The Royal & Fortescue Hotel
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Summary of reviewsThe Royal & Fortescue Hotel, nestled in the heart of Barnstaple, impresses guests with its prime location, providing easy access to shopping, dining, entertainment and transportation options. Its central setting is perfect for both leisure and business travelers seeking convenient access to North Devon and Cornwall attractions. The addition of a secure car park enhances the practicality of its location.
The breakfast experience at the Royal & Fortescue earns high praise with guests enjoying a variety of delicious hot and continental options served in a beautiful setting. The friendly, professional staff and the overall quality and variety make the breakfast a highlight, despite occasional critiques about cost and food preparation.
Dining at the hotel is another strong point with numerous positive reviews about the quality and variety of food served in its multiple dining spaces. Guests particularly enjoyed the Sunday carvery and seafood pancakes with the Bistro 62 receiving specific acclaim. While some dining areas had menu restrictions and price concerns, the excellent service and well-executed culinary experience are widely appreciated.
The rooms at the Royal & Fortescue offer a mixed experience. Many guests commend the spacious, clean and comfortable accommodations with modern and spotless bathrooms. However, some reviews mention inconsistencies in room size and upkeep, noise issues and temperature control. Despite these drawbacks, the overall sentiment remains positive with many guests finding the rooms satisfactory and well-presented.
Cleanliness is a standout feature with the hotel consistently maintaining a spotless appearance across rooms, bathrooms and communal areas. Professional housekeeping ensures a bright, welcoming environment, contributing to an enjoyable stay.
The staff at the Royal & Fortescue Hotel are a key highlight, frequently described as friendly, helpful and professional. The warmth and efficiency of the receptionists, alongside the attentive bar and restaurant staff, significantly enhance the overall guest experience.
Complimentary WiFi is generally reliable, though connectivity varies by room location. Parking is free and secure, but navigating the car park can be challenging due to congestion and narrow spaces.
Families find the hotel welcoming and accommodating with a supportive environment for special occasions. While noise from the surrounding area can be a concern, the hotel's family-friendly policies and attentive staff mitigate these issues.
The beds receive positive feedback for comfort and cleanliness, though some guests noted discrepancies in bed quality and size. The hotel's three-star rating often exceeds expectations, largely due to its charm, cleanliness and exceptional staff service.
Overall, the Royal & Fortescue Hotel provides a fulfilling stay, combining a prime location, excellent dining options and high-quality service to ensure a memorable experience for its guests.
Categories
The breakfast experience at the Royal & Fortescue earns high praise with guests enjoying a variety of delicious hot and continental options served in a beautiful setting. The friendly, professional staff and the overall quality and variety make the breakfast a highlight, despite occasional critiques about cost and food preparation.
Dining at the hotel is another strong point with numerous positive reviews about the quality and variety of food served in its multiple dining spaces. Guests particularly enjoyed the Sunday carvery and seafood pancakes with the Bistro 62 receiving specific acclaim. While some dining areas had menu restrictions and price concerns, the excellent service and well-executed culinary experience are widely appreciated.
The rooms at the Royal & Fortescue offer a mixed experience. Many guests commend the spacious, clean and comfortable accommodations with modern and spotless bathrooms. However, some reviews mention inconsistencies in room size and upkeep, noise issues and temperature control. Despite these drawbacks, the overall sentiment remains positive with many guests finding the rooms satisfactory and well-presented.
Cleanliness is a standout feature with the hotel consistently maintaining a spotless appearance across rooms, bathrooms and communal areas. Professional housekeeping ensures a bright, welcoming environment, contributing to an enjoyable stay.
The staff at the Royal & Fortescue Hotel are a key highlight, frequently described as friendly, helpful and professional. The warmth and efficiency of the receptionists, alongside the attentive bar and restaurant staff, significantly enhance the overall guest experience.
Complimentary WiFi is generally reliable, though connectivity varies by room location. Parking is free and secure, but navigating the car park can be challenging due to congestion and narrow spaces.
Families find the hotel welcoming and accommodating with a supportive environment for special occasions. While noise from the surrounding area can be a concern, the hotel's family-friendly policies and attentive staff mitigate these issues.
The beds receive positive feedback for comfort and cleanliness, though some guests noted discrepancies in bed quality and size. The hotel's three-star rating often exceeds expectations, largely due to its charm, cleanliness and exceptional staff service.
Overall, the Royal & Fortescue Hotel provides a fulfilling stay, combining a prime location, excellent dining options and high-quality service to ensure a memorable experience for its guests.
Historic Hotel
Located in Barnstaple, The Royal & Fortescue Hotel offers a historic stay in a central location. Its traditional architecture and long-standing presence in the town reflect the area's heritage.
Business Hotel
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel provides a mix of modern furnishings and period charm, making it suitable for conferences and corporate events. The Palm Court can comfortably seat up to 120 people, offering a professional and inviting atmosphere. The hotel offers standard packages including meeting room hire, free Wi-Fi, and catering options.
Accessible Hotel
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel provides a disabled toilet on the ground floor and offers walk-in shower facilities in a selection of its bedrooms. Some bathrooms are fitted with grab rails, and portable grab rails can be provided upon request. There is a designated disabled parking space, and the front entrance is flat with a wide doorway. Porters are available to assist guests.
Hotel for Honeymoon
Family Friendly Hotel
Hotel with Parking
3-Star Hotel
Guest Reviews
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel offers a prime location, nestled right in the heart of Barnstaple. With its central position, guests find it remarkably convenient for shopping, dining and entertainment venues, including close proximity to the Queen’s Theatre. The hotel also boasts easy access to local transportation options with both the train and bus stations a short walk away. Ideal for both leisure and business, its setting provides seamless access to North Devon and Cornwall attractions. Additionally, the hotel features handy amenities such as a secure car park, enhancing the convenience offered by its fantastic location. Perfectly positioned at the end of the High Street, the Royal & Fortescue Hotel truly stands out as central to everything and is lauded for its accessibility to the town's amenities and vibrant community life.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel offers a noteworthy breakfast experience that has garnered positive feedback from many guests. Multiple reviews highlight the breakfast as delicious, superb and excellent with plentiful options and a great selection. Guests particularly appreciate the hot, well-cooked dishes and the variety of choices available, ranging from cooked to continental options.
The breakfast is served in a beautiful setting, which enhances the dining experience. Many commend the friendly, helpful and professional staff for their excellent service. The buffet style is frequently mentioned, noted for being both comprehensive and of reasonable quality. Several guests also enjoyed the special touches, such as granola and yoghurt pots and found the breakfast to be good value for money.
However, there are occasional critiques regarding the cost with some guests feeling it was overpriced. A few also noted issues with food being overcooked or not as expected. Despite these minor issues, the overall consensus is that the breakfast at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel is a highlight of the stay, offering a satisfying start to the day with a variety of tasty and well-prepared options.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel's dining experience receives predominantly high praise from guests, highlighting the quality and variety of food across its multiple dining spaces. Numerous reviews applaud the restaurant as both great and excellent, citing the delicious and tasty meals served. Guests mention a particularly enjoyable dining experience with specific mentions of a perfect dinner, first-class meals and amazing food, including standout options like the Sunday carvery and seafood pancakes. Notably, the Bistro 62 also garners positive feedback for its excellent meal offerings and enjoyable dining atmosphere.
Reviewers commonly describe the food as lovely, delicious, fantastic and of good quality with the meals being worth the price and the portions often generous. Both the restaurant and bar areas are well appreciated with guests enjoying the good menu choices, tasty evening snacks and well-decorated spaces. The mix of great food and cocktails, especially in the quiet lounge, enhances the overall dining experience.
However, a minority of reviews note some disappointments, including comments about prices and menu restrictions in certain dining areas such as Bar 62 and the Bank Restaurant. Despite these few negative remarks, the general consensus remains favorable, emphasizing excellent service from the staff and a well-executed culinary experience across various meal options, making the hotel's restaurant a popular and recommended choice for diners.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel offers a varied experience when it comes to room quality with many guests praising the spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort of their accommodations. Numerous reviewers mention that the rooms are well-equipped and beautifully decorated with modern, spotlessly clean bathrooms often highlighted as a positive aspect. Many guests enjoyed quiet, comfortable spaces that provided a pleasant stay and some even had the opportunity to upgrade to larger, more luxurious rooms.
However, there are some inconsistencies in the hotel’s room standards. Several reviews point out issues with the size and upkeep of certain rooms, describing them as small, dated or in need of renovation. Noise levels were a concern for a few guests, particularly those staying near the lift or the kitchen, as well as in rooms facing the courtyard. Temperature control appeared to be another point of discomfort with rooms sometimes being too hot or too cold depending on the weather.
Despite these occasional drawbacks, many visitors found the rooms to be well-presented with comfortable beds and good facilities that included air conditioning in some cases. Overall, most guests describe their rooms as adequate or more than satisfactory for the cost, appreciating the clean and welcoming environment.
The bed reviews for The Royal & Fortescue Hotel paint a generally positive picture. Many guests praised the beds as being extremely comfortable with phrases like "comfiest bed," "super comfy beds," and "comfortable beds" frequently appearing in feedback. Guests appreciated the size, describing them as "huge" and "large." The beds provided a good night's sleep and were celebrated for their cleanliness and the quality of the sheets.
However, there were some discrepancies in experiences. A few guests found their beds to be small, lumpy or worn and several pointed out that the double beds were often just two single beds pushed together. There were also mentions of beds being too soft or saggy, contributing to an uncomfortable sleep for some. Despite these occasional drawbacks, the overall consensus leans towards a comfortable stay with many remarking on the good quality of sleep provided by the beds.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel is renowned for its exceptional cleanliness, consistently impressing guests with its spotless appearance. Reviewers frequently highlight the hotel’s immaculate condition, from the well-maintained rooms and corridors to the newly renovated and pristine bathrooms. The communal areas, including the restaurant and bar, are also noted for their cleanliness.
Guests describe the rooms as very clean, tidy and comfortable, often emphasizing the hotel's thorough daily cleaning routines. Housekeeping is praised for its professionalism and attentiveness, ensuring that each room is well-presented and inviting. The overall environment is described as bright, fresh and welcoming, contributing to a pleasant stay.
Although a few minor cleanliness issues are occasionally noted, such as specific areas that could use more attention, the general consensus is overwhelmingly positive. The hotel combines its old-world charm with modern touches, maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and comfort throughout. Friendly staff and well-maintained facilities further enhance the guest experience, making The Royal & Fortescue Hotel a preferred choice for travelers seeking a clean and hospitable stay.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel boasts a remarkable team renowned for their exceptional hospitality. Guests consistently describe the hotel staff as friendly, helpful and professional. The couple managing operations are frequently praised, reflecting well on the entire team.
The receptionists, in particular, are highlighted for their warmth and efficiency, often being referred to as fantastic, lovely and welcoming. The bar and restaurant staff are also commended for their friendliness and attentiveness, ensuring a pleasant dining experience.
Many guests note that the staff go above and beyond, providing a level of service that exceeds expectations. Words like accommodating, courteous and cheerful are often used to describe the team's demeanor. The positive interactions with the staff significantly enhance the overall guest experience, making the hotel a standout choice for many travelers.
Overall, the consistent theme of friendliness, professionalism and a willingness to assist ensures that guests feel well taken care of during their stay. The staff at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel are a key factor in the property’s high ratings and repeat visits.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel offers complimentary WiFi with many guests finding the connection to be reliable and strong throughout their stay. Positive remarks highlight the good WiFi service with some even describing it as excellent. However, experiences do vary depending on the room location. Guests staying in the main hotel generally report better connectivity, while those in the back rooms sometimes face challenges with the signal. A few reviewers mentioned the absence of USB charging sockets and concerns about the security of the WiFi. Overall, the WiFi service is appreciated by many, though a few guests have experienced issues.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel offers a mix of experiences when it comes to parking, as reflected in guest reviews. On the positive side, the hotel provides free parking, which is a notable advantage for many. Guests appreciated the secure parking facilities and found the availability of a car park adjacent to the hotel to be highly convenient. Some highlighted the benefit of having allocated parking spaces and the ample parking space available, which eased their stay. The inclusion of parking with room bookings was also well-received.
However, parking at the hotel can be challenging. Reviews indicate that the car park is often congested and its spaces are narrow, making it difficult to maneuver larger vehicles. The parking area is described as tight and busy and some guests found it hard to locate with poor signage exacerbating the issue. Night arrivals sometimes faced the frustration of no available spaces and a particular inconvenience was having to wait for parking or being turned away when the car park was full.
Some reviews pointed out that parking wasn’t clearly marked or easily accessible and driving to the hotel could be problematic, especially with navigation systems misdirecting guests. While the hotel has plenty of secure parking, the arrangements were found to be less than adequate by some, necessitating the use of nearby public car parks at times.
In summary, while The Royal & Fortescue Hotel does offer good parking facilities with the perk of free and secure parking, navigating and utilizing these spaces can be a tricky and occasionally frustrating experience for guests.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel stands out for its welcoming and family-friendly environment. With its old-fashioned family feel, this family-run hotel ensures that nothing is too much trouble for guests, making special occasions like birthdays, honeymoons and weddings memorable. The staff are particularly commendable for their child-friendly attitude, ensuring that children are delighted and well-treated during their stay. Families appreciate the hotel’s accommodating policies, such as allowing early check-ins when needed.
However, the surrounding area can be a bit noisy with groups of youngsters hanging around local streets and nearby clubs that can make evening walks with children feel less safe. Inside the hotel, some rooms can have issues, such as temperature control or noisy kitchen vents, but the overall family-friendly policies and attentive staff help to mitigate these inconveniences. Families staying for various personal events, even somber ones like funerals, find comfort in the supportive environment provided by the hotel.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel presents itself as a three-star establishment that exceeds its own rating in several ways. Guests find it very good value for money, often noting that it seemed better than what one would expect from a typical three-star hotel. The hotel exudes charm with modern rooms within an older building and while it has dated furnishings, it maintains a high standard of cleanliness and loveliness.
The staff at The Royal & Fortescue significantly contribute to a superior experience, often described as providing five-star service. Despite fitting the bill for standard three-star facilities and services, the personnel create an atmosphere that feels more luxurious. Though not equipped with amenities like a pool or sauna, the hotel compensates with its quality service and charm.
Overall, the hotel may appear a bit run down in some aspects and the furnishings could use an update, but it manages to deliver a fulfilling stay that often goes beyond the expectations set for its three-star rating. While some may find the price on the higher side compared to similar accommodations, many find the overall experience to be worth it, especially due to the excellent service provided by the staff.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel proves to be an excellent choice for business travelers, offering a range of business-friendly facilities and services. Situated conveniently near Barnstaple Central Station, this hotel is ideal for those on a work trip. The hotel boasts great business amenities, including functional meeting rooms and a well-equipped conference center, making it suitable for client dealings and professional gatherings. Despite the generally lovely old grand ambiance with character, the location does have limitations concerning outdoor areas. However, for those prioritizing business needs, this hotel serves its purpose efficiently, catering well to the requirements of business travelers.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel offers a mixed experience when it comes to accessibility for guests with disabilities. Positively, the hotel provides accessible parking and has ramps available for easier access. It features a central location that simplifies navigation to the property and there is an elevator to all floors, making it accessible for the elderly and those with mobility issues. Special requests for accessible rooms are met with consideration and staff members are attentive to guests' mobility problems, ensuring a comfortable stay for those with disabilities.
However, there are some challenges. The hotel is situated in a hard-to-reach area and the lift has been reported to break down at times, which could pose significant inconvenience. Limited parking space adds to the difficulty. Additionally, some rooms are still affected by stairs despite the presence of an elevator. Despite these hurdles, the overall atmosphere remains accessible-friendly with thoughtful accommodations for guests with disabilities.
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel, nestled in a building dating back to the 17th century, boasts a beautiful blend of historical architecture and modern amenities. This lovely historic property captivates visitors with its old-fashioned charm and intricate period features. Guests frequently praise the hotel for preserving its vintage decor elements and traditional design, which contribute to its character and ambiance. The regal facade and the intricately designed interior reflect its storied past with highlights including a magnificent 17th-century ceiling and a historic dining room adorned with bow windows and elaborate moldings.
The building's Georgian period style is evident throughout, giving the hotel a timeless, old-English appeal that attracts history enthusiasts. Despite its age, the hotel manages to integrate modern comforts seamlessly, making it a cozy yet character-filled place to stay. It's clear that the preservation efforts have paid off, as the hotel maintains an exquisite balance between its historical significance and contemporary updates. This period hotel is truly a beautiful grand establishment with an old-world charm that resonates with all who visit.
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Location
Breakfast
The breakfast is served in a beautiful setting, which enhances the dining experience. Many commend the friendly, helpful and professional staff for their excellent service. The buffet style is frequently mentioned, noted for being both comprehensive and of reasonable quality. Several guests also enjoyed the special touches, such as granola and yoghurt pots and found the breakfast to be good value for money.
However, there are occasional critiques regarding the cost with some guests feeling it was overpriced. A few also noted issues with food being overcooked or not as expected. Despite these minor issues, the overall consensus is that the breakfast at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel is a highlight of the stay, offering a satisfying start to the day with a variety of tasty and well-prepared options.
Dinner
Reviewers commonly describe the food as lovely, delicious, fantastic and of good quality with the meals being worth the price and the portions often generous. Both the restaurant and bar areas are well appreciated with guests enjoying the good menu choices, tasty evening snacks and well-decorated spaces. The mix of great food and cocktails, especially in the quiet lounge, enhances the overall dining experience.
However, a minority of reviews note some disappointments, including comments about prices and menu restrictions in certain dining areas such as Bar 62 and the Bank Restaurant. Despite these few negative remarks, the general consensus remains favorable, emphasizing excellent service from the staff and a well-executed culinary experience across various meal options, making the hotel's restaurant a popular and recommended choice for diners.
Rooms
However, there are some inconsistencies in the hotel’s room standards. Several reviews point out issues with the size and upkeep of certain rooms, describing them as small, dated or in need of renovation. Noise levels were a concern for a few guests, particularly those staying near the lift or the kitchen, as well as in rooms facing the courtyard. Temperature control appeared to be another point of discomfort with rooms sometimes being too hot or too cold depending on the weather.
Despite these occasional drawbacks, many visitors found the rooms to be well-presented with comfortable beds and good facilities that included air conditioning in some cases. Overall, most guests describe their rooms as adequate or more than satisfactory for the cost, appreciating the clean and welcoming environment.
Beds
However, there were some discrepancies in experiences. A few guests found their beds to be small, lumpy or worn and several pointed out that the double beds were often just two single beds pushed together. There were also mentions of beds being too soft or saggy, contributing to an uncomfortable sleep for some. Despite these occasional drawbacks, the overall consensus leans towards a comfortable stay with many remarking on the good quality of sleep provided by the beds.
Cleanliness
Guests describe the rooms as very clean, tidy and comfortable, often emphasizing the hotel's thorough daily cleaning routines. Housekeeping is praised for its professionalism and attentiveness, ensuring that each room is well-presented and inviting. The overall environment is described as bright, fresh and welcoming, contributing to a pleasant stay.
Although a few minor cleanliness issues are occasionally noted, such as specific areas that could use more attention, the general consensus is overwhelmingly positive. The hotel combines its old-world charm with modern touches, maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and comfort throughout. Friendly staff and well-maintained facilities further enhance the guest experience, making The Royal & Fortescue Hotel a preferred choice for travelers seeking a clean and hospitable stay.
Staff
The receptionists, in particular, are highlighted for their warmth and efficiency, often being referred to as fantastic, lovely and welcoming. The bar and restaurant staff are also commended for their friendliness and attentiveness, ensuring a pleasant dining experience.
Many guests note that the staff go above and beyond, providing a level of service that exceeds expectations. Words like accommodating, courteous and cheerful are often used to describe the team's demeanor. The positive interactions with the staff significantly enhance the overall guest experience, making the hotel a standout choice for many travelers.
Overall, the consistent theme of friendliness, professionalism and a willingness to assist ensures that guests feel well taken care of during their stay. The staff at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel are a key factor in the property’s high ratings and repeat visits.
Wi-Fi
Parking
However, parking at the hotel can be challenging. Reviews indicate that the car park is often congested and its spaces are narrow, making it difficult to maneuver larger vehicles. The parking area is described as tight and busy and some guests found it hard to locate with poor signage exacerbating the issue. Night arrivals sometimes faced the frustration of no available spaces and a particular inconvenience was having to wait for parking or being turned away when the car park was full.
Some reviews pointed out that parking wasn’t clearly marked or easily accessible and driving to the hotel could be problematic, especially with navigation systems misdirecting guests. While the hotel has plenty of secure parking, the arrangements were found to be less than adequate by some, necessitating the use of nearby public car parks at times.
In summary, while The Royal & Fortescue Hotel does offer good parking facilities with the perk of free and secure parking, navigating and utilizing these spaces can be a tricky and occasionally frustrating experience for guests.
Family
However, the surrounding area can be a bit noisy with groups of youngsters hanging around local streets and nearby clubs that can make evening walks with children feel less safe. Inside the hotel, some rooms can have issues, such as temperature control or noisy kitchen vents, but the overall family-friendly policies and attentive staff help to mitigate these inconveniences. Families staying for various personal events, even somber ones like funerals, find comfort in the supportive environment provided by the hotel.
3 Star
The staff at The Royal & Fortescue significantly contribute to a superior experience, often described as providing five-star service. Despite fitting the bill for standard three-star facilities and services, the personnel create an atmosphere that feels more luxurious. Though not equipped with amenities like a pool or sauna, the hotel compensates with its quality service and charm.
Overall, the hotel may appear a bit run down in some aspects and the furnishings could use an update, but it manages to deliver a fulfilling stay that often goes beyond the expectations set for its three-star rating. While some may find the price on the higher side compared to similar accommodations, many find the overall experience to be worth it, especially due to the excellent service provided by the staff.
Business
Accessible
However, there are some challenges. The hotel is situated in a hard-to-reach area and the lift has been reported to break down at times, which could pose significant inconvenience. Limited parking space adds to the difficulty. Additionally, some rooms are still affected by stairs despite the presence of an elevator. Despite these hurdles, the overall atmosphere remains accessible-friendly with thoughtful accommodations for guests with disabilities.
Historic
The building's Georgian period style is evident throughout, giving the hotel a timeless, old-English appeal that attracts history enthusiasts. Despite its age, the hotel manages to integrate modern comforts seamlessly, making it a cozy yet character-filled place to stay. It's clear that the preservation efforts have paid off, as the hotel maintains an exquisite balance between its historical significance and contemporary updates. This period hotel is truly a beautiful grand establishment with an old-world charm that resonates with all who visit.
No, The Royal & Fortescue Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel.
No, The Royal & Fortescue Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel.
No, The Royal & Fortescue Hotel doesn't have a gym.
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