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

4.0 star property

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

Daily full breakfast for a fee
Garden
Exterior detail
Property entrance
Double or Twin Room, Accessible

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Bar

Explore the area

View 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, Clacton Pier
    ‪4 min drive‬

Room options

Double or Twin Room

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(23 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

Double Room

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

Double or Twin Room, Accessible

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(16 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

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

About the area

Clacton-on-Sea

With a stay at The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns in Clacton-on-Sea, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Princes Theatre and West Cliff Theatre. .This inn is 2.1 mi (3.4 km) from Clacton Pier and 2.1 mi (3.4 km) from Clacton Leisure Centre.

What's nearby

  • Clacton Leisure Centre - 3 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Princes Theatre - 4 min drive - 3.0 km
  • Clacton-on-Sea Beach - 4 min drive - 3.7 km
  • Clacton Pier - 4 min drive - 3.7 km
  • West Cliff Theatre - 5 min drive - 3.6 km

Getting around

  • Clacton-on-Sea Station - 3 min drive
  • London (SEN-Southend) - 78 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Smugglers Cove - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Skinners Fish and Chips - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪KFC - ‬1 min walk

About this property

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

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.

Make yourself at home in one of the 38 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access.
At The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns, enjoy a satisfying meal at the restaurant. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Full breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee.
Free self parking is available onsite.
Full breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7:00 AM and 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 9.75 for adults and GBP 4.95 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

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

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 9.75 for adults and GBP 4.95 for children

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

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

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the 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. 485 out of 823 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 218 out of 823 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 84 out of 823 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 823 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 18 out of 823 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Leigh

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Lynn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Clean room food and bar staff were very friendly
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

8/10 Good

Christopher

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Room was clean and staff made our stay
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

David

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Rooms clean
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent, clean room and lovely staff, thank you
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent as always!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

8/10 Good

Denise

Clean room.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very clean tidy room Wonderful friendly room attendant
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Peter

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Room was clean and well appointed
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Scott

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steve

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carly

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Ashok

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pablo

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Kelly

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The hotel itself hadn’t been hoovered and the carpet was covered in bits, this was also the same in the room with the bathroom having stones and other bits all over it. When we asked for the room to be made up the beds weren’t properly made and again no hoovering. Also for a family room there is no sticky bath mat for kids not to slip. The main bed was great the two single beds felt like the springs were going to come through the mattress. The breakfast was ok and some of the bits were decent enough, poor choice of hot drink options when it comes to tea, however the staff were very friendly and tried to be helpful. Overall the stay was ok, it just seems to need some real attention on cleanliness and spare beds
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent from check in to check out…
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Mrs R S

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Reception was very welcoming and we had a good evening meal in the restaurant. Breakfast however was very slow both days. I decided to have poached eggs on toast the second day and they were very undercooked so I couldn't eat any of it. I would have complained but after waiting so long for it to arrive there really wasn't time to reorder. Our room was ok except the bathroom was a disabled wet room instead of a standard bathroom, which we didn't book. I would definitely go there again for an evening meal but I don't think I would stay there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Hhh
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Clean room, quiet, bed was comfortable. Had everything I needed. Even had a bath which I enjoyed. Complimentary tea/coffee /milk, extra available in the foyer. Didn't have any food as was visiting family
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tony

Business traveller
Liked: Amenities
Clean and
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nick

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Rooms had everything we needed, clean and tidy. Food at the restaurant was good and the service was excellent
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

trevor

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shaun

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025