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The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns

4.0 star property

Photo gallery for The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns

Daily full breakfast (GBP 8.75 per person)
Garden
Exterior detail
Double or Twin Room, Accessible
Property entrance

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Bar

Explore the area

View map
Brook Park, Valley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, England, CO15 3TP
  • Place, Clacton Leisure Centre
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Princes Theatre
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Clacton-on-Sea Beach
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, London (SEN-Southend)
    ‪72 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Double or Twin Room

Double or Twin Room

Double or Twin Room

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(22 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Double Room

Double Room

Double Room

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(62 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Double or Twin Room, Accessible

Double or Twin Room, Accessible

Double or Twin Room, Accessible

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(14 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Family Room

1 bedroom, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Family Room

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(18 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

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About the area

Clacton-on-Sea

With a stay at The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns in Clacton-on-Sea, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Princes Theatre and West Cliff Theatre. .This inn is 2.1 mi (3.4 km) from Clacton Pier and 2.1 mi (3.4 km) from Clacton Leisure Centre.
View more Inns in Clacton-on-SeaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Clacton Leisure Centre - 3 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Princes Theatre - 4 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Clacton-on-Sea Beach - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
  • St. Osyth Beach - 9 min drive - 7.8 km
  • Ipswich Waterfront - 38 min drive - 54.7 km

Getting around

  • Clacton-on-Sea Station - 3 min drive
  • London (SEN-Southend) - 78 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Smugglers Cove - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Skinners Fish and Chips - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min walk

About this property

The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns

The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns offers 38 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Flat-screen televisions come with digital channels.

Bathrooms include showers and complimentary toiletries. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

Make yourself at home in one of the 38 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access.
At The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns, enjoy a satisfying meal at the restaurant. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Full breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee.
Free self parking is available onsite.
Full breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns has a restaurant on site.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: GBP 8.75 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Garden

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No lift
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)

More

  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
The host will greet guests on arrival
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Host will greet you

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 8.75 per person

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

Property is also known as

Smugglers Cove Marston's Inns Inn Clacton-on-Sea
Smugglers Cove Marston's Inns Inn
Smugglers Cove Marston's Inns Clacton-on-Sea
Smugglers Cove Marston's Inns
Inn Smugglers Cove by Marston's Inns Clacton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea Smugglers Cove by Marston's Inns Inn
Inn Smugglers Cove by Marston's Inns
Smugglers Cove by Marston's Inns Clacton-on-Sea
Smugglers Cove Marston's Inns
Smugglers Cove by Marston's Inns
Smugglers Cove Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns

The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 476 out of 808 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 213 out of 808 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 84 out of 808 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 808 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 17 out of 808 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Kelly

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The hotel itself hadn’t been hoovered and the carpet was covered in bits, this was also the same in the room with the bathroom having stones and other bits all over it. When we asked for the room to be made up the beds weren’t properly made and again no hoovering. Also for a family room there is no sticky bath mat for kids not to slip. The main bed was great the two single beds felt like the springs were going to come through the mattress. The breakfast was ok and some of the bits were decent enough, poor choice of hot drink options when it comes to tea, however the staff were very friendly and tried to be helpful. Overall the stay was ok, it just seems to need some real attention on cleanliness and spare beds
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent from check in to check out…
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Mrs R S

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Reception was very welcoming and we had a good evening meal in the restaurant. Breakfast however was very slow both days. I decided to have poached eggs on toast the second day and they were very undercooked so I couldn't eat any of it. I would have complained but after waiting so long for it to arrive there really wasn't time to reorder. Our room was ok except the bathroom was a disabled wet room instead of a standard bathroom, which we didn't book. I would definitely go there again for an evening meal but I don't think I would stay there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Hhh
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Clean room, quiet, bed was comfortable. Had everything I needed. Even had a bath which I enjoyed. Complimentary tea/coffee /milk, extra available in the foyer. Didn't have any food as was visiting family
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tony

Business traveller
Liked: Amenities
Clean and
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nick

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Rooms had everything we needed, clean and tidy. Food at the restaurant was good and the service was excellent
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

trevor

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shaun

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pablo

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Mark

Business traveller
Not the greatest but not the worst, standard
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tony

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

2/10 Terrible

Rafina

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Unorganized
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

2/10 Terrible

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
Again the room wasn't made up properly. Previously I've been sent down to a room that wasn't clean. Ended up watching the ladies do the house keeping. I was having a really nice day. Prices a little higher than I am used to, but not too expensive. I had some nice drinks and my girlfriend and I had a meal. By time you factor in the cost of the room, drinks, and a meal it's about 120 quid. Should be a nice time away. Then you find. Even after my girlfriend phone reception. That the room is made up of 2 singles instead of a double bed. Okay the lady did come and change it. But I was met with excuses. We are short staffed, someone else got it wrong. That kind of thing. I spend a lot of money with hotels and this kind of thing is becoming all too common. Also room 101 had terrible outside noise coming into it. It's an accessible room so sadly we can't always book elsewhere. It's either people above or those coming in and out smoking all night that stop you sleeping.I was going to book 2 nights but I can't risk going to work tired on Monday Room wasn't right and too noisy for a work night sleep
How we found the room
After they'd had to change it to what we requested. Surely it should have been like this when we checked in?
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Jonathan

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Nice room clean and everything you need. My only complaint was the mattress it was awful just how I imagine that a prison mattress would be.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Rafina

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Holes in the walls , mold in the toilet not clean at all the bed was so uncomfortable as they pushed two singles together
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tracey

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jake

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chanell

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Russell

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Andrew

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Not a good experience

Check in staff were helpful, but apart from that not a very good experience. The room was not well maintained. There was a big brown mark in the bottom of the toilet, towel rail was broken, cobwebs throughout, walls all scratched, hair in the plug hole, kettle scaled up, lightbulbs not working.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Michael

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean and newly decorated. Bed was very comfy. Quiet area, but good sound insulation anyway. Safe car-park visible from window. Reasonable menu for breakfast and evening meal. Maybe benefit from a small magnifying mirror in bathroom for ladies makeup?
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The rooms are fantastic, the pub serves amazing food and staff are super. Cant recommend enough
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025