Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mariner's Vaults suitable for me?

The Mariner's Vaults has been designed specifically for large groups (e.g. stags & hens, diving/fishing/surfing/sporting groups, school & college reunions etc), and is not a typical "family" holiday apartment or cottage. See the Accommodation page for details. It is located in the basement of an apartment block, and although there is plenty of natural light in the bedrooms, there are no "views". However we have had plenty of family groups staying here (usually large extended family groups meeting up for Christmas, New Year, or another special occasion) and have had very good feedback from all of them: repeat bookings are always a positive sign!

The apartment is completely self-contained, with a separate entrance away from the other apartments in the block. After we have handed over the keys on arrival the apartment is yours until departure - nobody else will have access to the apartment, unless there is an emergency or if you ask us to come round for whatever reason (e.g. maintenance / repairs).

There is an outside tap and hose, for cleaning surfboards, diving equipment, etc. There is a lockable storage area for your equipment.

The group leader must be at least 18 years old. This is to satisfy our insurance obligations. We accept guests younger than 18, as long as one person in the group is 18 or over, and that person signs the booking form and accepts responsibility for the whole group. We will need a credit card number for a security deposit (see the section on Arrival and Departure, below) - if none of the group possesses a credit card then we will need a card number from, for example, a parent or guardian.

Well behaved pets are welcome, free of charge.

For those with mobility or disability issues, please see our Access Statement.

How many people does the apartment hold?

There are 16 permanent (adult-sized bunk) beds in the four bedrooms. In addition we have four temporary (fold-up) beds that can be used, although this does make the bedrooms quite cramped. (Alternatively, the temporary beds can be set up in the bar/lounge where there is plenty of space.) So the maximum occupancy is 20.

We have a minimum occupancy of 10 people. You can book with fewer than 10 people, but will still need to pay for 10. Please note that children under 11 do not count towards the minimum occupancy.

How do I book?

Check the Availability page to see if the dates you require are free. Dates highlighted in red are unavailable; dates highlighted in yellow are reserved: this means someone has requested these dates, but has not yet paid a deposit. If you require dates that are marked as reserved then please contact us, and we'll chase up the original enquiry to confirm whether or not they still want the booking. The availability calendar is updated within a few hours of bookings being received, so it should always be up to date.

Check the Prices page to calculate the total cost. Hopefully it should be straightforward, but if you have any questions please contact us. Also check the Special Offers page, in case there is a reduced price for your chosen dates.

Phone or email us to request your booking. We'll reserve your dates on the availability calendar, and send you a booking form by email or post. Please fill in and return the booking form ASAP, together with your deposit (or if less than 8 weeks to your holiday, the full amount.) We realise that organising groups can be difficult, with people dropping out and extra people being added, so just fill in the form as best you can, and any adjustments can be made later, right up to the day of arrival. Click here for information about how to pay.

The balance of payment is due 8 weeks before your holiday start date. On receipt of payment we'll send you a written confirmation, map, directions, and instructions for picking up the keys.

What's included, and what do we need to bring?

Unlimited gas and electricity is included in the price - no need to bring coins for the meter! The apartment has full gas central heating.

Bedrooms: all beds have mattress protector, duvet, and pillows. However bed linens (i.e. sheet, duvet cover, pillowcases) are not provided (this is because laundry and ironing costs make it prohibitively expensive). You can either bring your own linens or, as many groups prefer, bring sleeping bags. Cots and high chairs are available free of charge - if you require these, please make a note on your booking form.

Bathrooms: each bathroom has a bath mat, hand towel, toilet roll, and liquid soap. You will need to bring your own bath towels and toiletries.

Kitchen: The kitchen is well-equipped: large gas hob and electric fan oven, fridge/freezer, microwave, washing machine/dryer, dishwasher, kettles, and toasters. There is ample crockery, cutlery, pots and pans. We provide sufficient tea, coffee, sugar, and milk to get you started for the first few brews. Food and drink is available from nearby supermarkets & shops. Washing-up liquid, dishcloths and brushes, and tea-towels are provided, as are detergent tablets for the dishwasher and washing machine.

Bar/lounge: We provide a few complimentary drinks in the chiller cabinets to get you started but, as we are not licensed, we are not allowed to sell alcohol so you'll need to bring your own stock of drinks. There are plenty of bar stools, chairs and tables, and there is also a fold-down catering table if you want to eat together. The pool table is 30p per game - i.e. 10p + 20p coin per play, so bring plenty of change! The TV is digital, with a good selection of Freeview channels. A DVD player is included. You are welcome to bring your games console - the TV has Scart and Component cables, but no HDMI input.

What time do we need to arrive and depart?

Normally, check-in time is 2pm onwards. However, depending on our cleaning schedule, we can usually let you in earlier. We will phone you a few days before arrival to confirm a time, and meet you at the apartment to show you round and hand over the keys.

We supply four sets of keys (one for each bedroom), so the group isn't reliant on one person to unlock/lock the property. This means that, when you're going out, your group doesn't all have to leave or arrive at the same time.

On arrival we will need to take a credit card number for a security deposit. This is to protect ourselves in the event of damage to the property or contents. We will not charge your card unless there has been deliberate damage caused - normal wear and tear will not be charged. We will check the apartment after departure, and if all is OK we will destroy the card number.

Normally, departure time is 10am. However, unless there is another group booked in later the same day, we can usually be flexible and allow you to stay as late as you want.

What about parking?

Mariner's Vaults does not have its own dedicated parking, though you can stop right outside to load and unload. There are a limited number of parking spaces on Arcade Road, and some more just round the corner on The Promenade: between 15 March and 31 October this is limited to one hour (Mon - Sat, 10am to 6pm, no return within one hour); there are no restrictions overnight or on Sundays, or between 1 November and 14 March.

The nearest public car park is Jubilee Gardens, next to the theatre, about 75 metres away. There are cheaper long-term car parks a bit further away. 4-day and 7-day parking permits are available from the Tourist Information Centre which is located in the theatre building.

Any rules and restrictions?

We hope you have an enjoyable time at The Mariner's Vaults, and we don't want to impose any petty rules. Our main concern is noise at night: the apartments above Mariner's Vaults are occupied by families, some with young children, so we would ask that you keep the noise down when returning late at night, or if you are sitting outside talking. Mariner's Vaults has had extensive soundproofing installed, but it's not perfect, so please don't turn up the TV or music too loud at night.

The group leader can designate the bar as a smoking or non-smoking area. Smoking is not allowed in any other part of the apartment, as it will set off the smoke & fire alarms. A seat (under cover) is provided outside the front door for smokers.

Please don't attempt to block the pockets on the pool table in order to get free games. If objects fall down the pockets they will block the mechanism and, unlike most modern tables, the only way to open this table up is to remove all the cushions and the slate bed. There will be a charge of £150 if we need to dismantle and re-assemble the table to remove foreign objects. We have deliberately kept the charge low, at 30p per game - this simply goes into a fund to allow us to re-cover and service the table every year or two.

Please see our Terms and Conditions for all the small print.

Why isn't my question answered here?

Probably because nobody has asked us before. Please contact us if you have any other questions.