We visit Calais via the Channel Tunnel about once a year and have used the Lighthouse Inn as a stopover on a number of previous occasions. The last time we stayed there was in late 2004. At that time, we had a really enjoyable stay. While the rooms have always been fairly basic, there has traditionally been a great atmosphere in the bar and restaurant downstairs, the breakfast has been very good and the views over the Channel are impressive. The first sign that things might have changed were when I tried to book by e-mail. This always worked in the past. However, having failed to get a response for 3 days, I eventually rang and booked a room for one night. The second sign of change was on arrival. In the past, the car park has always been full and the bar and restaurant have been bustling. However, despite it being a Friday night, the car park was largely empty and there were no more than 15 people in the restaurant. I also noticed on checking in that we appeared to be the only room booking for that night. Having previously booked a table for dinner (in the past, dinner reservations were essential), we sat through a mediocre meal, which was a long way from the home cooked meals that we had previously experienced in this restaurant. At this stage, there were less than 10 people in the restaurant. Reading the menu, it emerged that the Lighthouse Inn had changed owners during 2005 and that the family which previously owned the inn had been replaced by a new owner who is involved in a number of other hotels elsewhere in the UK. The new owner is clearly taking a more business like approach to the Lighthouse Inn. As a result, there have been improvements in areas such as the general cleanliness of the rooms and the quality of toiletries in the bathrooms. However, what has completely disappeared is the charm that previously existed at the Lighthouse Inn. In the past, the Lighthouse Inn might not have had the best rooms or the best food, but it had atmosphere and character. Without this, it is just another place to stay and we are unlikely to return. Based on the number of people there on a Friday night, it appears that many others have already reached this decision.

Stayed here as a stop off before going on the Channel Tunnel to Calais. It is about 15 minutes away from the Folkestone entrance. Nice clean rooms and a pub underneath. Reasonable food, although the restaurant and pub totally lacked atmosphere - it was a bit slaughtered lamb. I was asked if I wanted breakfast at an extra £6.50 each. I asked if they did a vegetarian breakfast and the answer was "no, do you still want breakfast?" Er, no thanks, I'm a vegetarian. The room was £52 which is reasonable in the area. It was advertised as large with a sea view. It would have seemed large had we both been 4ft tall or children and there was a sea view if you opened the window and hooked your neck around to the left to catch the edge of it on the horizon. Why can't they just tell the truth. Not bad for a place in an area where most stays must be one night and hence most people are transitory, just not good.