Redcliffe Hotel

Location & Views: The hotel is praised for its seaside location, offering sea views from rooms, proximity to the beach, and easy access to amenities, parking, and public transport.(based on 1 review)

So The Redcliffe was never going to get five stars. I did debate giving it four stars, but its failings, which are all related to its structure, are just too significant to ignore. Let’s start with the +ves. The place has superb grounds. The gardens overlook Paignton and Preston beaches. You have views across the whole of Torbay, from Torquay to Brixham. The rooms are clean, the beds comfortable, there is WiFi, an indoor pool, which is actually very good, and you do have everything you need. The on-suite is spacious and well appointed. Now for the -ves. First, it felt, and actually was, like walking back in time to the 1970s. No air conditioning anywhere. Now given that we landed in the middle of a heat wave, no air-con was a serious short coming. The reception is most definitely not inspiring, the hallway to our room was stifling hot, and our room, which apart from the twin beds, TV, and on-suite, was a perfect replica of my student accommodation in Brighton in the 1970s. The room was small, minimal furniture, no air -con (already mentioned) no mini- bar, so no where to keep bottled water. The water pressure from the ‘power shower’ amounted to a trickle, and the sink stopper was a rubber plug with a chain. When was the last time you saw sink rubber stopper with a chain? The bedside lights were too bright to keep reading without disturbing your partner, and you needed to have the windows, which were metal framed and single glazed, open at night to keep the room cool. That meant listening to traffic noise all night. Finally, the restaurant. The tables were beautifully laid out. High quality table linen, 1950s cutlery, the windows cleaned daily, (which they needed to be, because of the seagulls), the staff fully attentive. Breakfast was OK, but I’ve had equivalent at motorway services. The evening menu was at best uninspired, and whilst non matching crockery is hardly life threatening, it is something you do expect. You really can do a lot better in the evening than eating in the hotel. (Try the Harbour Light) Where the hotel does exceed is in its location. Paignton and Preston beaches, which are superb, are there at you finger tips. You have easy access to the whole of Torbay, the Devon South Hams, Dartington and Dartmoor, and an Aperol Spritz, in the late afternoon, on the terrace, overlooking the bay, is what evenings were made for. In conclusion. When we first arrived I was sadly disappointed. The room was, sadly, a real disappointment, as was the evening menu in the restaurant. But, all that said, whilst the hotel doesn’t inspire, (and I think with sufficient investment, it could), it is a great base for exploring South Devon. The views from the terrace are spectacular, and a bit of nostalgia from the 1970’s isn’t all bad.

Went for a light lunch and had a really nice meal with pimms served on the terrace ,excellent service and free parking.Had a look at the pool was very impressed .