by peaksoft
The Crown was the first hotel at which we stayed in Scarborough, and it's remained a favourite. It used to be owned by another group, Regal, who specialise in ageing, 3-star, town centre hotels with character.
The Crown will never really merit the extra star that it seems to have awarded itself, as although it's been given a facelift, no one can cure the basic template of small rooms and historic, squeaky floorboards.
It's a pity that there's no real lobby area, where you feel able to sit around and watch the world go by, but it's a place with lots of character.
It has a reasonable basic café/bar, Spice Traders, which is accessible from The Esplanade by non-residents. Parking is a big problem - there's a little space at the back, but failing that you're fighting for street room on The Esplanade.
If you have a room at the front, you'll have one of the east coast's great views, of Scarborough's South Bay and the harbour.
Down at the seafront, there are lots of appalling amusement arcades and greasy chip shops, but from your elevated view from The Esplanade, the lights look great.
Saturdays at The Crown can be a problem, as it hosts wedding parties, and some of the guests aren't (I'll try not to be too snobbish here) the type of people who are accustomed to hotels that don't figure in Club 18 brochures.
