Marsden Grotto Reviews Summary

Location and Views

Pros:

• "This is and has been since I was a child (50 years ago) an amazing place to visit."
• "Incredible location, feeling blessed to have visited for my first time today."
• "A real hidden gem."
• "Amazing views from the terrace overlooking the sea."
• "The view of the waves crashing on the beach from the bedroom window is incredible."
• "The View OMG both myself and my Partner agreed if you didn't know you were in UK that day it could have been abroad."
• "Great atmosphere outside scenic view terrace clean beach to walk on."

Cons:

• "There seems to a derelict building the other side of the stairs full of rubbish."
• "Venue outside very grotty."
• "Very tired from the outside, everything is grey."
• "The little patio is full of weeds and lead to the tables the pub have set outside."
• "Unusual restaurant built into 'Jack the Blasters' cave at the base of limestone cliffs... unfortunately lots of litter around car park and restaurant floor not very clean...looks grubby."
• "The outside area is nowhere good enough for such expensive dining, full of weeds & needed a good sweep."
• "Needs a good tidy up outside, benches sanded, patio jet washed and a lick of bright paint."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The food was really nice and not too expensive."
• "Food was beautiful reasonably priced and service speed very good."
• "The Food is Amazing."
• "Best ever fish and chips with wonderful sea view!"
• "The food is amazing, you're literally getting fresh from the sea, and the seafood chowder was the best we've ever had."
• "Had a tasty crab sandwich with fries."
• "Food is tasty and so nice."

Cons:

• "I ordered a surf and turf burger which was supposed to have lobster in and it didn't."
• "Posh scampi £14 for 7 bits burned to a crisp so the inside scampi bit was about the size of a maggot and like rubber."
• "The food in the restaurant is at the most subpar."
• "The food was ok but portions were tiny, the chips weren’t good and the food was hugely overpriced for what it was."
• "We order fish and chips, we expected homemade chips (cod) and what we got was cheap frozen french fries which were cold."
• "The cafe food was overpriced and smelled unappetising."
• "Food was awful. Served us a surf and turf burger which was supposed to have lobster, without the lobster!"

Service

Pros:

• "Staff helpful, food ok drinks were as expected."
• "Staff very helpful, booked us a taxi into South shields."
• "The staff are very friendly."
• "Friendly helpful staff."
• "Brilliant staff, so helpful and friendly."
• "Staff are inviting and friendly."
• "The staff were so friendly and helpful and the service was really good."

Cons:

• "We sat down to a table. It hadn't been cleaned and no one came to clean it."
• "The only disappointing part to our visit was the service of food was very slow."
• "Service was slow and inefficient."
• "Unfortunately the day we visited, they were understaffed in the kitchen, leading to us waiting over an hour for our wraps and burgers."
• "Terrible. Hardly anything left on the menu. Booked ages ago. No phone call or nothing to say there would be no food."
• "Service could be a little more polished, nothing bad happened, but just noticing who was at the bar first etc... but staff were all friendly enough."
• "No one was checking if we needed more drinks, etc."

Price

Pros:

• "The food was really nice and not too expensive."
• "Food was beautiful reasonably priced and service speed very good."
• "Pricing was acceptable and did not appear to be overtly expensive."

Cons:

• "Very over priced, poor quality food, very dirty and £2 parking charge to top it off."
• "I had a tuna melt ciabatta and I thought it would be much bigger for £14."
• "Food and drink abit pricey but lovely."
• "Price for tea is outrageous... Over 3£ for a tea bag and some hot water!"
• "Several menu items were out of stock, and the ones that were available are so pricey."
• "After paying 2pound for 2 hours stay... Getting to the bar we paid 10pound for 2pints of cider. Lovely place Lovely beach and views. But overpriced."
• "A little pricey, but captive audience. Nearly £6 for a handful of homemade style chips."

Cleanliness

Pros:

• "The beach was clean and gobsmackingly beautiful to be respected."
• "The room was clean and warm, the bed was so comfortable."

Cons:

• "We sat down to a table. It hadn't been cleaned and no one came to clean it."
• "Two or three areas near the apartment and the restaurant could do with a deep clean."
• "Due to lots of dogs in there the place is dirty!"
• "The apartment was very dusty on arrival and plenty of cobwebs were on display."
• "There was human hair in the battered fish, unbelievably dirty/greasy/ with chunks of old food still attached to it spoon for dessert."
• "This toilet was dated and dirty. The floor was covered in sand and also remnants of food."
• "Definitely needs some good cleaning, and removing of spider webs glooming all over the corridor."

Accessibility

Pros:

• "There is a lift from the car park down to the bar/restaurant. Or you can take the stairs."
• "Unique spot by the sea, direct access to the beach, accessed by a lift or steep stairs to the beach."
• "Down the cliff in the private lift (take the steps if you're fit) straight into the Grotto."
• "Accessibility is ether via the lift or, for the brave of heart, steel steps down the cliff face!"
• "The access to the beach here is either by a rather steep staircase or using the lift to the Grotto."