The Sefton

We thought the atrium room was very nice feature , small adequate pool . The staff were extremely helpfull , polite and happy and the location was good for us

We found the bed a little hard on the first night , when we mentioned this a topper was put on the bed which rectified. The car park is a little small for size of hotel but its a town centre hotel ..it is what it is

Imposing building inside and out. We had an attractive and good sized room facing the pretty atrium, which was different. Our room was clean, comfortable and quiet, and we slept very well. Very friendly and helpful staff. In the heart of Douglas close to the ferry terminal although we spent our days driving round the island. We did not have breakfast, but evening meals in the Asian restaurant and bar were good.

Although we did eventually park in the hotel’s underground car park it took several attempts until a space became available. With limited parking on the road, this created stress and wasted time, detracting from the overall experience. The car park is tight with some narrow bays.

The breakfast and location

The hotel is dated and was far too hot to stay we cut our trip by two nights because the room was unbearably hot! The staff wasn’t that helpful until we actually checked out! £180 a night is outrageous for this kind of hotel

Excellent welcoming staff, fabulous room. Perfect location

Great location Lovely view.

Fan in bathroom not working. No parking.

Great location Comfortable rooms Great breakfast Secure parking

Breakfast was OK- pastries were very limited

No air conditioning. Room was a bit stuffy as no outside windows - only internal window and balcony onto atrium. No sauna although it was advertised as having one. Gym was basement room with zero air flow and a bunch of old machines.

Room was clean, staff welcoming and helpful

The food was bad. I was awake most of the night with gut pain, fries were reheated and swimming in grease. Burger was not Manx as advertised. It was so greasy it poured onto the plate. Sir Norman’s bar

Bed was comfy and large bath

The room was far too hot in the atrium it was like sleeping in a greenhouse even with the door open. The atrium side of it was filthy and the swimming pool was dangerous it sinks into the middle, it was cold and me being 6 months pregnant slipped in the pool due to the sudden drop. When I reserved this room back in January it was £500, upon paying at the hotel it was £660. One receptionist was rude and didn't know how to smile (the others where lovely)

Breakfast was excellent

Nothing

4 night/ 5 day stay and the roo went totally untouched as far as cleaning or servicing the bathroom with fresh towels or toilet rolls. Having previously stayed here we were very disappointed that Manx Kippers are no longer offered at breakfast obviously a cut back but not the best cut back whilst being in the Isle of Man, I would not have minded if they were offered at a supplementary cost but just cutting them completely was poor.

Location, room with sea view, room made up and restocked on demand made a more relaxed stay

There was nothing to dislike

EXCELLENT IN ALL ASPECTS

Beautiful hotel with stunning atrium, lots of space in the room and on balcony. Friendly and helpful staff. Very comfortable. Swimming pool.

Maybe decorate the gym area

Location was perfect, staff very nice

A little tired in places but was very clean

The inside balcony over the atrium made it different, it was lovely to be able to sit on the balcony even if the weather outside wasn't good.

Purely from a horticultural point of view it was a shame that the plants in the atrium were really in need of attention, I am aware of the challenges of plant care over a hot summer but lots old dead leaves that need trimming and sorting out really spoils what is a great space.

Excellent suite, friendly staff

Limited Parking

Another great stay at the Sefton, easily the best hotel on the island. The staff are the real stars of this place.

This hotel is very nice although a little tired looking

Great breakfast with plenty of choice

The shabby chairs

Staff were frendly and very polite and very professional 👏

The room was excellent

Location, the room and the cooked breakfast.

The early morning continental breakfast didn’t have any croissants or pain au chocolats. The temperature in the Encore lounge was cool to cold.

Beautiful, large, well equipped room. Huge breed and fantastic shower. Lots of character, good facilities and great breakfast. Very good value for money given the high standard of the Sefton

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Spacious suite but furnishings worn out

Carpets need renewing. Furniture poor in suite

Great location friendly staff and choice of restaurants also in excellent bar

Housekeeping only every three days but anything you needed was supplyed on request plenty of water coffee tea and biscuits in the room

The room and the sea view were amazing. Staff were very helpful Shower was powerful and very good

Nothing

The location is perfect.

The food is not good.

Excellent location. Friendly reception staff. Nice size room with sea view. Clean bed linen and towels. The exterior of the building is fabulous.

The bacon was very overcooked on some of the mornings. The temperature of the food could have been hotter. There was no privacy glazing in our bathroom which was on the front so we had to keep the blind constantly shut in the bathroom. Also, the window in the bathroom would not stay open so we had to wedge something under it to allow ventilation. The bathroom needed a refurbish really. Get rid of the bidet which nobody uses which would give more room for a bigger shower with a proper cubicle and not just a shower curtain.

Great sea view,good breakfast & good location

Property needs some tender loving care & in our room(218)light bulb wasn’t working properly(which took 3 visits to reception to get sorted)bedside cabinet legs broken,curtain hanging off,bath panel has seen better days,bathroom door handle that squeaks,blinds that were to high to reach easily & windows that wouldn’t open properly with a large gap at the top

Spacious rooms looking over lovely atrium. Perfect location, friendly staff and great bar for food and drink and leisure facilities if you can fit it in 😀

A lack of fresh air due to the central atrium but not a major issue

The location

Hotel needs a bit of a revamp. Our room was in the atrium It was very warm with no windows to open. Breakfast was overcooked

The location was great - very central and walkable from the ferry terminal. From outside it’s one of the nicest looking hotels in Douglas. The staff were very friendly.

We had an atrium room and it was lovely having the balcony. However the weather was very warm during our stay but we couldn’t leave the balcony doors open at night to get any air because some guests would sit on their balcony at 2, 3 and 4am chatting loudly and with all the glass it echoed loudly around the atrium keeping everyone awake. Other guests then got annoyed and would one by one slam their balcony doors which was also very noisy. This happened on 4 different nights. We asked if it was possible to move rooms as we were hardly getting any sleep but the hotel was full and all they could offer was an additional fan. However I think perhaps we were just unlucky being there at the same time as such inconsiderate people as I don’t see many other reviews mentioning this. Plus at a cooler time of year it would probably be easier to sleep with the balcony door shut. We were also on the top floor so I guess the rooms there would be the warmest. Maybe some signage on the balconies reminding guests to keep the noise down between midnight and 7am might be a good idea? Considering the price range the hotel was a bit tired and since the rooms are only made up every 3 days we would run out of tea, coffee etc.

Our room was amazing, we had an atrium room, we loved sitting out on our balcony overlooking the garden, it was cosy and relaxing.

We got a takeaway breakfast on our last morning as we had a very early start. The sandwiches were not what we ordered and I didn't feel it was value for money

Location, everything.

Dinning chairs tatty and stair carpet worn if I had to complain but overall excellent

We always stay at The Sefton, a family thing. The memories and location are great

Nothing in particular. The Sefton is what it is. Every time we come we think it needs a refurb.

Welcoming and very helpful staff. Clean, warm and welcoming.

Nothing

First class comfortable hotel in an ideal location, close to the sea front and ferry terminal. Room (218) was very spacious, comfortable bed, sitting area with lovely views out onto the sea and harbour. Fridge, safe and kettle provided which could be topped up with tea and biscuits from reception. Staff were very helpful and friendly - went the extra mile for posting postcards, parking and booking seats at the adjacent Gaiety Theatre. Breakfast choice covered all our requirements - cooked breakfast and continental were first class. Overall, first class choice for a short 3 day break.

Nothing.

Good location Nice friendly staff Nice powerful shower Bed comfy

Balcony doors didn’t close Room very hot but they provided fans

Good location. Large clean comfy room

Tolle Lage. Freundliches Personal. Gutes Frühstück als Buffet. Überdachter Parkplatz für Motorräder kostenfrei.

Friendly staff lovely comfy room and bed. Bathroom spacious with large walkin shower. Room looking beautiful central atrium with plants and fish pond

Sausages and bacon very poor quality unable to eat them . Was some cooking smells when restaurant was open. Hotel did not run its own restaurant.

The whole aspect of our holiday was absolutely lovely

Nothing

Locality friendly staff excellent rooms

Nothing it was perfect

Very clean and comfortable rooms. Very helpful, friendly staff. Excellent breakfast. Excellent location for access to shops, buses, tram and ferry port.

The swimming pool didn’t live up to its picture on the website. Too small and too shallow for a proper swim. The Pan Asian Restaurant was excellent, but not to everyone’s taste. A restaurant serving more traditional food with proper restaurant seating should be on offer for those who don’t like Asian cuisine. Encore Bar couldn’t really be described as a restaurant, very average pub food. Pub style seating and decor not in keeping with the traditional style of the hotel and the memory of Norman Wisdom… such a shame. Coffee only available in this bar if machine is still running in Pan Asian restaurant, which it wasn’t always.

Zimmer und Bad sehr schön. Zimmerservice was reinigen und Betten angeht wäre schön alle 2 Tage statt alle 3 Tage. Klobürste im Bad wünschenswert. Frühstück, Brot und Brötchen Sortiment wäre nicht schlecht. Ein zweiter Toaster wäre auch gut das man nicht so lange anstehen muß, ansonsten sehr gut. Die Lage, besser geht es nicht, TOP.

Zimmerservice sollte alle 2 Tage statt 3 Tage. Klobürste im Bad sollte vorhanden sein. Frühstück, Brot und Brötchen Sortiment wäre nicht schlecht. Ein zweiter Toaster wäre auch gut das man nicht so lange anstehen muß.

Central good facilities and parking

Nothing

Perfect Location

N/A

The staff were amazing Atrium Room was a little warm because no outside windows but the fan made it fine Location was really good on the end of the main shopping street in Douglas Parking was first come first served but we parked every night ok so no problem The connected restaurant was very nice Spectacular building, nice swimming pool Wonderful theatre next door too definitely worth a visit if you can Oh yes and the reception staff were so helpful and friendly it felt like we had been going for years

Only that the atrium room was a little warm but the fan made it fine

It’s a lovely building in central Douglas,

Its needs a good refurbishment and updated and not just a coat of paint, we have stayed there many many times over many years, in all category of rooms and suites but this was the first time we asked to be moved to another room, which they did but it cost us an extra £80 to move into the same category of room. Peeling plaster, rooms not serviced daily, having to ask for basics to be replenished, towels, loo roll etc, we stayed for 8 nights, the bed was made, (tidied, not changed) only once, Fire alarms going off due to bathroom doors being left open (bathroom extractor not working) is not acceptable in 2026. There were other smaller issues which shouldn’t have happen but…I think I have said enough. We really want to return but……..

it was close to prom,shops transport

prices are quite high

It is a lovely property! We had room facing the atrium, which we thought was great. Very helpful staff. Great location for promenade, beach and town. It was quiet and had two good areas for a drink And relaxation. Theatre next door is a great facility.

Having lifts was great - we were on top floor. But positioning of them was quite complex and no explanation of how to get there in first visit. Parking facilities were good, but adequate - motor Bikes were everywhere. But understand why! Not being able to put meals on overall bill was difficult.

Location and breakfast were excellent

New carpets needed

No complaints at all

Good sea front position

Arboretum can get hot and echoing, banging doors

Great location and lovely atrium and bar.

Room was absolutely boiling and when we mentioned to staff they didn’t do or say anything about it

This is one of the best for location on Douglas being close to the town centre and within walking distance of the paddock area. Most hotels on the IOM are older style so the Sefton is one of the better ones with beautiful interior spaces and comfortable beds

The rooms are dated and had we stayed earlier this summer when the weather was really hot the room would have been unbearable with just a small fan. We also missed the message on the book in the room that unless you put out a sign to make up your room it won't be refreshed until after 3rd night which is not usual for such a grand hotel

Very convenient to the town and other venues for eating out etc Room very nice and quiet

Staff and the large sea front rooms were amazing

If I was being picky it's due a lick of paint here and there

Room and location

NTV channels limited and subtitles notoperative., Bar out of sync wuth rest of hotwl

Great location and superb atrium room .

Price of £200 per night was expensive and the swimming pool was out of service as well , only very 3 days for room cleaning too.

Freundliches zuvorkommendes Personal. Lage direkt am Meer. Wir kommen wieder.

Great location

Nothing, all good

Location. Pool. Garden room . Attentive staff. I am vegan and chef always sorted my breakfast friendly staff.

Nothing

Location

Bathroom was tired

Location and amenities

Rooms very warm, fan supplied didn’t help much

Very close to sea terminal

A beautiful old building which is in need of redecoration/refurb.

Position ,friendly staff,good value breakfast

Stairwell carpets tatty

It's a very quite hotel, especially overlooking the courtyard

Fantastic location and staff

Nothing

Central location, lift , car park rooms

Rooms very hot even with fan on

Room excellent, lovely looking into the Atrium. Modern and well fitted out.

Dining room rather shabby furniture and corridor carpets worn.

Central location

Very grand, must’ve been epic when it was first built

Has definitely aged now, lift is super slow and I had to get my room access card reset at least 10 times!

Location, really helpful staff, Bonzai was great.

The bed was like concrete. Extremely uncomfortable. The bed let the overall experience down.

Staff were amazing Claire on reception was so good I have emailed the hotel to mention her - 1000% a credit to them!

The rooms and building is in desperate need of work - damp smell - no air con - old styles - odd set up to rooms - no sound proofing - just needs a bit of investment to bring it back to glory

Location. Check-in staff very friendly and helpful.

This Hotel may have been grand in its day but based on our seaview room, decor, hallway/stair carpets, elevators this certainly isn't a 4* Hotel. The facade is beautiful but internally it screams out for refurbishment. The room was grubby, very dated furniture, decor and lighting. Windows were dirty. Bathroom was grubby, had cracked sanitary wear, and worse of all the shower tray over flowed and flooded the whole bathroom. Never again.

Great staff - Claire on reception was amazing xxx

The decor and rooms need a major upgrade - smelt damp - rooms boiling hot and out dated

Hotel front is impressive. Very convenient location. Food & drink facilities are good. Bed was comfortable. Good accessibility.

Room was spacious but on 2 levels with a step down to the seating area. Odd. Generally tired furniture but OK. Warm in the rooms but a fan provided.

Spacious rooms, lovely staff. Delightful atrium

It was a little difficult sometimes to find our way around.

The Sefton was in an ideal location just across the prom which is flat so good for those with mobility issues. It is a short walk to shops, bars and restaurants. Our room was large and airy with a balcony overlooking the atrium, comfortable bed and lovely bathroom with shower cubicle. Breakfast was good from continental to a full english which was hot and constantly replenished. Staff were great, friendly and really helpful. From a personal point of view would definitely recommend.

Sofa in room small and not very comfortable but that is just a personal opinion. If using your own car, the carpark on the ground floor can be very busy so it's not always possible to find a space if returning after a day out!

Nice traditional seafront hotel which is well maintained with good size rooms, lovely staff and a fantastic range at breakfast. There is limited parking accessed from the back, paid for separately. It's close to the ferry terminal and an easy walk to other central Douglas things so we just left the car in the carpark most of the stay and used the Go Explore card to travel.

Nothing much. Compared to other places we've stayed recently for similar money this was good value with a spacious room

Old fashioned but comfortable

Great location, good breakfast. We have a room looking into the lovely atrium and these are very nice with a nice atmosphere. Like most hotels you could pick up on some parts being a little tiered but all round we loved out stay here ! very happy

If you want to use the gym its very basic, but who goes on holiday for that ! get out and discover the island there is plenty to do for a long weekend.

Love the Sefton. The staff are the stars, they are very polite and helpful. The rooms have had a refresh since last time I stayed and I personally love the mix of old and new. The new bathrooms are amazing with walk in shower. The atrium is fantastic and I wouldn’t change it. First time using the swimming pool and we loved it. Such a special unique hotel.

Not very much However Bonsai Thai Restaurant - stunning food and they couldn't do enough for you - reasonable cost as well

Car Park - rarely spaces available Key cards constantly having to be reprogrammed Hotel - grubby with lots of missing or broken items Staff all working to different procedures - not one had the same answer

Location and history beautiful view from room

Slightly tired decor and swimming pool that wasn't deep enough for any real swimming

the position was great and the room was very good but a little dated breakfast was good

The room had an excellent view of the sea front and the bathroom was really lovely. We were very happy that it had a bidet, not something one gets very often and I wish more hotels had this. The breakfast was exceptionally good. Lots to choose from, healthy or full English. The bar was very nice with great staff. The location couldn't have been better, right next to the theatre and in a great location on the sea front. I loved the fact that there was parking for my motorcycle under the hotel too.

Nothing really. Really pleased we chose the Sefton.

Location, building very nice, swimming pool small but still good. Kettle in the room.

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Location was great, room small but good with a pleasant sea view.

A bigger room.

Location and size of room.

Pity the spa facilities were no longer in service and the food quality in Bonzai restaurant wasnt great.

Fantastic location and a once incredibly grand hotel indeed. It has all you’d ever need really! Staff were pleasant.

Whilst being very clean- it’s really showing its age. This hotel is very tired. It’s patched and it’s really scruffy in places. The view out of 323 is awful- a skip, a back alley and 23 bins. Cracked tiles, ruined carpet, stained walls- all of that. Some in photos. I thought it was quite expensive for what it was on this basis.

Peaceful atrium for relaxing on the balcony in the evening. Water features stayed on quietly at night which was a big improvement over previous years as they used to be switched off at night leaving generator hums and room noise.

Breakfast nommy, but the croissants weren't crispy, clearly ordered in part baked and not finished by the kitchen.

Staff were brilliant. Location perfect.

We had a room with no view. Very large but bit dated and away from main building. To hot. No air con.

Ok

The room was too warm

Central location

Very dated tired estate , extremely hot with no ventilation. Internal rooms with no air con / windows - issue with drainage , took 24 hrs to be believed and then did get a room swap from a different manager

Staff were friendly and helpful. Location was good for buses.

Room Pleasant but no view.

Maitenance in general areas

Everything location,stunning hotel,staff are fantastic

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