The Rock Hotel

"Iconic hotel with amazing staff. My partner and I along with our 2 daughters stayed in the Rock whilst we married in Gibraltar this year. The hotel is iconic. We loved the photo history around the place, the Deco feel to everything, it was gorgeous. Rooms were clean and well presented. We stayed in a junior suite. The staff were phenomenal. So kind and helpful. As they found out we were there to get married, we had a bottle of Cava left in the room and a turn down service the night before the wedding. That was so thoughtful and a fabulous touch by the staff. We were so grateful. We only had breakfast at the hotel and that was lovely. Gorgeous fresh pastries every day and a nice hot buffet. I can’t recommend enough. Our daughters stayed in the room next door and there room was well proportioned, a little tired in places, but clean and comfortable. We would definitely go back to this hotel. I would recommend using the bus as the hill can be quite hard work in the heat. The pool area was lovely and the pool bar served plenty of drinks and a bar menu which we sampled and it was great."

"We’ve just returned from a short stay at this hotel. I have to say I was expecting a much more upmarket experience. Let’s start with the not so good things. I agree with other travellers that the standard of decoration was not good in our room and the state of some of the woodwork and doors as we walked along the corridor left a lot to be desired. Also the bathroom needed updating as the shower in the bath seemed quite old-fashioned. The bar looked very stylish and inviting but was not open at all while we were there. So we drank in the evening in the communal area above reception which was very pleasant. No nibbles were provided until our last evening. Breakfast was sometimes a little chaotic with unprepared tables, or tables prepared for four when there were lots of couples who perhaps didn’t want to share with others. Sometimes glasses were not replenished and teaspoons had to be asked for instead of being provided with the small yoghurt pots, making more work for staff. Small bottles of water are provided daily in the room but we had to ask for our daily ration one day. I also had to request an iron and ironing board but at least the iron was clean and it arrived very quickly. The pool area was great, but the ladies’ toilets needed some TLC. It would have been nice to have some speciality coffees served at the little cafe there, though. Of course, the hills up to the hotel and immediately outside the hotel are a real challenge, especially in the hot weather. But it is a short walk downhill to Main Street and its lovely shops and cafes. This hotel does have lots going for it, however. Firstly, Clive the porter is a real asset. Such a friendly chap who is helpful and informative. Some of the areas are beautiful, such as the (closed) bar and the balcony areas off the restaurant and bar. There are photos on the walls of famous people who have stayed there and historical photos too that are quite interesting. We had a spacious twin room and the beds were really comfortable and there was good air con. We also had fabulous views and a large balcony. In its heyday I think this hotel would have been really impressive and special to visit. Our stay was pleasant enough and we enjoyed ourselves, but for me the little things were missing that can make all the difference and I left feeling slightly disappointed."

"Four nights with BA holidays using up my Avios. Double room. Pros: Art Deco, loads of character and a bit of Gibraltar history. Helpful staff and unobtrusive. Room and hotel clean. Close to Main Street. Cracking views out over the bay. Great bar. Powerful air con. During the fire evacuation the staff did a really good job looking after us all. Cons: it’s been really humid. It would have been nice to have been able to iron and press some clothes to freshen them up without having to send them for a wash. No iron and no ironing board. The wardrobes are so narrow that you can use the coat hangers provided that you angle the hangers sideways. The restaurant is a bit ‘high-end’ so if you struggle with lobster bisque, confit, jus and foie gras this is not for you. However, during the day the bar is a really good place to hang out, quiet with great views and a decent selection of snacks and meals without the pretension of the dinner offering. Worthy of special attention: The en-suite bathroom. The toilet (regardless of why it was sited there) is clearly in the wrong place. If you are average height (or above average height) you may find losing ‘some weight’ a physical challenge. I had to sit side saddle which is ridiculous. The shower. Water comes out from the gap between the shower door and the tray. The water goes all over the floor. You have to mop it up each time. Which I resented each time. The shower control handle was not secured to the shower so switching it on and off required technical skills. The cleaner will have known this when they prepared the room but hey, why report it and get it fixed before the guests arrive? I did report it on day 2 and they fixed it by attaching the handle upside down. Day 4? Yup, the handle had come away again. Also, we brought two shower puffs but one strangely disappeared after the day 2 fix. No idea why, they probably used it to clean the handle, wrecked it and then chucked it. The fire, the alarm and the fire exit. Now here’s an interesting one. Day 4, 0730hrs, I am woken up by sirens nearby and then it all goes quiet, I fall back asleep. Two mins later, the fire alarm is activated. Then it went off for a minute, then it came on again, then it stopped and then it stayed on. I went to the nearest fire exit only to have a family banging on the other side of the fire door asking to be let back in because they couldn’t get out that way. We all ended up leaving via reception. See the photographs. We attempted to leave via the closest fire exit, but we could not. Something clearly not right there and yes, it was a proper fire in the kitchen directly below my floor. Staff were very helpful as we waited 2hrs to get back in. Check the letter from the hotel management. Interesting that the system is now undergoing routine maintenance since the fire. Photos cover the fire exit map and my route out is highlighted to assist you. Here’s a real gripe. I booked a double. I should have booked a twin. My mistake and I own it. It’s my fault. I’m clearly not going to share a double bed with my 14yr old daughter. The cost of rectifying? £50 per night. So that’s £200 extra for four nights so that they can dig out a camp bed and a duvet from stores. Which is exactly what they did. That’s their rules, that’s the price. They have me. It’s even hidden away on their website. I call it gangsterism. I do expect to pay a charge but not this. It’s not justifiable. I haven’t squeezed an extra person in on the quiet. Anyway, lesson learned and never again. Point deducted for sheer avarice, point deducted for the toilet and shower and a point deducted for the fire alarm and the fire escape. A real shame as the staff are really good."