The Staircase
by johngaytonThe hotel used to be called "The Rougemont" until a few (ish) years ago and was starting to look a little jaded, but has been seriously revamped and rebranded simply as The Thistle Exeter. It's not often that putting a corporate identity on a place works, but here it does.
For a city centre hotel it has everything you would require: nice rooms, 24hrs service, good staff, and perfect location for central Exeter.
The food is reasonably good, breakfast buffet can be a bit hit nor miss, just got to get the timing right when things are coming out fresh, but then that's the same most places. But the service is excellent and nothing is a problem, If your not happy with something tell one of the staff and things will be sorted.
Definetely recommended.
Use the website and advance bookings can be very reasonable, I've stayed here for as little as £28.50 b&b, though the norm is at least twice that.
From the outside the hotel looks a little run down, but once inside it has a lot of character. From the entrance hallway with its pair of bronzes, into the reception area - where you can just sit and have a coffee - wooden panelling abounds. The residents lounge - just order from reception what you want - with its marble fireplace. The staircase and its stained glass window. There's even an internet station!
This is a nice hotel.
It can be expensive but deals are there to be done!
