Guest User
June 1, 2023
Although The Firs Guest House is ideally placed for visiting the lovely Runswick Bay, walking the coastal paths or sightseeing, our stay was not as hoped for. We had a first floor, deluxe King room as part of a group (all of retirement age) taking 5 rooms. Sadly we found the experience rather disappointing and encountered several problems during our stay. Our simply furnished, first floor, 'Seaside' themed room was in the eaves, which made head room at a premium.The narrow, steep stairs and a hard to open door (due to a new carpet) makes getting to and in the room a bit of a 'gym' experience and not for the unfit! The ensuite, in this deluxe room, is modern with a shower over the jacuzzi bath. The bed is comfortable with good quality linen and a choice of pillows. There is a pod coffee machine plus tea and coffee available with milk and water kept in a small fridge. It would have been nice to have the biscuits or cake on the hospitality tray that were mentioned in previous reviews. As one couple in the group brought their dog, we were in the smaller, dog friendly dining area /guest lounge for our breakfasts and dinner during our stay.This has a little bar, a small corner sofa and dining tables. Sadly, on the occasions we chose to dine elsewhere in the evenings, we had nowhere to sit for drinks and a chat when we returned early, as it was closed and by 8.30/9pm. Not the cosy guest facility advertised. For breakfast, there were unlimited beverages, toast and excellent homemade preserves. The breakfast menu is to be applauded, with a vast choice and huge portions but this proved a challenge for the kitchen,perhaps due to the size of the party. Mistakes were made with the plated breakfast orders and scrambled egg especially, was cold on several occasions ....possibly due to the distance from the kitchen to this dining area. However, hats off to the lovely waiting staff (especially Andy) who coped amazingly, rectifying all of the issues quickly and cheerfully. Evening dining in the "Runswick Bay Catch" was not the restaurant experience we had hoped for. Again, because of the dog, we were in the small dining area plus other guests with their dog. The menu is varied and because of our party size, we pre-ordered on check in to assist the kitchen but still encountered issues in the evening. The Seafood chowder was served in a cottage loaf 'bowl' but there was a lack of any liquid remaining when served, leaving the somewhat tasteless, shredded fish, potato and corn behind. My good sized smoked salmon parcels were served on a very generous bed of rocket but the light cream cheese filling was sadly, overpowered by a lot of garlic, the taste of which remained with me for a long time! Several of our party ordered the Seafood Gratin, myself included and each one was cold on service and returned to the kitchen for a hot replacement.....along with most of the vegetable dishes that were sadly, also cold. My husband ordered the Persian Lamb with Rice