Exeter Hotels

• lina112
• Reviews: 911

User Rating

• deptlads
• Reviews: 161

User Rating

Hotel Barcelona: Barcelona

This 'boutique' hotel just outside Exeter's city walls promises so much, but doesn't really manage to deliver on any of it, except the food.

Converted from a former 1908 brick-built hospital (the West of England Eye Hospital), this is not a particularly comfortable or cosy hotel. Despite the attempts at arty Catalan-inspired decor (hence the name), there are constant reminders (intended and unintended) that this is an old hospital. The radiators, the high ceilings, the cold institutional pale green and off-white gloss paint, the stained wood flooring. And we are not talking about "stained wood" here - this is wood flooring with stains on it (and yes, some of it did look like blood stains). We found it difficult to feel comfortable or relaxed anywhere in this hotel, other than the restaurant - which is in a totally new extension.

First impressions are not good, as the hotel reception is nothing more than a couple of tables stuck round a corner inside the main entrance. We thought that it was just a conference registration desk. Last impressions (checking-out) were not good either as the hotel tried to overcharge us by £40.00. I don't think that it was deliberate, but the complicated way in which they calculated our bill meant that we had to sit down with a calculator to work out whether they had got it right (which they hadn't). To cap it all, they apologised for the delay in settling our bill, but did not apologise for trying to overcharge us.

We would not stay at this hotel again, and I would not recommend it to anyone else, other than for a short stay where you are not paying and there is nothing else available. Certainly don't stay here if you want a nice romantic weekend or anything like that.

However, the restaurant - Cafe Paradiso - is rather good. The breakfast offering is very good quality, and original, with things like baked apples on offer. However, you do have to pay extra for cooked options (like eggs or bacon) if you are on a "continental" breakfast rate (eg the weekend offer). We also had dinner there one night and it was very good. The smoked haddock fishcakes were wonderful, and the vodka & white chocolate sorbet was amazing.

Unique Quality: Former eye hospital.
Funky decor.
Rather good restaurant

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Address: Magdalen Street, , Exeter, England EX2 4HY
• Phone: 01392 281 000
• Website: www.aliashotels.com/barcelona/
• Written July 9, 2008

Hotel Barcelona

---

Was this review helpful?

• johngayton
• Reviews: 2936

Premier Inn Exeter Central St Davids: No Idea Why They've Called It "Central"!

I haven't, as yet, stayed here as it has only just opened (March 2011) but Premier Inn is a national chain and the rooms and service are standardised throughout the group.

Premier Inn places itself at the upper end of the budget hotel market and rooms are spacious, comfortable, immaculately clean and have all the basics expected of a mid-price hotel. The only gripe I have with Premier Inns is that the internet connection is expensive but now that I have a UK mobile connection I don't worry about that anymore.

Unique Quality: I can't work out why they have called it Exeter Central St Davids given that Central and St Davids are two entirely different railway stations and the hotel is definitely at St Davids - in fact it is immediately across the car park from the station's entrance.

The city centre is about 10 minutes walk, or a few minutes on the local "H" bus, and so as a location this is ideal for both the railway station and the city (provided you don't need to be central central LOL)

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Address: Bonhay Road
• Website: http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/EXESTD/exeter-central-st-davids
• Related to: Budget Travel, Trains
• Written March 17, 2011

Slightly Fuzzy Nightime Frontage

---

Was this review helpful?