The County Hotel

We had 3 nights in Napier's County Hotel. The Edwardian-era building is historic in that it was one of the few substantial commercial premises in the city that survived the devastating 1931 earthquake. In those days it was the HQ for Hawkes Bay County Council. So, it predates the great Art-Deco reconstruction of the city in the 1930s, for which the city is famous, and its architecture and style do not reflect that. The hotel is well located with regards Napier's downtown area and the shoreline of Hawkes Bay. The hotel is quite small, with rooms not numbered but each named after NZ native bird species, which is a nice touch. It calls itself 5-star, which I thought a bit of a stretch. The public areas are certainly decorated appropriate to a bygone era and the place has the feel of an old-fashioned gentleman's club. There is even a library with lounge chairs and complimentary port available. Didn't actually see anyone using it; in fact guests were few and far between when we visited. The whole place was very quiet. Our room was of moderate size at best and was definitely not 5-star. There had been a half-hearted attempt at a luxury feel but didn't quite cut it. Perhaps we were meant to luxuriate in the library. There was limited space for our luggage though one bag did just fit inside the narrow, stand-up wardrobe. The bathroom was of a good size but I thought the shower mounted over the steep-side claw-foot bathtub was an accident waiting to happen. I guess if you did take a stumble getting into/out of the bath you could always clutch at the sheer nylon shower curtain, but pretty sure it wouldn't save you. There was also a small balcony overlooking the carpark and which provided access to other rooms. Off-site parking was available in a lot across the street for an extra $15 per night. Staff were super-polite and helpful, though they could not do much when the lift was broken down on our last day.

The staff at the County Hotels are friendly and efficient they made our weekend stay a real pleasure. Our room had a spotless bathroom, a very comfortable bed and was serviced each day - except Sundays. The whole hotel wonderful old world charm, port in the library on the gloomy Sunday afternoon in Napier made up for the not so good weather.

When you arrive at this so called five star hotel it looks nothing like the pictures. The outside is run down, dirty and there is a broken window being held up by tape. You enter through a side entrance. The staff are very welcoming and the hotel is quaint in the public areas. We were in the Whio room. The outer windows were dirty and broken, there was a hole in the carpet where the joint had split, there was dirt /thick dust round and under the radiators., some of the furniture was chipped and the walls needed a lick of paint. The fan in the bathroom was filthy and I am surprised we didn’t get ill from the old and very dirty shower head. The fridge (which was so noisy it kept us awake all night for the best part of three nights) was very old and had brown stains in it. Reception closes at 5pm and so if you need anything at night you have to make a phone call. After seeing the restaurant with the dirty windows and dismal appearance from both inside and outside we decided to eat elsewhere. There is no servicing of the rooms on a Sunday. Luckily we left on the Saturday. The whole place needs investment to bring it up to anywhere near five stars.

Spent three nights in Tūī Room at The County Hotel. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. It is quaint and quirky (in a good way). We felt very comfortable and safe, it is a private hotel and the doors are locked early with secure access for guests at the side. We dined in the Churchill’s restaurant once and the food was amazing. It would be good if they opened everyday. It is a shame they don’t provide breakfast but there are several cafes nearby. The only negative which is an easy fix - the wood panelling is a bit of a dust collector especially above eye level (but I’m very picky). It was a great stay.

The hotel calls itself a private hotel, ie members of the public cannot just walk into the building without an access key. As other reviewers have said the internal architecture is really in keeping with the spirit of Napier. We were aware before we arrived that the hotel does not provide breakfast, but there are many local places that do. What we found disappointing was that the hotel advertised a bar and restaurant, that in practice do not exist. On arrival I asked to book a table for dinner and was told the latest time available was 6.30pm and no later. Take it or leave it…. On arriving at 6.30 we were the only people in the bar/restaurant and when we left the lights were turned off and doors closed. On other nights during our stay the Churchill restaurant was in darkness. We ate elsewhere.

This is an iconic building dating back to 1909 and being one of the few original art deco buildings still in its original form. Inside this boutique chic hotel and the olde worlde charm is evident in the decor, paintings and woodwork. The welcome from Angela and her team is extremely warm and friendly. The bedroom was spacious, the bed firm and luxurious. The ensuite was clean, functional and well presented. Upstairs is a small library where one can relax and read in peace and quiet. Nice touch. Angela has spent considerable time ensuring that even the small things have been attended to, such as taps, door handles, etc. Luvved it. Extremely comfortable and THE perfect base to wander and peruse the shops, bars and cafes all within easy walking distance. We will only stay here in our future visits.