SEAcroft

We stayed at SEAcroft for three days during June 2016 and, contrary to the 209 previous glorious Trip Advisor Reviews, wish to confirm our poor and disappointing experience: On arrival, the entrance is dominated by a large, green, visually unappealing industrial container on a dirty, gravel sloping parking area, aspects which provide a sense of the establishment being uncared for. Images uploaded on the Internet bear no resemblance to the reality, and are therefore very misleading. The bedroom was particularly small, of course highlighted by the double bed and a mirror-fronted wall-to-wall built-in cupboard. It was indicated when checking-in, that the external bathroom (windowless and across the corridor), was for our sole use. It was therefore embarrassing and unsatisfactory to find someone else using it, without closing/locking the door. One hand and two bath sized, green towels were not routinely changed. Similarly, it is unhygienic and unacceptable not to empty bins or refresh a room daily and consequently point out that this practice is in order to afford the occupants some privacy. Really? Trip Advisor reviews, indicating a gourmet-dining experience, are frankly inaccurate. An example, one main course of langoustines accompanied by boiled potatoes, carrots and green beans, highlighted a rather odd combination of textures and flavours. There was no choice of vegetables or salad available. When we asked if the cream in a desert (costing £7) could be replaced with a scoop of sorbet it was explained to us that there should be a supplementary £1 charge. This was however, waived. Overall, the average cost, £32 for dinner, £3.90 for a cup of tea with mints and regular bar prices for drinks, ensure SEAcroft prices are comparable, or indeed higher, than reputable restaurants in major cities. The breakfast lacked healthy options, no fruits, yoghurts or porridge were available and consisted of toast, orange juice, cooked breakfast (two fried eggs, one sausage, a tomato and one mushroom), or scrambled eggs with salmon (somewhat overcooked and very dry) and a selection of cereals. Asking specifically for a poached or boiled egg, it was explained that there were not enough cooker rings to do this. The rear of the dining room overlooks a dog run and it was not particularly pleasant to see two large dogs staring at visitors whilst having breakfast or dinner. Email communication suggested a family-run bed & breakfast and yet we never met nor saw the chef/co-proprietor during our entire stay. This was somewhat contradictory to the insistence of introductions being made on first name terms, and indeed our names being displayed on the breakfast/ dining tables. It was also bewildering to have our bill placed on the breakfast table, on top of the visitors book, which was normally displayed on the reception hall table. From our experience of bed & breakfast premises and hotels, there is no evidence to indicate that SEAcroft Bed & Breakfast accommodation merits either a Certificate of Excellence or the stars awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board.