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

4.0 star property

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

Daily full breakfast (GBP 8.75 per person)
Double or Twin Room, Accessible
Exterior detail
Garden
Property entrance

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)

Room options

Double or Twin Room

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(22 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

Double Room

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

Double or Twin Room, Accessible

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(13 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Family Room

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(17 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

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About this property

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

Inn in Clacton-on-Sea with a restaurant and a bar
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 hair dryers. Flat-screen televisions come with digital channels.

Bathrooms include showers and complimentary toiletries. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

Our customers tell us 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 accommodations 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 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 available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

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

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: 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. 464 out of 790 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 208 out of 790 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 83 out of 790 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 790 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 17 out of 790 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

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

10/10 Excellent

Terry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

steve

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A regular stay for us Lovely as always Room could do the some TLC
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

GERALD

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jean

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Easy to find, separate from pub so nice and quiet, very safe
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Best hotel we have stayed in

We had a lovely stay, rooms airy and large, fabulous shower, tea/coffee making facilities. Parked the car outside our window. Breakfast was a bit disappointing, my husband ordered a full English, but when it arrived half the breakfast advertised was missing, living in France this is something he misses. We enquired the next day but it was still the same. Delivery the day we left 😔 . Buffet was good. The staff were great and very friendly Definitely book with them again.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice quiet area in retail park, supermarkets and food places near by, only 7 minute drive to sea front
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good place for a short stay

The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. The cooked vegetarian breakfast isnt amazing so stick to the continental breakfast. The other food in the pub is good. The rooms are clean, beds are good, quiet rooms. I would stay here again. It is only really a 2 days stay place.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Cilla

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Breakfast was great, staff were lovely, but housekeeping wasnt up to standard, Pubic hairs left in bath, grime under toilet seat around rim, beds were very comfortable but rooms were very basic, no drawers, to put clothes in,
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
Clean. Very friendly and helpful staff.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

DEBBIE

Liked: Cleanliness
Good just very busy when checking in needed more staff
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Troy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love ❤️
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025