoking rooms
• Lift / Elevator
• Non-smoking throughout
• Kid meals
• Cashless payment available

Rooms Available

• Standard King Room

  This double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a TV with cable channels and sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Satellite channels

• Standard Twin Room with Sea View

  The twin room has sea views. The unit has 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Hair dryer

• Triple Room with Shower

  This triple room provides a tea and coffee maker, a TV and sea views. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer

• Deluxe Double Room with Bath

  This double room features a tea and coffee maker, a TV with cable channels and sea views. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Satellite channels

• Superior King Room

  This double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a TV with cable channels and sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Satellite channels

• Standard Twin Room with Sea View

  This twin room provides a tea and coffee maker, a TV and sea views. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Desk

• King Room

  This double room features an electric kettle and tea/coffee maker. Please note this room is in a living cave and therefore has no windows or view and may not be suitable for some guests. Please bear this in mind when booking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Satellite channels

• Double Room

  This double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a TV with cable channels and sea views. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Satellite channels

• Double Room

  This double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a TV with cable channels and sea views. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Satellite channels

• Superior Double Room

  This double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a TV with cable channels and sea views. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Satellite channels

Guest Reviews

• Hui Fang (10/5): Nice place to stay just to relax after a long working day ! - Most beautiful location and view !! Super friendly staffs Thanks Blake and Steve !! You have been brilliant 🫶 Poor internet signal
• Snugglywuggly (10/5): Strange spooky scary but wonderful! - Everything. The unusual setting, the weird and wonderful underground bar and restaurant the magnificent view. The crashing sound of the waves on the beach. The staff come up to the car to greet you take you to read the rules and regulations of being underground. The history and then the room. We decided against the bedroom in the cavern. Too haunted and scary for me, so chose a lovely bright room further up the cliff. The staff were all young and exceptionally nice. Particularly Anna. The whole experience was unforgettable and the food outstanding. Nothing....well maybe being so far underground !
• Hui Fang (10/5): It’s an amazing experience and the view is incredible! - Super friendly staffs ! Bit cold in the night and heater is not strong enough
• Maughan (10/5): - The most amazing location for those who want a beautiful but natural coast right outside the accommodation. Stayed one night but wished I could have stayed longer. The location was outstanding, the beach (very clean and unspolit with rock pools, sea birds, caves sand and rocks), local industrial history and coastal walks, the accommodation was comfortable, clean and super interesting. The pub/resturant was lovely and we ate our dinner in a cave. The staff were lovely and the parking was £3 a night. . Nothing, it was great
• Verena (8/5): Lovely stay - The location and sea view from our room All good
• Chris (10/5): -
• Russell (9/5): - The whole place is unique and full of character - falling asleep to the sound of the sea was beautiful. Lovely dinner in the restaurant, beers were grand and bed was comfy. Breakfast was fine but needed a proper coffee and a bit more variety to really hit the spot.
• Steven (9/5): Stunning sea views - The location by the sea is incredible. Beautiful scenery and lots of birds. Room was very nice. Only minor thing was we couldn't find a remote control for the TV but it was probably stolen and the staff would have got a replacement if we'd have been desperate but didn't need the TV with the stunning sea views.
• Nicole hawes (1/5): - Very little Room was tiny bed was as hard as a rock
• Darren (8/5): Blake was super friendly and very informative. Room was really nice and bed was really comfortable. - Lovely location and staff were really friendly and couldn’t do enough for you . Cleaning could have been better. The main attraction was the windows and glass balcony overlooking the beach but both were dirty.
• holliday (5/5): - Friendly, helpful staff, view from terrace lovely Kerb appeal disappointing. Tired and drab. Lift access closed 10pm , steps to hotel out of action, if you wanted to come back late you had to walk 1/2 mile to the other steps then access hotel by the beach, in the dark tide permitting. So had to be back in hotel before 10pm. Shower cold slow and water kept stopping, restaurant closed to to private function, so could only eat in the bar, the restaurant was to be part of the experience.
• Victoria (10/5): Wonderful - Loved the view, staff were great
• Abbi (9/5): The Grotto is a true hidden gem! - The Grotto did not disappoint! I booked this for my partner’s birthday. We booked the deluxe room with the bath. It was absolutely wonderful with a sea view! The shower was also massive! Blake, behind the bar, was exceptional! He even offered us a look at the cave room with an option to switch. We didn’t want to miss the sea view so opted to stay with our booked room but next time we have said we’d like to try the cave room as it is so unique! Yes, there are cobwebs! Yes, it can give off moisture being half cave! What do you expect?! It is combining the natural with the synthetic. It all adds character to the property and stay! Steve, the chef was also incredibly helpful! He let us in via the lift just past 10 which was much appreciated! The food is also gorgeous! Highly recommend the seafood chowder! It is on the pricey side, however, the portions are massive and the food is of good quality and taste. You pay for the experience. There’s no other in the north east quite like it! We even ended up booking an extra night because we loved it that much! We definitely will be staying again! My partner could not get over the view! We had a nice stroll along the beach and explored the caves too during the day. On the evening, we went to seaburn to the Stack and the next night, we enjoyed a comedian, Stuart Mitchell, at the Tyne opera house. He was also extraordinary! The Grotto is a true hidden gem! I would have loved if the sea view room had a more nautical theme to the decor but you can see they have tried to go with a glam theme.
• Jenny (10/5): My fav place - THE BATH! THE ROOM! THE VIEWS! My fav place I've ever stayed and can't stop thinking about it 😍 I'll defo be back. Will be hard to find a place that tops this one. I loved it so much 😁 the staff lovely too. Decent breakfast That I was only there for one night 😭
• Jervis (10/5): Lovely stay celebrating my friends birthday - This place is lovely. Right on the pebbly beach, access is mainly by a lift. Rooms spacious and we had a fantastic view of the sea and beach. Staff were all friendly and professional. Food was amazing. There is nothing to not like
• James (9/5): - The complete stay as a whole. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The cod was cooked to perfection In room 5 - The shower unit was small and the water was not very powerful. The tv was very frustrating as the ariel strength/wifi was weak causing the channels to crash. Having to keep switching wifi to retain stronger coverage within the building was frustrating
• Maxwell (10/5): - The whole experience was amazing 👏 Nothing everything was exceptional
• mark (7/5): Really enjoyed it - Great location, nice friendly staff.. Food fairly decent, room lovely and clean. Wasn't to blown Away by my starter, No reception to check in..
• Laith (10/5): -
• Robin (8/5): Lovely place 2nd time of staying would go again. - Location Location Location superb. Helpful staff went above and beyond expectations Room was a cold so had a heater given to us
• Sutherland (4/5): Not happy - The private beach I paid for room 6 and they moved us to room 9 which was tiny compared to what we paid for, we had to take all of our stuff out of room 9 because they double booked not happy at all then we got locked in the handle came off the exit door.. nightmare
• Cindy (8/5): Anniversary treat - Lovely place to stay. Great experience. The staff were really friendly and welcoming. Food in the restaurant was lovely. Definitely be back very soon. The car parking was a bit expensive considering half the carpark was flooded the other half was full of potholes
• Gary (8/5): -
• O'Hagan (9/5): -
• Roger (4/5): The whole place is disjointed apart from one barmaid the rest of the staff have no idea I had to clean our tables so we - The location We could not see out of the glass doors in our room they were filthy and hadn’t been cleaned in a long time £220 paid for this room I’d of liked a refund tbh
• Deborah (5/5): Beautiful setting and views - No cups in room. Coffee, sugar tree empty. Dirty towels left on the back of the bathroom door full of dirt and makeup
• Mike (1/5): Very poor; dirty rooms. Poor standard of fittings. Drunken guest . Vermin problem. -
• LUCY (10/5): -
• Katie (1/5): Great place needs a professional taking over - Location fab It was dirty really bad I didn’t eat because of the hygiene risk
• Corri (8/5): The stay was lovely apart for outside area. - The hotel was lovely, situated in good place The outside area was very untidy bin overflowing tables left with empty glasses and rubbish left on them.
• Kirsty (10/5): - Visited with friends last year loved it that much we booked again this year and again next year
• Michaela (10/5): Fab location & lovely home from home stay - Simple regular choice - perfect Windows cleaned & shiny to enjoy the view more although thousands of daily seagulls & sea winds etc
• Ingham (10/5): -
• chadd (10/5): -
• Sami (10/5): - Beautiful place ideal for weekend away. Lovely views of the sea x
• Malissa (5/5): - I likes the views, food was brilliant, cocktails were exceptional. And staff were lovely. - no reception for TV channels - hot water for the shower was not even hot. I could not have a hot shower. It was cold.
• Jean (5/5): Ok for one night, to see the view - Location Heating didn’t work properly, restaurant poor, staff inexperienced. No one present in the building after 10pm and before 8am.
• David (4/5): wouldnt return - room wasnt worth the money i think the lift had more space bed was terrible springs sticking in our back . empty pop bottles behind bedside tables
• Gemma (6/5): View was mint but not the room cpiks do with a clean - The view was lush Room were not very clean dust every we're haven't been hoovered was stuff all over floor bed was tiny and breakfast was shite no hot water the lass didn't have the hot water tank thong plugged In for a cup tea
• Timothy (1/5): disappointing , worst breakfast experience ever - the location conceivably the worse breakfast we’ve experienced ever in a hotel…. the whole place needs a deep clean the bathroom was a joke and we had to wait 15 minutes for the water to run hot in the shower , the mattress was cheap and uncomfortable as were the pillows and the duvet was too small for the bed. There was only one bedside lamp which was covered with dust. The room smelt of drains as mentioned in previous reviews we hadn’t read the reviews as we booked that morning to visit South Shilelds on a whim to see friends . the breakfast as stated in previous reviews also was appallingly bad. stale pastries , the cheapest boxed boxed juices imaginable, one tatty stale white loaf for toast the water boiler was stone cold so we couldn’t make tea and the coffee was so bad we went to the bar and asked for proper coffees for which we were charged . Our room was a £145 (superior!) last minute one so i dread to think how bad the cheaper rooms available are . Since staying we have read the other reviews which means management have been made aware and done nothing which is a shame as the location is amazing and unique and this place could be so much better with some effort a final note , the lift is shut at 10 pm you have to access the hotel down the steep steps to the beach which were poorly maintained and badly lit .
• SebastianJolie (8/5): - Het mooie uitzicht Het ontbijt was wat karig, weimig keuze. Maar we waren ook buiten het seizoen, het was er erg rustig.
• Beverley (10/5): -
• David (8/5): -
• Mike (8/5): - The room and location Breakfast could have been better for the price
• Julie (7/5): We had a lovely time , staff were fabulous , just needs a bit of TLC - Beautiful views , really nice decor Room 5 had loose toilet seat ,cold tap was also very loose and no hot water for shower, had to ask for plates dishes bread at breakfast , nothing was topped up , not enough milk and tea in the room
• Steven (5/5): - Room was lovely, but very cold unfortunately especially in the en suite Continental breakfast was very sparce for the price , no yogart, jams , eggs only cerials, pastry pineapple and coffee
• Peter (8/5): Enjoyed it loads but rooms definitely need a cleaner - It was very unique and romantic Place was clean but the room wasn’t
• Kathleen (9/5): Good stay would go again - In an amazing location and lovely staff A few things like towels not in room first night. Heating intermittent.
• Peter (8/5): - Quirky hotel Slightly basic
• Helen (8/5): Tranquil - It was on the sea front and very peaceful. Staff very friendly and happy to help. Second room was clean and fresh. First room wasn't made up. Changed rooms so no issue. Have to also pay for parking, which I felt should be in with the price.
• Adams (9/5): -
• Gary (10/5): -
• Gary (8/5): - Lovely location and excellent staff The staff and the beach
• AJGiddins (7/5): -
• Mark (8/5): -
• Neicho (9/5): -
• Julian (10/5): Need the doors sorting where the rooms are, they was banging every time someone opened them , like 7 in the morning -
• James (8/5): - Lovely location nice easy drive to workplace Still waiting for an invoice 2 months later
• AMANDA (10/5): Perfect setting. Perfect hotel.Beautiful inside. - This hotel and setting is so special.It has breathtaking views.The hotel and takes your breath away.Inside is beautiful.Unique and mind blowing. Definately everything i hoped it would be.AND MORE. We had room number 1 .Its absolutely beautiful inside but it wasnt really cleaned properly.A lot of dust and the bed mattress has springs sticking into you.It wasnt a comfortable sleep at all.I think a new mattress is needed (a premier inn mattress)and just really more attention to detail.Hopefully when we return it will have a new mattress.
• Karen (7/5): - FABULOUS LOCATION. Great staff . Great continental breakfast Should have been warned re parking cost,/situation prior to deaperture. Shame both rooms had no hot water in the bathroom. despite mentioning to staff..
• Cari (8/5): -
• Christine (4/5): Knew what we expected due to earlier stay but spoilt by above listed niggless - The location was very good Gluten free breakfast very poor.Restaurant could only offer 1 choice gluten free due to lack of appropriate batter and/ or fryer. Bed was so uncomfortable, could feel springs, the shower head was filthy. Automatic bathroom light,good idea but impractical.Can be left sat in darkness! Toilet seat loose.
• Christine (8/5): Overnight stay arranged as gift for wedding anniversary. Venue spectacular let down by food - Location excellent and sea views exceptional Continental breakfast poor . Bread for toast had mould on it and no staff available to inform and request more.brought. Evening meal fine though no lobster in dish ordered which was disappointing
• Angela (10/5): Highly recommend - Staff were lovely welcoming and friendly, very quirky and unique hotel Perfect location The bar closes at 10pm
• Lisa (5/5): - Got downgraded The room we booked
• Mark (6/5): - Lovely location Cold shower. Dirty windows sensor light in bathroom
• Steven (10/5): Hidden gem - The scenery was beautiful it's a hidden gem the staff were great and a very relaxed environment
• Andrea (9/5): -
• Sarah (10/5): - Everything is amazing with this hotel we stay here often wouldn't stay any were else. Nothing to dislike everything is amazing
• Amanda (6/5): Fantastic views - thats about it - The location and views are just stunning! Absolutely beautiful. Oh my - this was our anniversary so a treat away for the night. Whilst you couldn't want for a more perfect location, steeped in history with fantastic outlooks, that is where the best parts stop. The room was very, very small. One side of the bed have obviously been favoured, as there was a massive slope to one side, meaning a very uncomfortable nights sleep. The carpet was dirty and there were wrappers and bits under the bed too. We had booked in for a meal for our anniversary, my husband had the Surf and Turf Burger, which was really underwhelming and at £27 extremely expensive for what was served. The chips were brown and had either been pre fried or really over cooked. My fish was OK, but not a great size and again, the chips were not good at all. Breakfast is cereal, toast or a croissant with Tea, Coffee or juice, which was ok but nothing to write home about. With food, drinks, and the room we spent around £300, which in hindsight we would rather have spent elsewhere.
• Rachael (8/5): Loved it. Really enjoyed our night away. Very peaceful and tranquil. - It was very qwerky. Been wanting to go here for a long time and I had the opportunity so I booked it. It didn’t disappoint. Well worth checking it out. Would highly recommend it. The fact that you have to pay for the car park. Bit annoying when you are staying there. Also rooms were very warm could do with a fan as the seagulls are too noisy to open the top window in the room.
• Peter (1/5): Absolutely terrible - Not much to like room had cobwebs everywhere units were sticky from previous Drink spills .. BED WAS BROKEN ROOM 8 NEAREST TO WINDOW ...very uncomfortable....booked this for friends as a surprise..standards were very low ... Didn't like the the very rude manager when I rang up to complain ..put the phone down on me ...
• Young (10/5): Very pleasent - Staff where lovely nice location nice view .
• Sandra (9/5): The location was so great it made up for a cold shower - Location, location, location with friendly staff Could have a hot shower
• Aaron (5/5): Passable - Staff were friendly Dirty room and they turn the lift of at 10pm which is quite inconvenient to anybody not just us
• Peter (8/5): Very good - Location was outstanding, room was clean and comfortable, food was great. Staff wonderful, gave us a treat as it was our anniversary. Exterior area needed to be cleaned, bins emptied etc. Breakfast was supposed to be continental, 4 cereals, bread for toast, or melon. We did have to ask for milk and there were no knives. When you pay over £200 a night you would expect better.
• Jodie (10/5): Beautiful Room and stay - The room was absolutely beautiful, we stayed in room 6 and the view's from the bay windows were gorgeous. The food in the restaurant was lovely and the staff were really helpful and friendly. My now fiance proposed to me in Marsden Rock to top of our stay
• Noleen (1/5): Never again - Location Cleanliness food ambience
• Eileen (8/5): Enjoyed stay , really nice staff , would recommend food coverings on breakfast fruits & cakes as lots of small flies - Lovely location right on the beach Windows grubby , which spoilt view , few cobwebs on ceiling .
• Reyba (10/5): Pearl Wedding Anniversary shirt stay - Room 6 was fabulous, views amazing! The staff were so friendly and helpful. Had a wonderful stay x
• Amanda (7/5): Locked into brilliant views - Location on the beach, amazing views, the photos I took were at night, 8pm and 3am - high tide and low tide. Some of the staff were great, especially the gent who checked us in and served on the first night, after that the quality diminished. Our checkout was a tad rushed, due to the fact the lift is supposed to be unlocked at 8am, but the staff member didn’t come down the lift until 8:15, then proceeded to lie to us that she was coming back up from downstairs as there was issues with the lift (we watched the down arrows on the lift, I had been sitting in front of the lift for 30minutes watching those lift arrows and pushed the button first) During our stay there was no reception, nor and available wifi, so I was able to sleep, but between 10pm and 8am there is no option unless you want to walk up and back down …. I would say 10+ flights of stairs. The food presented well, but did not compare to the cooking quality I’m used to, but the drinks made up for it.
• Philip (6/5): Superb location but disappointed with room and facilities. - Location Lack of hot water. Small room. Had to ask for towels and cups when we arrived. Room not made up for second night.
• Victoria (10/5): A unique property with spectacular views. - Unique and stunning location. We had the family room. Had just about everything you needed. The view was spectacular. Staff were so kind helpful and friendly. Could have had bottle water in the room.
• Heather (10/5): Exceptional - Everything
• Jimmy (10/5): Cave room with clawfoot tub, exceptional - Our room was on the ocean carved in a side of a mountain… Pretty much a cave room. The bed was comfortable and the linens were high-quality. I had a clawfoot tub, which made the stay perfect. There was nothing I didn’t like about the property
• Julie (7/5): Beautiful quirky hotel with stunning views. - The location and view were amazing. The food was expensive
• Debbie (5/5): Disappointing birthday - The sea view and the surrounds were beautiful While the sea view from my room was amazing and the surroundings beautiful too. unfortunately I didn't spend alot of time at the grotto as it was my birthday and I was looking forward to having a nice relaxing meal and a few drinks with my sister unfortunately that did not happen as there was a problem with the gas and they stopped serving food we didn't eat all day as the grotto is known for lovely meals as well as there location but it's not close to any restaurants and as we don't know our way around or bus routes ect and I wasn't prepared to pay for taxi fair as I was expecting to stay in a beautiful beach hotel with lovely food! I had to call my partner back who had our baby with him! To take me and my sister to morrisons we could not stay in the small town we found as he had to get back home with the baby so me and my sister ended up having a pot noodle in the room.... Yes my birthday meal was a pot noodle! as we were told by staff that the gas would not be back on and there would be no food however once we got back the gas was on but they would not serve us as they were fully booked now!! I was extremely disappointed as to not even be offered a cold plate of finger food or sandwiches ect I have a room booked for the 15th for father's day but my first experience at the grotto for my birthday was disheartening and disappointing and ruined my birthday a little bit I'm a bit concerned that this might happen for my partners get away here for father's day.
• Anthony (2/5): Don’t bother - Place was dirty and room run down with dirty linnen and pillows 😕 Lots of things
• John (6/5): Pleasant -
• Sally (9/5): Quite the quirkiest place we’ve stayed - much enjoyed - Amazing location with fabulous friendly staff. We had an excellent evening meal there. Good welcome tray. How could you not like this place?! However not a venue for anyone unable to tackle a spiral staircase.
• Mohammad (10/5): Perfect getaway - Location was surreal, staff extremely helpful and friendly, couldn't do enough to make your stay as perfect as possible. I couldn't complain about anything, the water pressure wasn't ideal, but staying in a cave in a remote location- this isn't really something to complain about!
• Alison (10/5): Exceptional - The hotel staff , clean , the location is amazing , the food was lovely That I had to leave and come home
• Angela (7/5): Pleasant, staff friendly, location great. - Great location right by the sea, which if your a light sleeper the waves may keep you awake or can actually be therapeutic. The lift is a little slow, but due to the nature of the building and location. The view is worth it. Perhaps a little WiFi signal would be good if it could happen. Had to keep going up to the top to get signal.
• Rachael (4/5): We booked bed and breakfast for 3 nights, breakfast cereals or toast, definitely not continental! And doesn’t advertise - Beach front, although very untidy and in need of a clean and paint around the seating area Entrance very scruffy again needs a clean, and paint not welcoming at all
• Caroline (8/5): Very good -
• Nichola (8/5): We just slept there - The cleaner Linda was reallly the only member of staff we seen she was so helpful and accommodating for us I actually thought she was management we did see staff on check in day A lot of them were stood talking amongst themselves and not doing a lot I think if it wasn’t for Linda this woul have been 1 star she is an asset to Marsden grotto The lift closing at 10pm
• Angela (10/5): Exceptional -
• Debbie (10/5): Exceptional - Beautiful location and lovely hotel with the best views
• Dawn (1/5): Would not recommended to anyone was unclean and no hot water - Nothing was a horrible experience and would not go again No hot water and manager very unhelpful
• Carol (1/5): Beautiful setting but will never return to that hotel - Dirty tables inside rubbish bags left in kitchen dirty cups on table outside locked in hotel over night alone as only guests and staff finished at 10pm apart from key to emergency exit no phone as no signal and emergency phone not left for us

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