Inside Manly’s ‘hotel from hell’, health authorities called in

A mould-ridden hotel in a prime Sydney location will be investigated by health inspectors after guests blew the lid on what was happening inside.

Health inspectors have confirmed they will investigate what’s being dubbed “the hotel from hell” on Sydney’s northern beaches.

It comes after anA Current Affair report revealed mouldy rooms, broken doors and poor service at the Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel in Manly.

The program featured two disgruntled guests who said they were sold the lie of cheap, clean, beachside accommodation.

“It was full of mould, rotting, pretty much hell,” fed-up guest Eliza Delsar told the program.

“It was my first holiday as an adult and away from the kids for the weekend, so it was supposed to be relaxful and kind of just chilling out and getting to see a part of Australia I haven’t been to.”

The Adelaide mother and a friend booked a room at the hotel for a week, lured in by the price – $100 per week – and its “surfy type, shack type vibe” near the beach.

“It’s a four-minute walk from the beach, not even, you know, so for the money, it looked good,” she said.

But it wasn’t until Ms Delsar went looking for staff soon after her arrival that she realised something was seriously awry with the establishment.

She told ACA it was near impossible to locate staff when she arrived.

What she did find, however, were mould-ridden rooms throughout the hotel.

Just two doors from where we were supposed to be staying, it’s riddled [with mould], and this place is still operating and opening,” she said.

“You can just smell it walking in; you can smell the mould; you can smell the uncleanness. Yeah, it’s a shocker.”

Want to stream your news? Flash lets you stream 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

Eliza Delsar slammed the Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel. Picture: A Current Affair/Channel 9

Clyte was also not happy with what she found. Picture: A Current Affair/Channel 9

Port Macquarie woman Clyte said the hotel was nothing like what was advertised online.

“The lounge in here is so stained … like that was the first thing I saw … it’s not the website at all, is it,” Clyte told the program.

The guest, who eventually booked a $700 room elsewhere, said the uncleanliness and faults with the room made her feel unsafe.

“I didn’t stay at all … I was increasingly uncomfortable, and I realised how insecure the building was as well,” Clyte said.

“It felt deserted. The only other guests I saw were leaving for the same reasons. I had to seek accommodation elsewhere, which was on a Friday night in Sydney – very expensive.

“It’s disgusting. It should not be open to the public. It’s a health hazard.”

Online, the reviews are mixed.

Health investigators will investigate the state of the Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel. Picture: A Current Affair/Channel 9

Rooms are available for $100 a night but the hotel is riddled with mould, according to holiday-makers. Picture: A Current Affair/Channel 9

One visitor said the conditions in the beachside hotel made her feel ‘unsafe’. Picture: A Current Affair/Channel 9

The conditions were nothing like what was advertised on the hotel’s website, one visitor claimed. Picture: A Current Affair/Channel 9

Google reviews give the hotel a 2.8 out of five rating, with plenty lauding the value and location as positives.

But mould is also a recurring theme among past guests

The hotel describes itself as: “Just 400 metres from Manly Beach, where guests can relax on the outdoor shared terrace.”

Responding to ACA, manager Tiger said the hotel and its staff were “trying our best” to improve the customer experience.

“The condition (is) no good and we … apologise for those guests,” he said.

“But we already stop(ped) the share room.

“Some good room(s) we sell … (there’s) no mould.”

Tiger said the hotel only sold “the good condition rooms”.

Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel was to be revamped, but plans were knocked back in 2020

An artist's impression of the proposed Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel. Picture: Morson Group

The hotel’s site was slated for a significant overhaul in recent years before Yin Feng Pty Ltd, which has owned the site since 2014, had its plans to upgrade knocked back by the local council in 2020.

After being alerted to potential hazards at the hotel, Northern Beaches Council’s environmental health officers confirmed they would be “promptly” assessing the site’s condition.

However, since ACA started probing the hotel, Tiger has stood down as manager, with the hotel no longer taking bookings.