Host & Stay | Watch House — Guest Reviews

Tidy property, that was far from clean..... Positive: 1. The location of the property was ideal to a certain degree. Not far from the castle or the harbour however it was located at the top of the hill which isn't made very clear. 2. The view 3. The beds were relatively comfortable. Negative: 1. The location was at the top of the hill - my dad has COPD and this was a real struggle. It was very clear in the description and if I had known we wouldn't have booked. If you have mobility issues then this is not for you!. 2. If 6 of you are staying in the property and come on more than one vehicle, only one of the vehicles will be covered for the duration of the stay. No big deal but should have been made clear. 2. The house was not clean. It was tidy, but far from clean. There was dust everywhere, cobwebs in every corner and the top floor shower had some of the thickest mold on the tile grout I have ever seen. It was absolutely disgusting. I don't think the tiles have ever been scrubbed or wiped down. It was absolutely full of black mold. My husband and I swapped with my dad because he has COPD it is not ideal for him to be exposed to black mold, in fact he would have ended up in hospital. This needs addressing IMMEDIATELY. 3. The house smelled of damp and mold - damp was visible in the top floor bedroom in the far corner, bottom double rooms all around the bathroom and in the twin room above the window. 4. Black mold was present in 2 of the bathroom's bottom was in the silicone, this happens and no big deal. However the top floor shower and the ceiling was covered in black mold. The tiles, the silicone, the window frame, the window. Not only is it gross it's toxic. That shower room needs an extractor fan and needs to be resolved before being let out again. It needs addressing IMMEDIATELY. 5. The top back bathroom window is completely see through! This wasn't discovered until after 3 days after going for a walk up to the top at the castle to see the view. For 3 days I was flashing the people of Scarborough, who were not only getting an eye full but were also able to see me use the toilet. We thought it was a reflected film on the glass but no it's not.

Lovely home, perfect for our family of 5. The location is BRILLIANT - probably even better than what it appears on the map. Would thoroughly recommend

. We really enjoyed our stay. The views from the upstairs were amazing, especially with the large French doors. The kitchen and dining area were excellent. We loved having 3 separate bathrooms. WiFi and TV were excellent. It was also nice to have a washing machine and storage space in the utility room. The garden was lovely, especially for the children. Hard to park (we could not find residents' parking spaces, so hard to use a car park half a mile away) and very hard to unload the car upon arrival - would be very hard with small children. The location worked well for us with the views but would not work for anyone with infants, as the climb up the steps would be impossible with a buggy or pram. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay.

Loved it! The proximity to the beach and attractions was amazing yet private and peaceful all at the same time. The house was as described and the views from the living space and upstairs bedroom were fantastic. Was clean and tidy on arrival and the host was extremely proactive in ensuring our stay was comfortable, brilliant contact and really friendly. A superb base for an extended break (although good thighs needed for the steps from the beach 😁) we would definitely recommend for either the family or a couples retreat to the seaside and will definitely be back.

Lovely sized house with a garden and great views of Scarborough beach! Good location and perfect for a family of 4 to visit.

This would have been a 5 star review as the house itself is fantastic - location is brilliant and the view was absolutely amazing. The house was very clean and well equipped although a high chair would be a helpful addition for families. The house is very spacious and the beds super comfy! We also appreciated that there is a stair gate as we have a 1 year old. The “parking scratch cards” are only for one car which isn’t clear on the description however and we had to pay an additional fee for a second card which then wasn’t there when we arrived. Host and Stay did nothing to resolve this during our stay other than make false promises that it would be dropped off. In the end they agreed to reimburse us for the pay and display costs we had to pay to park the second car somewhere else. Overall it was an enjoyable stay at The Watch House but Host and Stay need to improve their customer service.

Brilliant location & beautiful property We really enjoyed our stay at the Watchhouse. The location is brilliant, as both the North & South bays are in walking distance. The property is furnished to a high standard and it was great having 3 bathrooms for our family of 5! Also unusual to get an outdoor garden space so close to the coast. The property wouldn’t be ideal for people with mobility issues as there are a number of steps to access the house & rooms, which we did have some challenges with for our 1 year old-but the host provided a baby gate which was very much appreciated. We would definitely stay again. Thank you for a lovely stay.

Lovely but could have been better. Positive: Great view but not good for anyone struggling with steep incline and steps. Negative: The house is nice but in need of somethings replacing eg. Bedside tables lamps kitchen bin. Outside of house and garden needs to be cleaner and improoved. We were left wrong parking permit and not enough, a lot of time wasted sorting it out.

Positive: Lovely views Negative: Poor cleanliness requires urgent attention, parking very poor large vehicles it's a no no, if you have medical issues don't stay there.

Negative: Location problematic since there was no adjacent parking, and the property was up some external steps. Anyone with mobility problems could not have accessed the property. There should have been curtains in the main living space and more effective blinds in the bathroom. The main dining table had a huge crack running down the centre, so it was difficult to set the table. A tea towel would have been nice and somewhere to hang (wet) coats near the front door. Heat difficult to control on the shower(s). Property looked good but wasn't particularly comfortable.

Positive: Nice house with good kitchen Good garden Negative: Only 3 dining room chairs 3 wine glasses The towels in one of the bedrooms was full of rips and holes. For a house for 6 was ot good. Also the house is on a very steep hill which was not really specified anybody with mobility issues would have struggled

A great location and excellent value for money. Positive: The Watch House is in an elevated position close to Scarborough Castle with panoramic views across the harbour, South Bay and down the coastline towards Filey (the photographs on the website don't do it justice). The old town is quaint and comprises narrow cobbled streets, lots of steps but everything is nearby (the closest you can get by car is approximately 50 metres). The property has 3 good size bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and provides excellent value for money. It's worth taking binoculars. Negative: The property guide doesn't cover parking. The hosts provide a scratchcard which covers one vehicle for the duration of your stay. Parking discs are available from Tourist Information which allow short stay parking (where permitted) for free. However, there are a number of pay and display car parks (9am to 6pm) nearby, and in the town, and it is advisable to download the Ring Go app to make life easy. If you are going to do any cooking you will need to supply the basics yourself (salt, pepper, oil, kitchen roll, silver foil, cling film, etc.). The property wasn't dirty but did desperately need a deep clean to remove cobwebs and stickiness from handrailing, banisters and the dining room table.

Really beautiful spot, especially for the price. Beds were comfy, everything was super clean and the views were spectacular. Kitchen was pretty well stocked too. Had a bit of faff between us and the host before we arrived but once we did and saw the views everything was forgotten!

Very good overall Positive: The place overall is lovely, the location is brilliant and very good value for money. When we arrived the drain was blocked and a plinth in the banister was broken. I rang host and stay and someone came and sorted the drain straight away and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The views from the upstairs floor are absolutely amazing too. Negative: It felt like the cleaning had been a little rushed and a couple of bits had been missed. When we arrived the drain was blocked and a plinth in the banister was broken. It worried me abit as I didnt want them thinking we had caused these so I had to ring hist and stay withing the first hour of arriving but other than that it was very good.

The property was excellent good price Positive: Location brilliant house brilliant stay brilliant view out of this world Negative: No parking scratch cards as promised it cost me £50 not very pleased

I mainly want to help with parking as we were unsure and saw conflicting information. There is no parking at the property or indeed on the (small) road that the house is on. However the property does come with parking passes for the area (A2 if you want to look it up). The nearest parking is on the next road along but sometimes it is full but we always got relatively close by. Also we had enough passes for 2 cars which was useful as my mum came separately. A2 stretches quite far, you can even get quite close to the North Bay Beach if you want to. Although South Bay is nearer, North is better for dogs. Overall the property is brilliant. The views are spectacular. I wish I was still there. Also really appreciated the restaurant advice. We went to the Turkish and it was very good. Would certainly return

After a complaint the bins were tidied away to a degree Positive: The property had an amazing view Negative: The outside area was poor and very dirty Overflowing bins nappies all over the ground Bins not been emptied over flowing wheelie bins Dog poo bags in the garden Garden needs maintenance Gate broken Artificial turf coming away from the ground weeds growing through it Cigarette buts around the garden furniture

Overall the property is good, how ever.. my wife wouldn't use the upstairs bathroom as the general public can see right in the window as there is no blind and low glass obscurity. broken shower tray in down stair ensuite, mould in all bathrooms including the ceilings, the microwave was dirty inside as were the pans, the front door and windows could also do with a good clean and freshen up, to rid the area of cobwebs and bird poo, also the walls going up the stairs could do with a lick of paint, I dropped my black cardigan on the stairs and when I picked it up it was covered In fluff and hairs, obviously not been hoovered in a while, the enclosed garden area was great but had to remove a large amount of nettles from the garden area and hog weed, see pictures, just a heads up.. it's free parking in the area after 6pm but make sure you have a scratch card in for 10am the following morning. The property is in a great location it's central for everything, great for walks in any direction.

We had a fantastic bank holiday weekend as a family of 6 adults and 1 infant (ranging in age from 79 to 2 years old). The view from the upstairs of the property really made our stay. Fantastic to watch the beach and surrounding areas get busier as the day went on and then watching the lights come on as it turned dark. Fantastic location (short walk) to the beach front. The property is based on a steep hill and may be a little tricky for those less mobile but the road is very quiet so you can rest. You can allocate a bathroom to each bedroom which made getting ready in the mornings and evenings much easier for everybody. The garden area could do with a little tidying but was wonderful for allowing our 2 year old to keep busy whilst not on the beachfront and the garden gets the sunshine. Would highly recommend staying here and hope to come back!

Good, comfortable house in great location close to the beaches and attractions. Quiet despite being only a few minutes walk from the front. Access is via steep slope and steps and it's not possible to park very close to unload/ load but we managed ok as there were 4 adults and only one toddler. Slight shortage of cutlery but otherwise well equipped. Stairgate provided which was necessary with a toddler.

Ideal for small groups, amazing place to entertain and enjoy nights in enjoying the sea view and log fire Positive: Incredible sea views, very clean tidy property, looks to of been recently upgraded/decorated and to a very high standard. Negative: Luggage etc to be carried from the parking location. Access is steep tough for anyone elderly and prams etc, but this does come with the area, worth the walk and carry to get the sea views in my opinion

The house is in an excellent location with great views. Unfortunately the house itself needs some work and a good clean but we enjoyed our stay.

Beautiful view but disappointed Positive: The view is spectacular. Location is great. The interior of the house is nice. Negative: The house needs a major clean. I raised several issues the day of arrival. The oven wasn't working and the freezer was leaking. The dishwasher is bowing so you had to push it in to use it. And there was no plug for the sink. Loose carpet on the stairs which is so hazardous. I've raised all this as we had to eat out the first evening as the food we brought was for the oven. The company have come back to apologies but for the money we paid for the weekend and the standard they should be giving this house a full deep clean and having everything fixed.

Could be better with a little deep clean Positive: Location was amazing, the veiws were exactly as advertised. Just be ready for lots of stairs Negative: On the surface the unit was clean but once you got in and settled you started to see it really wasn't belong cleaned properly. There was dust and sand everywhere, if they had someone come in and do a deep clean when they have a day between stays it would be perfect.

Amazing location, easy access. Very clean and tidy establishment. Would definitely stay again for sure,

Lovely view, disappointing property. Positive: The view from the window. Negative: Cleanliness poor, even old vomit on the floor. Parking difficult. Freezer needed defrosting to shut door. Dirty furniture.

great views and easy access to beach

Great location, would stay here again. Enjoyed the ensuite. The hills to house are very steep though.

Lovely house with great amenities and views. Very easy to contact host if any issues and they were very helpful.

The views from the living area and the master bedroom were stunning. Time well spent just relaxing watching the sea and all the activity on it, from the fishing boats to paddle boarders. Charlie at Host and Stay answered any queries we had really quickly. It was a little challenging getting our gear up to the property as it is a very steep climb, so we would be mindful of that if we choose to return and pack lighter and do smaller shops. Parking could be a problem in the summer months as the car park at the bottom of the hill is quite small.

An absolutely beautiful place to stay. Fantastic views across the south bay from the very comfortable lounge/kitchen diner. The bedrooms were clean and comfortable and the pubs,restaurants,shops etc are easily in walking distance. Would recommend and would definitely stay again.

Fantastic view, had everything we needed. Comfortable beds, we all slept well. Think we are a bit fitter going home with the hill and steps ! Would definitely book again ! Great hosts , replied quickly to all our questions.

Nice property in a good location. Needed a good clean though. Had recently had some paintwork done, one of the beds had dried paint over it and the sheets and despite messages to air b and/ host and stay nothing was dealt with

Fantastic house sitting right under Scarborough Castle with wonderful views over the harbour and bay. You can't park near the property (except for loading/unloading about 50m down the street) and it's a steep walk up the hill to get to it, but this wasn't a problem at all as the location is well worth it! The house was clean and better than the photos with everything you could need including little things like soap, toilet paper, washing tabs, tea, coffee etc. The beds were really comfortable and the showers were good and powerful with hot water on tap. Three bathrooms for the three bedrooms - lovely! Nothing to complain about at all - we had a brilliant stay. Thank you!

Overall.... a really good spacious house good size garden garden, really good location. Such a lovely place! stunning views and well equipped. It is set back, so you're not in the hustle and bustle of the scarbrough front, but also a 3 minute walk if you would like to be. ( it is bit of a hill to the house) We all had a fab week and will definitely be looking at booking with host and stay again, we have loved this place!! I would suggest a chat with the cleaners about what is expected from a standard clean. Thank You 😊

Pleasant Positive: location was good, view from the rooms Negative: cleanliness, windows dirty, carpet dirty, just needs a refresh

Unser Aufenthalt in der Unterkunft war sehr angenehm, der Blick direkt aufs Wasser ist wirklich sehr, sehr schön, fußläufig ist man schnell direkt am Wasser und auch das Zentrum lag nur zehn Minuten entfernt. Vielen Dank das wir Gäste sein durften.

Seagull city Very dirty up a very steep hill Never slept with the noise from seagulls Wouldn't book Positive: Overall the place was ok The view was lovely The layout was good Negative: The cleanliness Was dirty Very noisy

Would not return Positive: The view alone was the only good thing about this property. Negative: We ended up leaving early ....The beds were so uncomfortable, the springs could be felt through it. The property had 3 bathrooms but only 1 person could shower at a time or go to the toilet or brush their teeth as the water pressure wouldn't allow for anymore. The sofa and chair was so worn and dirty, it actually looked as though there was urine up the side of the chair. The dinning table was sticky and uneven. All of us woke up with bites and just had to leave.

Great house and location. Views were amazing. Plenty of room for 6 people- but need more coat hangers! Just wish host made more effort to provide parking permits, or be clearer where to find parking. Had to drop off belongings at bottom of road as can not park directly outside the house. Disappointed that outside furniture and cushions were covered in bird poo, as was the front door. Appreciate you can’t stop the birds, but more attention on outside areas is needed by cleaners. The house itself was absolutely great.

Lovely property and very helpful host .

Lovely, modern, and clean house with large windows offering stunning views of the beach and bay. Each bedroom had its own bathroom/en-suite, which was a great bonus. The house had all the essentials for a short stay. It’s a 5-minute walk downhill to the popular beach, shops, restaurants, and arcades—just note it’s an uphill walk back. The house is on a hill, accessible by car only to the bottom of some stairs. Street parking is required, and while a permit is provided for one car, it was hard to find a spot during a busy bank holiday weekend. We had to park near the beach and walk up each time—not an issue for our young group, but not ideal for those with accessibility needs. Tip: Search for overnight public parking spaces nearby in advance and be prepared to pay and display and walk to house, if street parking isn’t available.

In a great location and the host is very reliable and responsive. Our only issue was that we were unable to drive directly up to the property and I was an extremely steep hill with steps. Other than this the apartment is great with beautiful views!

Seriously nice place to stay. Great views from the upper floor and had its own garden too. Fault the house really, just minor niggles. Upstairs shower - the main shower head didn’t work. Must have been blocked. Downstairs en-suite. Shower temperature adjustment was broken - result only boiling water was delivered. It recommend staying here despite the shower issue and the lack of the welcome oz k which would have contained the parking permit for the first days parking. Replacement permits were delivered the next day, however, no welcome pack arrived and it no l this is where we would have found the dish drying towels. Not a fan of a dishwasher so need spending a fortune on kitchen towel during our stay. Final gripe. And it’s the same as always. Lighting and the control of. Introduce some dimmers or intelligent lighting. It’s simple and cheap and can totally change the guest experience. On and off are not the only options. And your floor lamp needs a shade too. But still I’d return.

This is an amazing place with a beautiful view. Waking up to the view of the bay was so refreshing with my morning coffee. I would definitely recommend and stay here again. Thank you

Lovely house, beautiful views, and great location but with this comes very steep hills or steps to get to it.

Great place to stay with amazing views

Lovely house with an amazing view. just be aware of the step road and steps to get to the house. The house was really clean but lacked cutlery, especially spoons and forks.

As soon as we arrived at the property we found a leak in the downstairs double bedroom. The carpet, bed and bedding were wet. The whole property was also dirty and hadn’t been cleaned. Initial maintenance person arrived quickly it was determined to be a leaky cold water pipe and he said a plumber would be out the next morning to take up the floor and find the leak and fix it. We asked for housekeeping to bring dry bedding but had no phone call back about bedding. We were left with water dripping all night and having to sleep in a wet bed. The issue was finally fixed but almost 24 hours after we checked in. Not quick enough and ruined the first two days of our holiday. The out of hours phone line was switched off although we were told it should always be on. Out of hours messages were going to an out sourced Helpdesk and I received responses at 2:30 in the morning! I’m now struggling to get a suitable refund for the issues we had.

Lovely house cosy stay We visited 5th September for a long weekend. The house is very nice with amazing sea views. Well equipped with all the usual things you would expect in a rental house. Had a problem with parking as the scratch cards were not in the property as suggested in the guide and it was too late to do anything about it the night we checked in, however after a couple of calls in the morning we were sorted. I ha read a previous review regarding stairs and parking and it should be noted that the property is located at the top of a hill. Expect stairs and challenging hills to unload the car and enter leave the property. If you were elderly with mobility issues this is not for you. Parking spaces are around the corner and at a premium so we were home early every day to secure one otherwise you would be searching for a space and would again involve plenty of exercise

The house was well presented clean throughout with lovely views off the harbour would definitely stay again thanks for having us

Location was perfect House wasn’t cleaned stains all over the carpets marks on sofa spiders hanging from lamps, ripped bedding on the beds and the bathroom was dirty toothpaste on taps and hairs in sink. Damaged garden fence. If the house was clean it would have been perfect but so much dust around when one of the guests has asthma isn’t ideal

Schöne gelegenes Häuschen in der Altstadt von Scarborough mit drei grosszügigen Schlafzimmern. Tolle Aussicht vom Wohnzimmer und Schlafzimmer im oberen Stock über den Hafen und das Meer. In den beiden Schlafzimmer im Parterre riecht es ein bisschen nach Feuchtigkeit. Die sehr geschäftige South Bay ist schnell erreichbar über Treppen. Zum Baden empfehlen wir die etwas weiter entfernte, ruhigere North Bay. Tipp für frisches Obst, Gemüse und Brot: schaut in der Market Hall vorbei, welch ein kurzer Gehdistanz liegt.

Positive: The view

All I can say is the views were Wow and wow!! Absolutely amazing location

Beware - this is let by an agency, and they require either a damage waiver of £25 or a £10 admin fee on a refundable £250 damage deposit. This wasn't stated until after we had booked. We chose the deposit, and this wasn't returned to us until 12 days after our departure which seemed unnecessarily long. Other than that, we enjoyed our stay in the flat. The location is wonderful. The access is a bit tricky, up a steep narrow lane with no turning space at the top. We found parking nearby fairly easily.

Positive: Its location was good although on a hill Negative: It was very dirty, not maintained well at all inside ir outside the property. For example, There had been plasterwork in one bedroom and there was plaster dust inches thick everywhere. We also messaged prior to arrival to ask if there would be logs for the log burner, when we got there, there was none.

Fantastic house, position and everything you need

Lovely property in a great spot. A slight smell of damp downstairs but other than that it was just perfect!

We had a great stay, with everything we could possibly need, would recommend Positive: The property was very comfortable and had everything that you could possibly need during your stay. Amazing sea views over south bay. Negative: To have the amazing sea views, the property is at the top of steep cobbled streets and steps, which would not be any good for people with mobility issues.

great stay, lovely location.

As with any other home that isn't on the sea front, there is a climb to the accommodation that would be tricky for anyone with limited mobility. There were quick steep routes to the sea front and back in minutes or more meandering routes that were less challenging if we were feeling less fit. The home itself is lovely. Comfy & clean and uncluttered with all of the essential equipment for a short or longer stay. The views are stunning from the upstairs sitting area and bedroom and it was great to have a bathroom or shower room for each bedroom. We didn't use the washing machine/dryer but it was good to know it was there if needed. Beds were comfy with nice crisp clean white linen. It took us a short time to find, sending out a scouting party on foot as the road doesn't pass the property. Although parking (as always in Scarborough) was a tight squeeze, using the provided parking permit we were able to park close to the house quite easily. We would be happy to stay again.

This house is great, the location stunning and with amazing views! It is so close to the beach and front, the wi fi is fast, the beds super comfy and showers very good. Its a shame 'host and stay' were pretty poor. They didn't answer their 'urgent' phone line when we couldn't find the parking permits, they had not provided instructions of where to find them and they were hidden in a cupboard under a load of duvets. I had to drive away and pay for parking after a big effort getting the car unpacked. Host and stay were very unsympathetic and and bit blunt in their responses. We felt they blamed us for not looking hard enough and their refusing to reimburse parking was very dissapointing. It was also a bit weird that the washing machine was behind a door marked 'no entry'. Host and stay could not tell us why this was and if it was safe to use. Next time we will go back to using air b and b individuals homes rather than these agencies as the communication is much better

Positive: Excellent well equipped and comfortable accommodation with unparalleled views.

It's true the house is on a steep road with no immediate outside parking, but the truly spectacular views and brilliant location is more than worth it! Parking is round the corner so not too bad. The house is modern and well-thought with bathrooms for each bedroom, a good-sized kitchen, and the living room upstairs to take advantage of the gorgeous views. However, despite being renovated recently, the wear and tear of being a holiday rental is already starting to show through e.g. worn bathroom tiles and amenities e.g. towels. Also, it feels like luck of the draw if there is what's needed in the kitchen depending on who stayed previously otherwise there could be missing, basic items. That's only a minor point though. The only real pain point is communication with Host & Stay. I had to ask the same question repeatedly, and in the end never got an answer. It wasn't a big deal but would have expected better. Still, would highly recommend this property especially at the price we paid!

Amazing views across South Bay - really handy for the Old Town, harbour and beach. Parking and access a bit tricky but the views make it all worth it. Clean and tidy - good info from the host. Would book again.

Very comfortable property with amazing views and facilities. Would very happily return!

The place was great and with a lovely view! The amenities were great with fresh linen and towels everywhere. The only problem was the early check out and late check in that basically make you lose almost a whole day. Definitely recommend and would stay again!

A brilliant location - great views - clean and easy to use all the appliances Positive: The location was brilliant and the house was clean and modern with great views - Negative: Nothing it was perfect

Just lovely!

Absolutely beautiful propert in every aspect - quality decor, bedding high standard, kitchen equipped with EVERYTHING - I’d brought salt, pepper etc but it was all there 🙌🏻but that doesn’t give any justice to the view!! I’m going to say it was unimpressive - obviously I’m lying but I don’t want the prices to go up for when we book again 🙌🏻

Amazing place with views overlooking the harbour and South Bay. Just a short stroll from the beachfront. Sea views from the bedroom and living room/kitchen. Incredible! All nice and clean and as described. Kitchen had some key necessities which helped. Host really well organised and good communication. Great house with truly outstanding sea and seafront views.

Lovely property, comfortable with everything you need. great location too

Warm and comfortable Great bolt-hole - stylishly fitted and well equipped. Quick access to walking routes (both bays) and good views out to sea. Would stay again!