Shipwrights Arms Hotel

The property impresses guests with its central location near Salamanca and cafes, excellent service, and comfortable beds. Some mention the cleanliness and friendly staff. However, no specific disadvantages are mentioned.

Stayed in the rooms with shared bathroom, kitchenette, and lounge area. Cannot comment on the self contained rooms. Sadly the write up of the accommodation sounds more appealing than what is delivered. First on checking in we had to search for staff that knew what to do, were given the key and directed to the stairs with a very rushed vague run down of access and facilities. The room door lock was loose and far from most secure. The room was very small far from suitable for a couple let alone a single, there was no hanging space except a three hooks on the back of the door one of which was broken, no air conditioning or even a fan in 30 degree heat only opening the window for airflow, nil insect screens. The room was furnished with a double bed, bedside table and chair that was dirty and stained. The lounge area was far from appealing with dirty stained chairs. The kitchenette was questionable with ripped chairs and questionable hygiene standards and not utilised. The shared bathrooms (Gents and Ladies) the floor of the shower cubical had a large crack where the water was draining under the cubical (Clearly occurring for some time by the signs of blackened wet wood rot around the base of the shower unit). It is questionable if it would pass Tasmanian Health and Building Standards. The security for the accommodation section from the bar and restaurant consisted of an unlocked gate on the staircase, with an additional access via the fire door to the carpark which at one point we found chocked open allowing anyone to enter unchallenged and un noticed and depart the same way. It is evident that a lot of effort and expense has been placed into the downstairs public bar and restaurant and very little on the accommodation offered. The rooms are far from quiet until after closing time. With all this they have the audacity to charge the same as nights accommodation for cancellation of the booking. Despite the clever write up - it is a room over a pub, with questionable sparse amenities. With its proximity to the city and reasonable restaurant and a fair bit of work it could be a nice place to stay but at the moment I would not recommend it to anyone.

Firstly I had my photo taken at the front door just to say I had been standing where my G-G-G-G Grandfather would had stood when he was the owner from 1861 to 1864. Inside were a few photos of the early Hotel and a list of the licensees from 1846 to 2019. Most of the other photos are from Sydney to Hobart races over the years. These are only in the Main Bar area and really could have more extending throughout the whole Hotel. We had a really great experience and were served by great staff who gave excellent service.