Hotel Sir William Fox (South Shields, United Kingdom)

The rooms at this sympathetically-restored historical property were popular with guests, who often described them as clean and generously-sized with cosy beds. Budget-minded visitors felt it was good value for money thanks to the usually inexpensive room rates.

Guests enjoyed the picturesque and tranquil conservation area location surrounded by period architecture from the town's industrial heyday. It was conveniently within walking distance of the town centre for shopping and dining options plus metro stations for quick and easy light rail services across Tyne & Wear. There were handy bus stops nearby too. Drivers appreciated the free parking and direct access to the A1018. It was reportedly easy to reach the A1, A19, A184 and Tyne Tunnel for access to golf courses and regional attractions plus Newcastle and Sunderland city centres.

Reviewers had praise for the helpful, pleasant and professional staff. Meanwhile, diners often had good things to report about the catering, saying the cooked-to-order breakfasts and optional home-cooked evening meals were delicious and plentiful.

Although most visitors said their rooms were well-cleaned, some critics said they encountered certain bathrooms that could have been more comprehensively cleaned. Maintenance issues were also reported in some rooms such as dated decor and tired-looking furniture plus aging mattresses and door locks.

Drivers welcomed the free parking, although some first-time visitors initially struggled to find the car park due to a one-way traffic system in operation nearby.

Some light sleepers claimed noisy plumbing or noise from neighbouring rooms sometimes proved to be easily audible. Moreover, there were claims that curtains in certain rooms failed to fully exclude external light.