Name: The Kentish Hotel
Address: 5 Queen Street, Waiuku, 2123, NZ

10/10

Exceptional

26 Apr 2026

Chris

The rooms are very small and basic and in need of a lick of paint. The room was clean and the bedding crisp and white. Don't expect any amenities in your room, they are basic and in a communal area in the hall. But that is explained in the room described. The showers and toilets are also communal and along the hall and are nice and clean.
We were fortunate enough be given free upgrade to the Delux Ensuite Queen room by the owner of the hotel. This was very spacious bedroom with a very large bathroom. The amenities are in a small kitchen area shared with two other rooms.
All of the staff were very friendly, professional and fun.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

05 Mar 2026

Susan

What can I say?, it's an old historic propdty
Like in Ireland - thin walls but heaps of characters and character!
Bathrooms sparkle as they are newly remodeled

8/10

Excellent

04 Feb 2026

Craig

Room was fine for the cost.
Shared showers needed maintenance, as lights wouldn’t work, and water pressure was questionable.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

07 Dec 2025

roimata laurene

Not ok for the prize. Had to buy my own milk, bathroom long way from room, place is run down.

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

28 Nov 2025

matthew

Okay service, not especially clean or up to date

Self

6/10

Pleasant

05 Jan 2025

John

This is an old pub, the owners are fixing up rooms and renting them. They were friendly, but this is not a regular hotel. We were there on New Years Eve, and there was a DJ and loud party until well into the new year. Room was small, with no shower. We had a toilet, but had to go out into hallway to get to a shared shower.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

23 Nov 2024

Jessica

Under renovation and loud music

If you are staying here on a weekend, know the walls and floor are PAPER thin and they blast music from 9pm until 11:30pm. It was impossible for my parents to sleep through it. The price was low but I wouldn’t recommend unless you have bass proof ear plugs or a heavy sleeper. It’s still under renovation so be aware if that. Also, it said bathroom was in room but it IS a shared bathroom out of the room. On the plus side, the rooftop balcony had tables and chairs. Climbing out of the window to hangout there was definitely a highlight of the evening.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

15 Nov 2024

Gina

If you like old town western hotel with old rooms this is your place. We had the only room with a bathroom.
Staff were very nice . Check in at the bar. Had to give 20$ deposit for room key and when we went to check out no one around, so lost that.
Not for the faint of heart.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 Aug 2024

Tim

The area was awesome

Business_and_leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

11 Jul 2024

Kowhai

Renovations were underway leaving hall and common areas dusty and unsafe with exposed wire being worked on, walls knocked out and painting being done during the time of our stay. There were two shared showers for the hotel. One had no hot water and the other only barely hot enough after being left running for a long amount of time.
Noise from the venue below was understandable but still not ideal.
Light fittings in the room were not fully functional, carpet was stained and bed squeaky and old. Other than a hook on the back of the door there was nowhere to actually hang clothes. The jug could only be plugged in by leaving it sitting on the floor.

My partner has allergies and was unwell, we tried to make the best of it but ended up leaving without staying the night.

This was backpacker style accommodation at $128 for a Queen which is not worth it.

When I raised these issues with staff (we left without staying the night) a refund was not forthcoming even though all of the issues can be easily verified.

With renovations I am sure this place has potential but this is not how you treat paying customers.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

28 Apr 2024

cappy

The bed linen bottom bed sheet was unclean. Noisy when the disco is pumping and noisy bar patrons at midnight-1300.

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

07 Mar 2024

Vyv

Basic.. wouldn't take my wife.

Leisure Friends

2/10

Poor

30 Dec 2023

Tatjana

Disappointing stay at the Kentish, staff were unfriendly, room was hot and stuffy and shared facilities were dirty, with a cockroach greeting us on arrival. Broken toilet, no toilet paper or new towels after staying for three days. Wouldn’t recommend.

Business_and_leisure Friends

2/10

Poor

25 Oct 2023

Garry

Small poky room
Other neighboring rooms geusts load and abusive yelling
Load noises from outside until rarly hours of morning

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

08 Oct 2023

Bruce

The Property was lovely, however things like chewing stuck to the cover of the compendium and no toilet paper in two of the three toilets let the place down.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

30 Sep 2023

garry

It’s ok

6/10

Pleasant

31 Jul 2023

Colin

The hotel was as presented i.e. old; but the rooms were not clean.

With that exception it was as expected.

2/10

Poor

30 Jul 2023

Jeanette

It’s an historic hotel so the toilet and shared shower facilities were expected. However, the VERY cold rooms, minimal and jaded bed linen, no electric blankets and only one power point for heating, phone charger and kettle was not expected! Approx 20 police attended a disturbance and made arrests at the hotel on the Friday night and no attempt was made to notify residents or provide a safe alternative access to the hotel at night. On our return at 10.40pm we had to walk through police and disgruntled patrons to get into the hotel! The party continued outside till about 2am and car alarms sounded in the hotel carpark. I did not feel safe in that hotel! The bar and restaurant staff were very nice but the priority at this property is clearly the bar and restaurant ( both seem ok) but the hotel accommodation is badly outdated and very uncomfortable and the hotel guests seem to be a very low priority.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

16 Jun 2023

Paul

.

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jun 2023

Ian

It was an experience to stay in the hotel. It was really noisy during the night with people walking back and forth to their room from the toilets. One of the showers was cold in the morning. The little freezer froze our milk for our bubba. The setting was on too high. The room was cold at night. The little oil heater wasn't enough. We still enojoyed our experience

Leisure Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

16 May 2023

Robin

Room rate was very reasonable. Room was a little cold and needed a little care.

8/10

Excellent

10 Apr 2023

Gail

Proximity to town, parking and friendly, kind staff

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

26 Mar 2023

Raymond

A unique experience staying in a hotel with so much history

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

26 Feb 2023

Tony

Loud band kept me awake until 12.00 and bar noise until 1.00

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

07 Feb 2023

Bruce

The staff were friendly and eager to please. Melody deserves special mention.
A mirror in the room would be nice.
The toilet soap dispenser was not working.
I will will definitely stay here again.
Guinness on tap is the clincher.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

17 Jan 2023

Eleanor

The hotel is historical and the separate shower and toilets were a novelty but needed updating as I couldn't shut the toilet door without standing in pee stained wooden toilet surround.
The mattresses were extremely thin but the linen was new and clean.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

12 Jan 2023

Geoffrey

Obviously a unique property. Check in was a slow process as the person has to attend to the bar as well. $20 per key required as a deposit. This took 4 days to be returned after an email and numerous calls. This was frustrating and ruined an otherwise pleasant stay.

Business Family

8/10

Excellent

09 Jan 2023

Dilshan

The Kentish is a heritage hotel, so if you are looking for modern accommodation this is not your thing. The Kentish has a lot of history and its an awesome old pub/bar and an excellent restaurant which has its own bar. The restaurant seems a more recent extension which is spacious and airy. The staff are incredibly friendly, helpful and always with a smile. We had an awesome stay. The accommodation is was very simple, but clean and pleasant, and most rooms have no ensuite, which was not clear via Expedia.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2022

Mark

I liked the history, the hotel itself was amazing

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2022

Wendy

Friendly staff bright fresh accomodation. Very clean and comfortable

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

04 Oct 2022

Neil

Was ok, a bit run down, had a meal in the restaurant. Was acceptable

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

11 Sep 2022

Debra

No reception desk, had to go into bar to check in. Accommodation was noisy and very basic. No breakfast was offered. Very expensive for a very basic hotel.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

22 Aug 2022

Edward

the hotel is in the centre of town and looks out over the harbour inlet. There is a large bar with live music the night I was there. The hotel is very old (1858) but well maintained and very clean. Staff friendly.Perfectly placed to explore the Awhitu Peninsular. Food available.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

17 Aug 2022

kawana

Staff were nice , but they charge you $20 for the key to the room with assurance that they will refund you , we were leaving at 7am and no one was there to refund us ( we also told them that we were leaving early )

Self

8/10

Excellent

28 Jun 2022

Stuart

I should have paid more attention to the fact that there were stairs to accommodations as i have a condition that has wasted my muscles. As a result I had a fall at the bottom of these. The staff were very good though and they escorted me to a table in restaurant after dressing a wound. The rooms suit people who just need somewhere to doss down after an evening in the pub below. And of course the noise till 12plus. I admit i was expecting to be able to hear this but man was it loud, no sleeping till after it quieted down. I'm 69 and will definitely not be booking a hotel and upstairs accommodation.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jun 2022

Owen

.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 May 2022

Mabel

The Kentish is an old establishment but it was warm and comfortable.

Business_and_leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2022

Janine

This was a convenient place to stay while attending a wedding. Staff were friendly and helpful.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

23 Apr 2022

Bea

Paying on arrival made it easy and no stress with plenty parking staff were accommodating I just didn’t like walking through across the bar and upstairs to our room

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2022

Aimee

Lovely historical pub and hotel.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

01 Feb 2022

Juliet Mavis

Expect the unexpected

The hotel added to the local character and heritage of the area. Therefore its facilities were very old-fashioned as expected. The room I was allocated was not cleaned but the staff were very accommodating and helpful and relocated me as soon as possible. The pub and restaurant downstairs and all the facilities ATM, takeaways, convenience store and even the eco-friendly environment was the highlight of this hotel. the room would just be somewhere to rest and sleep but enjoy all the surroundings of nature, beaches, and lots to explore. So don't expect 4 to 5 star hotel facility. its kept that way to reflect its character. the environment is a sight to behold

Self

2/10

Poor

22 Aug 2021

Verified traveler

How the hell can i go and stay at this beautiful Hotel when we are in lock down. No i didnt get to stay there. We are in LOCK DOWN.

6/10

Pleasant

20 Aug 2021

Verified traveler

A bit of a squeeze..very basic room in an old pub

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Aug 2021

Verified traveler

Cheap and friendly. Clean. Kettle and beverages in room. Cold. Tiny heater. Bedroom door stuck so hard I had trouble getting out. Smoke alarm drained battery beeped all night. I notified staff but it wasn’t replaced.

Business_and_leisure Self

2/10

Poor

27 Jul 2021

Verified traveler

Too noisy, couldn’t rest.

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

25 Jul 2021

Verified traveler

The building is very lovely but the power plug in my room did not work.