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| Entrance display - 1 |
As I walked in the reception area, I was blown away by the
decoration of the lobby of this hotel. As you walked into the hotel from the
street, there is a short corridor which is about 2m long. within that 2m there
are 2 gigantic ornamental flower pots on each side of the inside doors. There
are also two big cast iron and beautiful finished sculptures on each side of the
entrance, completed with oil paintings in gold looking frames. As this little corridor
ends the visitor enters into this large and beautifully decorated reception
area where all the soft furnishings call the visitors to just put their bags
down and breathe all that luxury and relaxation.
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| Entrance display - 2 |
At the reception desk the staff is so relaxed and welcoming
that I barely believe that I am still in the UK. The check-in is swift and you
are waved to your room with a smile despite the busyness of this Friday afternoon
at the reception desk.
This is all so different from my first experience in Exeter last
year. I hated it completely and wasn’t looking forward to visiting. The hotel
is literally opposite the Exeter Central BR station. As I went to my room, I was
still expecting a draw back or a lower quality room. But it seems I had been
upgrade to an executive room! I could not believe how big and beautiful my room
was. My bed seemed to be able to sleep 3 grownups comfortably. There were some
chocolate placed on the bed… which I endeavour to chomp on before my luggage
touch the floor.
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| Landing & reception area |
After my visit, I had a tour on the website and it appears that my room wasn’t even close to be the best… have look for you self on this link. Don't forget to take the 360 tour.
But this hotel? Frankly, I would recommend it to everyone
who is visiting Exeter. One thing I am doubtful about is the restaurant. As I went
to look around to see if the rest of my team and I could have dinner in the hotel, I found it very tucked away and not open to the street, which could have added
a bit of life in this corner of the hotel. The restaurant was empty and dark.
In this beautifully sunny evening, I didn’t fancy giving the restaurant a
chance but, instead ventured out where there were no end of choice in the city
centre only two minutes away from the hotel. We were spoilt for choice and
ended up in a Moroccan restaurant opposite the cathedral from which we did not
want to depart (details in next post).
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| Didn't take a great pic of the room |
As we came back my colleagues and I were discussing the beauty
and the quality of the hotel. All three of us agreed that I was by far the best
we had stayed in since we started touring last year. I of course boasted that
my room topped all the others and of course my colleagues just had to have a
tour… My bathroom was one of the biggest and best of all. It had enough white
and bouncy towels for a family of 6. Even the toilet rolls were impressive; embossed, soft
and folded in point…
The next morning the breakfast was being served from 7 am which
meant that we would have the time to fully enjoy what was displayed… we
copiously stuffed our faces before waddling out to our full day event… Needless
to say lunch was completely unnecessary…
One thing I noted here is that all the staff at the hotel is
all British, which is refreshing and makes a change. I wonder if this is due to
the fact that Exeter is so far down from London. |
| Exterior of the hotel |
This place gets a 4.5 stars from me!
See you soon!
The Reviewer
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