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

4.0 star property
Enjoy the free WiFi at this 4-star Clacton-on-Sea inn

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)
Exterior detail
Garden
Interior entrance
Double or Twin Room

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

View in a map
Brook Park, Valley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, England, CO15 3TP
  • Place, Clacton Pier
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, West Cliff Theatre
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Clacton-on-Sea Beach
    ‪4 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 Twin Beds

Double Room

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

Double or Twin Room, Accessible

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(9 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

About the area

Clacton-on-Sea

In Clacton-on-Sea .You'll find Princes Theatre and West Cliff Theatre within 3 miles (5 km) of this inn. Clacton Pier and Clacton-on-Sea Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).

What's nearby

  • Princes Theatre - 3 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Clacton Pier - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
  • West Cliff Theatre - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Clacton-on-Sea Beach - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Jaywick Martello Tower - 10 min drive - 7.1 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
  • ‪The Aviator - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪KFC - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Colin's Fish & Chips - ‬3 min drive

About this property

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

Enjoy the free WiFi at this 4-star Clacton-on-Sea inn
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.

  • 38 guestrooms or units
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Garden
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
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.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

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

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with digital channels

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

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

Access methods

Host will greet you

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Property payment types

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

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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

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. 449 out of 764 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 205 out of 764 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 78 out of 764 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 764 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 14 out of 764 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Elkie

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We only stayed for two nights but would stay again. The room was small but adequate for our 2 night stay, modern layout, nicely furnished & a with a bath as well as shower in the en-suite (which is particularly appreciated by someone who struggles with back pain & struggles to stand up for long to shower). Overall the room was very clean & tidy apart from one thing which I feel does need a mention shower curtain which smelt very unpleasant having been left to dry with no airflow. This could be easily remedied if the when the housekeeper brings clean towels, bathmat etc a fresh shower curtain was put up too. It would only take a couple of minutes to do this & would I’m sure be appreciated by the incoming guest.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Caroline

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Usually stay in premier inn but was double the price!! First time here and i fid think it would be out of the way but ot wasn't. Nice pub & restaurant and shops nearby. Will definitely return
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Carol

Travelled with partner
The smell of urine in bedroom and Expedia ripping me off my room 64.00 through hotel expedia charged me 74 !!!!! Not very happy
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Nicky

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
No protector on mattress or pillows big disappointment , breakfast was good bathroom smelled
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness

Fine but needs a good clean.

Pretty much a contractors stop over. Communal areas dirty bedroom carpets felt grubby and toilet hadnt been cleaned. The room had all the basic needs, tea and coffee facilities and more if you needed it at entrance. Night staff were friendly and helpful on our arrival. Good a/c in the room, firm bed and parking directly outside, just cleanliness is an issue here. Breakfast was ok, depending on your preferences.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Barbara

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

Anniversary Trip

Great visit been many time use this hotel regularly
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Anna

Travelled with family
Liked: Amenities
All good
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Simon

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

10/10 Excellent

Ian

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

Lovely little hotel

Lovely little hotel at the side of the Aviator pub, check in at the pub was easy and staff are very friendly. The rooms are clean and beds are comfortable and a lovely big screen TV. The food at the pub is good value especially the breakfast.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Allan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
But noisy from passing traffic
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Christopher

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

David

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

Nice Inn. Poor pub.

Nice clean accommodation with ample car parking. The inn is in the middle of a retail park with few roadside pavements, so local guidance is needed to find the footpaths and subway to get to stores and bus stops. Unusually for a Marstons the beer in the pub was undrinkable and the wine over chilled to the point of creating crystals.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jane

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely staff and room was lovely.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Kym

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very pleasant place to stay overnight
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

steve

Warm welcome cool room

Friendly check inn, our room was already cool with the aircon running
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tina

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
We had a lovely stay at the Aviator , we will be going there again ,well worth what was charged 🙂
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Glynn

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

10/10 Excellent

STEVEN

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice and easy…plenty of parking…tea making facility was good and if you need more just ask whatever you wanted wasn’t a problem
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Family

That the room was clean, tidy and as we were there during very hot weather, it had air-conditioning. Brilliant. Breakfast was also superb. Will definitely be staying there again when we visit our family.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

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

6/10 Okay

MICHAEL

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025