See all properties

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

4.0 star property

Choose dates to view prices

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

Daily full breakfast (GBP 8.75 per person)
Property entrance
Double or Twin Room, Accessible | 1 bedroom, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Exterior detail
Garden

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Bar

Explore the area

View in a map
Brook Park, Valley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, England, CO15 3TP
  • Place, Princes Theatre
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Clacton-on-Sea Beach
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Jaywick Martello Tower
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Airport, London (SEN-Southend)
    ‪72 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Double or Twin Room

Double or Twin Room | 1 bedroom, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

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

Double Room

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

View all photos for Double or Twin Room, Accessible

Double or Twin Room, Accessible | 1 bedroom, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

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

Similar properties

View from property
Esplanade Hotel - Clacton On Sea (Beachfront Hotel) by OYO
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
3.8 out of 5, Good, 264 reviews
The price is €61
includes taxes & fees
22 Feb - 23 Feb
Esplanade Hotel - Clacton On Sea (Beachfront Hotel) by OYO

About this property

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

This smoke-free inn features a restaurant, a bar/lounge and a garden. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided.
The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns offers 38 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and a hairdryer. Flat-screen televisions come with digital channels.

Bathrooms include a shower and complimentary toiletries. Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and an iron/ironing board can be requested.

Our customers tell us that they can't get enough of the comfortable beds at The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns. During your stay, you'll be close to Princes Theatre. Features include free WiFi in public areas and free self-parking, plus a restaurant.
  • Free WiFi
  • Free self-parking
  • Grab something to eat at the restaurant or stop for a drink at the bar/lounge
  • Full breakfast served daily for a fee
  • Guests really like the accommodation for the comfy beds and cleanliness
  • Just a 4-minute drive from Princes Theatre and a few minutes from West Cliff Theatre
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Public spaces have free WiFi. Self parking is free.

This 4-star Clacton-on-Sea inn is smoke free.

For a fee, guests can enjoy a full breakfast daily from 7:00 AM to 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 and check-out are available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

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

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

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for full breakfast: from approximately GBP 8.75 per person

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
This property does not have a front desk. The host will greet guests on arrival.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in 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. 471 out of 800 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 211 out of 800 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 83 out of 800 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 800 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 17 out of 800 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

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

10/10 Excellent

Jo-Ann

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was very comfortable and clean. Tea & Coffee was ample. Just got a snack from the restaurant and the food was excellent.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joyce

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was very clean, comfy beds, short walk to the Aviator but the bathroom could do with updating as it was very smelly and tired looking.. I would definitely stay again though and recommend it to family and friends.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Sarah

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness
The room was comfortable but the cleanliness was very poor. We were kept awake by people running back and forth outside the room. Next morning there were drug/gas bottles in the car park.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Paul

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Jayesh

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Georgina

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely staff, the bed was really comfortable and the breakfast was freshly cooked - so much better than the usual heat tray types.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

James

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Bibi Mariam

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Thomas

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Simply cannot complain at this pricepoint for 2 adults and 2 children (double and 2 single beds). Large, well lit carpark immediately outside and check in is in the pub/restaurant. Room was quiet, bathroom was fine, beds were ok. Cant complain and would stay again. (Note:Aviator pub/restaurant has bad reviews which put us off and so we ate elsewhere but... it was absolutely heaving all evening so the locals cant be wrong. Would try eating there next time)
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Mariella

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Clean Room, Helpful Receptionist, Aircon worked, Shops nearby
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025