I'd stayed in this guesthouse in August 2023 and loved the friendly welcome, the ambience and the location. Almost at the last minute, this year, I upgraded to a family room - highly recommended! At check-in, I was met by a very friendly and welcoming barmaid/receptionist. She took me to the room and made sure that I was settled and familiar with the security key and after-hours access should I return late from dinner with a great friend. I'm not sure about the other rooms but my room appeared to have undergone a complete refurbishment to a very high standard. A great night's sleep, despite being adjacent to a fairly busy road. Breakfast next morning with my friend, who'd travelled over locally, was pre-ordered, prompt, hot and delicious. There was a very modest extra charge for my friend's breakfast, Mine was included in my room rate. Friends parted, I headed off for the next leg of my 940-mile round trip towards Scotland, my next stopover. Highly recommended, I'll be back again in August 2025!

Nothing. My one-night stay could not have been better.

The room was very comfy and clean, lovely pub, central to all places we visited, breakfast was freshly cooked and really nice, the staff was amazing very friendly and helpful, but the thing that stood out for me was the actual owner of the pub was around every morning Storting breakfast out and taking time to talk to us asking what plans we had for the day and the next morning he ask about the day before very nice owner, we will go back when up north again .

No food at night they only do breakfast

The service from the staff was exceptional. They could not do enough to accommodate us and so warm and welcoming. We stayed prior to the great north run and they served a full breakfast earlier than usual so we could enjoy it before rushing off.

The toilet in my room was faulty and did not flush properly which caused a pipe to leak, however this was only the morning of leaving the hotel so I could only let the staff know on checking out. Given the 5 star service I assume this will have been quickly rectified once the staff were aware of the issue.

The property was a perfect base for my north east coast travels. Great comfy room and it was lovely to wake to a view of the sea in the distance. 😊 All of the staff were extremely helpful and it was lovely to chat about the area with them. Breakfast was lovely and a great selection of produce- coffee was great too. Great service from all people I was fortunate to meet Thank you for my stay 😊

We stayed here for 2 nights to attend my daughter's wedding, From arrival to leaving everything was excellent. The owner and staff all went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. The breakfast was excellent with a wide range of choice and the bed was so comfy. Not to mention the good old-fashioned open coal fire in the lounge!! We would definitely recommend The Bell and would not hesitate to stay here again in the future.

Nothing really. If anything, perhaps offering bar snacks or evening meals but that is only a suggestion. We did manage to find somewhere to eat in the evening.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Rate The Bell Guesthouse, and I must say, it was an absolutely delightful experience from start to finish. From the moment I arrived, I felt a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the tone for the entire stay. First and foremost, the owner of the guesthouse is an absolute gem. Their dedication to providing exceptional hospitality was evident in every aspect of my stay. They were not only welcoming but also incredibly attentive to the needs of their guests. The owner went above and beyond to ensure that I felt comfortable and had everything I needed during my time at the guesthouse. The rooms at Rate The Bell are tastefully decorated and immaculately clean. The attention to detail is impressive, and it's clear that the owner takes great pride in maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and comfort. The bed was exceptionally comfortable, ensuring a restful night's sleep after a day of working in the local area. One of the highlights of my stay was the delicious breakfast provided each morning. The owner personally oversees the breakfast service, and the attention to quality and variety was outstanding. It's evident that they have a passion for providing not just a place to stay but a memorable experience for their guests. In summary, Rate The Bell Guesthouse exceeded my expectations in every way possible. The combination of a charming atmosphere, immaculate accommodations, delicious breakfast, and the exceptional hospitality of the owner make this guesthouse a standout choice for anyone visiting the area. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I booked the courtyard studio and it was amazing. It had everything I needed including a fridge, microwave and toaster. The bed was huge and super comfy. I had a lovely relaxing stay. The staff were all lovely and nothing was to much trouble. They don't do evening meals which I was aware of before I stayed but there is plenty of local placed to eat. I would definitely recommend this guesthouse and will be staying again when in the area.

There is nothing i didn't like about this guesthouse

WOW,The Bell guesthouse was very clean and comfortable,and exceptionally friendly with the amazing staff that they have to assist, with no requests being too big for them. Fantastic breakfast menu with lots of choice. The hotel is well situated, being close to Seaham where I visited along with other tourist sites. I would definitely stay there again and not hesitate to recommend to friends and family. Many many thanks

Nothing.

I had a beyond wonderful time at The Bell Guesthouse! I felt welcomed from the very moment I stepped in: since there was a private event going on in the pub downstairs, the staff (shout out to Ruth!) moved me into a bigger room, far away from the noise and the music. Knowing that I had to leave early in the morning they offered (cooked!) breakfast to take away. And as if this wasn't enough, at the end the manager anticipated the breakfast time as there were 3 guests having to leave before 8 in the morning (of Sunday!). They packed my breakfast - a wonderful egg and bacon sandwich, and even gave me a lift to where I had to go. It really felt homey, with genuine, kind and attentive people running the place. These are the kind of experiences that are not just pleasant, but give you faith and hope in humanity. Thank you. Will definitely be back!

Hospitality was perfect ..the room we booked twin room was lovely ..clean and well presented..greeted and fed with a breakfast every morning ..nothing was too much to ask ..even helped us with our cases ..to the room ..my auntie is 83yrs ..and very happy with how the staff are in their working environment...very professional...happy to help with anything ..very very helpful .. Breakfast was 1st class ..lots of options to choose from and wasnt a problem for them to give us more tea or coffee ..bed linen was 1st class ..couldn't fault nothing in our room ..beds very comfortable ..

If I'm going to say anything ....was the day we had to leave to go home ...we where more than comfortable a few weeks would of been lovely ..lol...