The hotel is located right at the northern edge of the Thanet Island with great views over the sea pretty much from every room. The story of how the Bishop family rescued the hotel from certain destruction is also now part of the Margate folklore. The hotel itself is a museum: there are plenty of artefacts lovingly collected and stored over the years. The old Otis trellis gated lift, creaking floors and original furniture from the early XX century all create an unforgettable experience and sends one to a bygone era. Yes, the venue does require some maintenance and things inevitably go wrong but that’s exactly what you expect from such a place and the haphazardness is part of its charm. Our Superior Room on the second floor was overlooking the front of the hotel, with views over the bowling green and the sea to the right. There was a small balcony as well although the inclement weather spoiled that enjoyment. The bed was huge and comfortable, there was plenty of seating and various drawers for storage. Furniture was of period type, with a huge wardrobe occupying the centre of the room. Lighting was more than adequate. WiFi signal was good. The bathroom was on the small side and the door went right up to the sink creating a bit of a squeeze but considering the space constraints, that was acceptable. Unfortunately, the hotel doesn’t offer evening meals which is a shame considering the gorgeous restaurant room. They do allow you, however, to order a take-away and dine in there. We ordered a great Indian with Secret Spices and it was very tasty indeed. Breakfast was fairly standard although beautifully cooked mushrooms and scrambled eggs really stood out. Nice touch was the owner helping out and talking to guests at the tables – it’s always great to see owners taking so much interest in their business! We really enjoyed staying at the Walpole, it was an experience like none other. It’s a pity there was no evening dining as we’re sure this hotel would be even better with it being available.
번역