The Bell Hotel

The Bell Hotel descritpion

On the quayside, overlooking the river, in the historic port of Sandwich, this recently refurbished traditional hotel offers free Wi-Fi, an impressive restaurant and elegant, modern rooms.
Stylish and comfortable, the Bell Hotel now has a chic, modern feel, while retaining its reputation for excellence. All of the rooms have private bathrooms, TVs, digital radios, telephones, tea/coffee making facilities and custom toiletries. Some rooms have balconies and river views.
The restaurant and bar feature honey-colored oak floors and attractive natural colors. The menu changes regularly to reflect the finest, freshest seasonal produce available locally. Local fish and seafood, salt-marsh lamb and locally sourced meat are simply cooked to bring out their full, natural flavors.
Sandwich is one of Kent’s best-kept secrets. One of the region’s Cinque Ports, it is reputed to be the most complete medieval town in England, with more historic listed buildings per acre than anywhere else in the country.

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Facilities of The Bell Hotel

Outdoors ：Terrace

Pets ：Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Breakfast in the Room

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：No parking available.

General ：Newspapers | Non-smoking Rooms | Heating | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Reviews for The Bell Hotel

Review 1：The room felt very warm at night - I turned one radiator off but didn't seem to make much difference - and pillows not that comfortable.

Review 2：Exceptionally friendly and helpful staff, well furnished and decorated rooms - enormous bathroom. Nice touch with a flask of cold milk for tea and coffees in the room. Very good main course at dinner - lamb and venison - and really well chosen and good value wine list. Great local guide in the hotel room.

Review 3：Staff were very nice and helpful, particularly one of the young breakfast staff who saw me struggling down the stairs with a case (I had put my back out and it was agony) and helped me with it. And I thought it was a nice touch to have an actual radio in the room to listen to Radio 4 properly.

Review 4：Room 12 was dated and small. The bathroom fan wirred all night. The towel ring was broken and the plug in the basin needed changing,

Review 5：Small hotel, cosy, nice bar and restaurant, location, convenience.

Review 6：We could smell cigarette smoke by our room (not sure if that was from staff or other guests). No hot water in the bathroom at night.

Review 7：Nice big room, friendly staff. The hotel was in a lovely building

Review 8：Shower tray plumbing needs looking at ,slow to drain Lack of free parking

Review 9：The location was excellent right by the river. Staff very helpful. Breakfast 1st class.

Review 10：Not being there still!

Review 11：My husband and I, thought all the staff were very helpful and friendly throughout, especially the gentleman (Nick?) at breakfast. Informative and charming manners. Wish there were more like him around.

Review 12：The most friendly staff we have ever met who even reserved a parking space right outside the hotel so that my wife, who is disabled, need not walk very far.

Review 13：Really really picky here. It's not that I didn't like it just offer feedback from what I felt and overheard others saying. It was a bit warm! Even with window open! Mind you better warm than cold!

Review 14：Great Hotel, fantastic staff, Offered me a thermos of fresh milk rather than just the UHT tubs in the bedrooms. Also offered to put my phone on charge while I had breakfast so I had some emergency charge for my trip home!

Review 15：Not really bad, but the young man on bar duty when we arrived could have been a little more cheerful, I think perhaps he had had a long day!

Review 16：Our bedroom was gorgeous, loved the bistro attachment, really nice atmosphere.

Review 17：Pillows on the bed were very poor. I treated another couple to this stay and was a bit embarrassed that their room was not as nice as ours, it was smaller as was the bed and no wardrobe, yet the rate was the same as our room.

Review 18：All the staff were very pleasant and helpful, location extremely good.

Review 19：If I say almost everything. Being elderly we found stairs a little tiring but nobody hurried us so it was no big problem Staff lovely and very helpful,smiling faces all round. This is my answer to "what did I Like"

Review 20：Room too hot even without heating on Dinner in restaurant disappointing. Vegetable risotto was a watery sludge and tasteless. Other customers returned theirs to kitchen Breakfast ok but got wrong toast and was offered more coffee but it never arrived

Review 21：Great location and friendly staff

Review 22：Nothing.

Review 23：Very comfortable bed. Helpful staff. There was a wedding party booked the same night but the staff organised it so that we were not disturbed or inconvenienced. Good breakfast.

Review 24：It''s a shame there is no safe in the rooms.

Review 25：Nice Superior room with view on the river. Very good size. Restaurant is good and good value for money.

Review 26：The room was easily accessible, clean and very comfortable. It was blissfully quiet during the night so we were able to sleep through uninterrupted. The staff were attentive, very polite and well presented.

Review 27：Wedding party in situ as we arrived...very crowded and noisy reception area. Staff were trying their best but the wedding party seemed 'put out' that other guests were arriving and having to 'wade' thru the throng...to get to reception. Would have not booked that date if I had known the hotel was hosting a wedding. Annoying, that the wedding party had their drinks in the reception area whilst we new hotel guests arrived and needed to get to reception. No mini bar...but we were near the actual bar, so not a disaster.

Review 28：we loved our river view room. I only wish we had not booked the same weekend as they hosted a wedding. The reception area was crowed with wedding guests as we arrived and tried to book in. Although the staff were very apologetic, myself and other guests found it difficult to hear anything over the din of wedding guests (who were constantley bumping into us) staff were were lovely, breakfast was very good and plentiful cannot complain, would stay again.

Review 29：Breakfast was slightly hap-hazard with wrong/missing items being served and was not quite as nice as the rest of the hotel promised it would be.

Review 30：Lovely big room with balcony looking over the river.

Review 31：Breakfast was so badly organised that, if we had needed to make a quick breakfast, that would have been impossible. The staff seemingly had no system. We had to ask over and over again for several separate things.

Review 32：Lovely room, lovely location.

Review 33：Lack of a lift that prevented my disabled sister coming up to see how wonderful my room was

Review 34：Room 31 was very special... The views were amazing I really didn't want to leave!

Review 35：The bed was very hard. The breakfast came out incorrect but that was fine mistakes happen but then when the right ones came out they were cold.

Review 36：The staff were lovely and very attentive. The prices of drinks in the bar were very reasonable we will definitely come again. Thank you!

Review 37：Poor parking. Dated room.

Review 38：Close to Royal St. Georges golf course and to Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club (via ancient highway which is subject to a tol through the Sandwich estate).l

Review 39：Cleaning staff - doors slamming and tripped over the piles of laundry blocking the hallway out side our door and bottom of stairs and doorway. Bed - Tiny double, both width and leg. I'm only 5,6 and my feet were hanging out!

Review 40：Staff polite, great location and food was lovely with a wide choice.

Review 41：I can't really fault the place but perhaps the price was a bit steep for the type of room we went for. Otherwise, I'm really glad we chose The Bell.

Review 42：I brought my girlfriend to Sandwich as part of a birthday surprise, and we both loved this place. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, the best example being the gentleman who waited our table at breakfast time. Give him a pay rise instantly! The location is perfect, too. Right by the river, and only ten minutes' walk from the station.

Review 43：Unfortunately due the location, it can be very noisy which was especially the case in midweek.

Review 44：Staff's attitude and help. Generally the bedrooms are very comfortable. Location is right into Sandwich and as such can explore the village easily. Staff upgraded us to very nice rooms.

Review 45：Our door keep was loose & we had to keep slamming the door

Review 46：Could not fault this lovely hotel! From the moment we were greeted at reception we were well looked after. We had a stunning room with a view over the river from our balcony, perfect for that morning cup of tea & the breakfast was plentiful & delicious. The whole place had a great feel about it, will return again!

Review 47：We have just had an excellent weekend at The Bell Hotel. It was our first overnight stay in Sandwich and the hotel was in an ideal location for visiting the town. Our room was spacious with a view overlooking the river. The bed was comfortable and the large bathroom had a nice deep bath tub and a good size shower cubical. During our stay we had a lovely evening meal from the good choice on offer and breakfast the following morning. All the staff were very pleasant and helpful and the hotel clean and airy. The town itself had a French themed weekend with various market stalls and also cycling for the more energetic. The good weather was a nice bonus too. Overall we loved the hotel and the town and will visit again.

Review 48：Paying for parking to stay at the Hotel

Review 49：The hotel and area was really lovely & We was right opposite a busy local pub which was a bonus! You have to visit Whitstable for oysters! We would stay at The Bell again without a doubt.

Review 50：The rooms were a little small and a little too hot. There was a great breakfast choice but the cooked breakfast ingredients weren't fresh e.g tinned spinach.

Review 51：Loved this beautifully done building with its comfortable rooms and lovely staff for a 'we're going to a wedding' break.

Review 52：only 4 parking lots (never really available) twinky stairway to higher levels...

Review 53：Breakfast, possibility to sit outdoor, close to all major spots in town

Review 54：Our room overlooked a small street with recycling bins so the noise of glass bottles was not great. We paid £205 for 2 nights and were expecting a better room as the one showed here was bigger and prettier. There was a wintry heavy duvet that made the night a bit uncomfortable. WIFI did not work!

Review 55：We loved the hotel, it is very well located. Nice breakfast and good brasserie/restaurant. Staff are lovely but quite young and inexperienced

Review 56：Some members of the staff were a little inexperienced, some even complaining about each other within earshot of guests... like me :-) The cost of the room, 150 GBP per night was i thought too expensive for the area, being a sleepy town/village. Our room was really cold, even in May, but the staff were very quick to bring us a very good quality electric heater.

Review 57：Room was fairly large, clean, with a nice view over the river. Bed was very comfy, hot choccies in the room was a nice touch. Service for our group dinner (more than 20 people) was excellent. Food was also very tasty! Nice hotel bar too. Staff were generally very good and helpful.

Review 58：We were in the Bermuda Triangle of the dining room for breakfast- we were forgotten twice

Review 59：The room was beautiful the bathroom was amazing, and I loved the window seat overlooking the river.

Review 60：think the rooms need a bar fridge the evening meals were very average-think they need to look at this as there are many better value restaurants in Sandwich

Review 61：Location -staff-room-breakfast

Review 62：We could not reach the lights from the bed and had no bedside reading lamps, also no bedside cabinet on one side of the bed. Stairs a little difficult if you are at the top of the building as no lifts. Didn't like having to queue for breakfast when you could see empty tables. Lack of parking.

Review 63：Most staff pleasant and helpful, good location of property.

Review 64：We had a wonderful couple of days in Sandwich taking in the history of all the beautiful buildings. Very relaxing and our stay at the Bell was made better by the lovely reception staff.

Review 65：Room is tiny, no place to move around, no place to open the bags. They should reorganize and take half of furniture away! No airconditioning, which is fine, but once we opened the window the smells from the kitchen have filled the room. We were able to breath in the room only in the late evening after the restorant was closed and in the morning it was terrible, since the breakfast was started. The shower was bad: very low water stream.

Review 66：Breakfast was great. And location is good, near the main parking. Generally Sandwich is a sweet tiny town!

Review 67：Bathroom smelt a bit mouldy no extractor fan or windows equals mouldy ceiling which is a shame!breakfast needed to be a lot hotter!

Review 68：Love where it is based in sandwich,decent size room comfy bed etc,nice decor!staff very friendly and helpful

Review 69：Too complicated to get online - this needs to be sorted out. Better in less sophisticated places. Service at breakfast was slow (Easter bank holiday). For the quality & style of the hotel I expected better. Shame about lack of parking, although £6.50 for 24hrs is not bad.

Review 70：The comfort and decor of the room and the hotel style was very nice.

Review 71：staff needs to pay more attention when you order food also we had a very long wait for the plates to be cleared after our meal.

Review 72：location good, hotel very nice

Review 73：The staff were very welcoming when we arrived. What a lovely thought to be handed a flask of real milk to take to the room so you didn't have to use the UHT! The room was great, food excellent in the restaurant in the evening. Couldn't fault anything

Review 74：The Wi-Fi was run by Cloud, when ever i went to go on to it it said "that must have gone up in to the cloud's" and I couldn't even get my emails. Luckily the wife could get onto the internet with her tablet.

Review 75：All staff were very welcoming and attentive. When we arrived the room they put us in wasn't acceptable, we couldn't see the television from the bed as it was in the corner of the room on the wall obscured by the wardrobe. there was no problem changing the room. (great customer service).

Review 76：Parking is a real problem using public parking around the corner. For the evening the hotel has a deal with them to reduce cost but still requires a relatively long walk with luggage. And being England - in the rain!

Review 77：Very helpful staff and room clean and comfortable so good value.

Review 78：Setting up a Wi Fi account involved answering questions similar to those used for setting up a bank account. I preferred to do without e-mail for our 2 night stay. Apparently those with an existing Sky account would not have this bother.

Review 79：Parking is for 4 cars and that's it. There's parking available round the corner which is free from 5.30pm till 9.00am. We had room 36 on the second floor which was just about on the limit for stair climbing.

Review 80：Staff are the best thing about this hotel. Location is great if you want a leisurely day trip to France (we did) 20 easy minuets from the port. Walked around the corner to see Steph & Dom from Gogglebox at their place. Pubs opposite are also very friendly, we much enjoyed the live music.

Review 81：Excellent location in the historic town with convenient parking close by. Welcoming,friendly, and efficient service. Very good breakfast, a good quality restaurant, and a comfortable and well run bar.

Review 82：Revolving door was bolted late at night, not a bad thing security wise, but we were pressing the doorbell for ages. Maybe you could give guests some sort of code for entry if they're going to be out late

Review 83：Staff were extremely friendly, and I have to say it's the comfiest hotel bed I've ever slept in!

Review 84：Wasn't sure if there was wi fi - maybe need to advertise better?

Review 85：Sandwich is a fab town and the hotel is in a great position. Lovely room, contemporary style. Staff helpful and dining delicious.

Review 86：Staff stated they would give us the Guardian newspaper in the morning this was not given. The bed had a bulge in it which was not comfortable and when we complained about this and the newspaper were simply told 'Sorry' How about a compensation for a bad nights sleep!

Review 87：Big bright room

Review 88：Booked the hotel for my wives 50th, having been happy with previous stays. On this occasion extremely disappointed. Standard of the room very poor and noisy (no 39) cut foot on broken floor tile, hot water sink tap did not work room to small for a couple. Staff and standard of breakfast very poor. This was after staying at a sister hotel at Deal (the Royal) and did not compare at all. To be honest would not return and spoiled a birthday trip that I had saved for as a surprise.

Review 89：The location

Review 90：Fabulous room with balcony and river view. Great location in Sandwich. Excellent staff. Good choice of food. Superb decoration throughout the hotel.

Review 91：You can here your neighbours easily!

Review 92：Amazing food for amazing prices. The steak was unbelievable! Very much value for money and a lovely atmosphere. Great location and a comfortable bar.

Review 93：Hotel was very hot in bedrooms so could not sleep for night. Please turn the heating down.

Review 94：Great hotel for short break. Nicely decorated and friendly staff

Review 95：Well I guess the stair and corridor carpets really are due for a change. The breakfast kipper was very dry and juiceless. The car park is a bit far from the hotel when the rain is pouring down. But hey……..this is a well run and enjoyable hotel experience.

Review 96：The breakfast menu and the excellent service from waiting staff especially Coral……part time college student …..great bearing….very attentive…..great smile….great communication. And also the elderly guy who served us at breakfast. Great communicators both.

Review 97：Breakfast was cold, buffet bar empty and breakfast order lost . A very cold weekend and room was cold too. Long curtains obscuring the radiator didn't help

Review 98：Location and Sandwich good to visit Reception staff very welcoming

Review 99：Having stayed at The Bell quite a while ago and had a wonderful time we were hoping the same applied..and it did! The staff and facilities EXCELLENT. Room was so comfortable. As we have family in the area it is without doubt our choice to stay when visiting the area. Excellent value for money.

Review 100：the room we was in was near reception so we could hear voices early morning

Review 101：we liked the relaxed feel of the hotel nothing was to much trouble would love to stay again

Review 102：Full English Breakfast first morning part cold part hot. Poached egg not drained sufficiently. Sausages flavourless. Cold coffee. Kipper next morning overcooked must have been on hot plate overnight. And it wasn't a pair of kippers. Dreadful idea serving Eggs Florentine on a Bagel and spinach not drained or seasoned. Generally poor quality produce.

Review 103：Ladies on reception and senior gentleman serving in restaurant at breakfast very helpful.

Review 104：Service in the restaurant was variable from good to poor. The food for the main part very good with a few blips at breakfast.

Review 105：The ambiance in the hotel was charming and the rooms very clean, the chambermaids helpful

Review 106：Room was a bit cold but once we put the additional heater on and tucked the curtains above the radiator it warmed up nicely. Some pictures in the room would liven it up a bit too.

Review 107：Luxurious spacious room. Great view. Delicious breakfast. Public spaces very comfortable and welcoming.

Review 108：All good.

Review 109：Comfy bed, big bath & a proper radio ( Pure DAB ) in the room Our group had an Excellent evening meal, overall good value too. Will be working in the area a lot in the near furture . will be back.

Review 110：I was in a room on the back side of the hotel overlooking the roof of a Italian restaurant with all the smells and excited kitchen staff.....the alley is also the smoking area for two restaurants.....noisy drunken arguments till late at night

Review 111：good service and food

Review 112：All hotel rooms are a bit warm for me and this waqs no exception. At least the window opened which is not always the case!

Review 113：Right i the centre of town, this classic hotel was just what we needed. The staff were so helpful, too. We ate one night in the restaurant and had a very good expereince: perfect service, excellent food and drink.

Review 114：It was a little cold in the communal areas and the dining room lacked atmosphere. A real fire would have made all the difference.

Review 115：Convenience to Sandwich station and the centre. Our room had a river view and was comfortable and clean with good facilities. The staff were very friendly and efficient.

Review 116：Lack of parking

Review 117：Bedrooms to a high standard. Food was great. Staff very friendly and helpful I attended a wedding and it was very well planned and executed.

Review 118：the polite and friendly staff the clean,comfortable room with good views and windows which opened to allow us some fresh air! refreshing to stay in such a light and airy hotel with such individual style and decor excellent breakfast

Review 119：Parking in the front is very limited, If you are with young baby or kids is not so easy and you need to park very quickly and speak to stuff then go to the corner and park for free.

Review 120：We enjoy very much of the bar and breakfast!

Review 121：Absolutely loved the location, Sandwich is a beautiful town and offers everything you need for a short stay right on your doorstep. The Bell is centrally located and the facilities were wonderful. A little to warm to have the heating on when we visited though so the restaurant area was overly warm.

Review 122：Parking is an issue and it is stated on the website, I have stayed at the bell hotel before and it was fantastic, unfortunately this particular visit was a bad one for me, the door in room 15 does not lock so keep your valuables with you, also I spent most of the night awake and icing as there was something in the room biting me. Walking from the main room to the bathroom I noticed that my feet and legs were itchy also, I will not be staying in that room again. But will stay at the hotel in the future just in another room.

Review 123：It is set in a nice place close to the river, there are some wonderful historic buildings and the bell hotel is sited in the middle. The food was great and the staff are friendly.

Review 124：Hotel corridors were hot and stuffy even though it was October. Room at front of hotel overlooking restuarant was noisey due to air conditioning or chillers running all night.

Review 125：Nice location, room small but comfortable and clean with friendly helpful staff.

Review 126：I would have vacuumed the carpet in the room again, but it was clean, as was the room, and shower. Each time I visit, I forget to ask for a room lower down, I am elderly, I do keep fit, however the furthest room from reception, is on floor 27, where they put me, and with a hefty bag, and a satchel, and lap top to boot, it is heart attack height if you are not fit, even without bags. There are lots of landings, and doors to get through. I will remember next time, if there is one, to ask if they can accommodate me a bit lower down the stairs, (no lift.) Be warned if you are over sixty and unfit.

Review 127：The rooms I have slept in at The Bell are always the right temperature, and quiet. I do like quick room service, and got that. The en suite had a Lovely old shower head which I like.The beds are glorious! and of course if you are high up, as I was, the view is very restful and pleasant, and you don't hear the traffic.

Review 128：Room very high up, faced sun all day and reached 27-30 degrees. Hot at night Bar food not always up to standard expected and main menu a bit limited as we stayed for a week.

Review 129：Plumbing problem solved very quickly Fan provided and top sheet to help heat problem. Very helpful cheerful staff. Good breakfasts

Review 130：There was nothing I didn't like.

Review 131：I don't like "anonymous trouser press in the room" hotels. This ticked all the boxes for me. Good value for money, courteous and helpful staff that looked like they belonged to the human race as opposed to being manufactured in a hotel chain factory. The accommodation was elegant and cosy and the bedroom felt like it could be mine. Sandwich was a delight and the hotel was in the perfect setting. All in all we loved our short break there.

Review 132：Maybe a choice of a lighter quilt or option of just a blanket

Review 133：The Bell was in a good location the staff always pleasent rooms clean and modern bed comfortable we had our evening meal at the Bell and found the food to be good value and tasty breakfast a good choice and nicely presented would recommend to family and friends and would also used this Hotel if in the area again

Review 134：The plug hole in bath was blocked so the bath would fill with water while showering, not nice! The room was a tad on the small side. The food was ok but couldn't recommend it.

Review 135：The hotel interior was very nice. Staff were very helpful.

Review 136：Nothing

Review 137：The room was excellent. We were fortunate to upgraded to a room overlooking the river. Good furnishings, super comfy bed and water pressure very good for the shower