Portobello, United States
Family-run hotel
with strong eco-friendly ethos
Ten minutes' walk
from sandy Portobello beach
Impressive
leisure facilities include a large indoor pool and spa
On-site fitness center and tennis court
Smart, modern
rooms have flat-screen TVs and electric kettles
Two dining options, and a bar featuring outside seating
Plenty of free parking
on-site
Free Wi-Fi
Some interiors
are dated
Far from
Edinburgh city center
Reports that Wi-Fi can be slow
No in-room air-conditioning
The 95-room Best Western Kings
Manor Hotel is a mid-range, family-run property housed in a former convent with
plenty of modern architectural add-ons. Located a short walk from the
picturesque seaside suburb of Portobello, it's far from Edinburgh's tourist attractions -- though local trains run regularly
into the city. Rooms are clean and contemporary with decent amenities, while
leisure facilities are way above-par for this level of hotel (there's a huge indoor pool, fitness center, tennis court, and spa all on-site). Overall, for
those happy with the out-of-town location -- despite some tired decor in places
-- rates represent pretty good value. Wi-Fi is free, but can be slow.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Chain hotel with tired decor -- though friendly staff and eco-friendly policies
Although
occupying what was once a convent dating back to the mid-19th century,
the hotel is mostly made up of modern add-ons, so there's little evidence of its heritage remaining. Fronted by a long, glass conservatory, once inside the reception area guests find a standard chain hotel in style with modern
furnishings and a generic, charmless quality. Throughout most of the common
areas of the hotel, the decor feels dated and shows a lack of maintenance (and there's more than a whiff of mustiness in the corridors). The sports center section of the hotel, however, is extremely clean, modern, and impressive for this level of property, while staff are
also generally very friendly and professional, and the family-fun hotel
operates with a strong environmental ethos.
Location
Set on the outskirts of the pretty seaside suburb Portobello -- four miles from Edinburgh city center
The hotel
overlooks a main road in a residential area on the edge of the pretty Edinburgh
seaside suburb of Portobello. There's not much in the immediate area in the way
of bars or restaurants, however the pretty golden sands of Portobello Beach are
a 10-minute stroll away. Being around four miles from Edinburgh's center, it's
certainly not convenient for tourists looking to explore the city, though it's
about a 20-minute drive in, or half an hour by bus. Brunstane train station is
also just a five minutes' walk from the hotel and connects to Edinburgh's central
Waverly station in under 10 minutes.
Rooms
Clean, modern rooms with solid amenities -- though Wi-Fi can be sluggish
The Kings Manor
Hotel has 95 rooms, some of which are more modern than others. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi (which
can be slow at times), tea/coffee facilities, hair dryers, and flat-screen TVs with a few satellite channels, while Club level rooms come with the option of PlayStations. Bathrooms are modern and clean, many with shower/tub combos,
though some are on the small side and toiletries are from pump dispensers. Despite a nearby road, traffic noise is generally not an issue in rooms; however, the lack of
air-conditioning could be annoying during the warmer months.
Features
Outstanding leisure facilities and plenty of free parking
The hotel's
leisure facilities are certainly the highlight here. This Best Western features a decent-sized indoor swimming pool (with
separate section for small kids), hot tub, sauna, and steam room as well as a
modern gym and outdoor tennis court. There are also a couple dining options
on-site -- Lauders Restaurant, serving breakfast and dinner, and Options Bistro
for lunch and dinner -- as well as Bar Zest that is open all day and has
outdoor seating in the summer. There's also plenty of free parking for those
arriving by car and Wi-Fi is free of charge throughout.
