Southernhay House Hotel

We have stayed in this amazing Hotel before. We travel a lot. This is honestly one of the best nights sleep ever. The decor is lovely, staff are attentive, great location for Exeter. Breakfast was great. But this was the most comfortable restful sleep ever. Great bedding. You might hear the sound of the cathedral bells in the morning but is that not the nicest alarm clock ever? We do spend a lot of time in Exeter so even when we are not staying at the Southern Hay we always pop in for a drink in the great conservatory. The conservatory always reminds me of a restaurant in Berkeley Square in NYC. I cannot find a fault. In fact We are making sure we are going back in February.

Best in Exeter We spent a very relaxing w/e at Southernhay House. The rooms are luxurious, spacious, clean and very comfortable. The staff are welcoming, friendly and accommodating. Bar and restaurant are both beautifully designed with many references to the building's historic past. The food was excellent also.

I went in for drinks, horrible service, the waitresses and bar staff were run off their feet, as a result of bad management, which when working in hospitality I HATE. Other people I was meeting got turned away, for no valid reason. I am not blaming the waitresses or bar staff but purely the management. A very poorly run establishment.

Friendly and homely

Third and last stay at this hotel.  Spent £1,190 on 2 rooms for 2 nights to bring my mother for a treat.  On our second night, I was kept awake until nearly 1am by the noise of people in the bar and the staff clearing up.  I went down twice in my pjs to ask them to reduce the noise as I wanted to sleep.  The next morning the manager eventually and reluctantly agreed it would have been possible to at least shut the 2 doors to the bar and restaurant area so that the noise wouldn't have travelled so easily.  The owner was vile about it all and refused or didn't even understand that noise travels and has now banned me from returning (knowing I wouldn't)!  So don't stay in the Ivory room if you want some peace at 12.45am.  There was never anyone at reception to collect/leave keys with, and we would ring the doorbell repeatedly to try and get someone, look in the bar area etc but couldn't find anyone.  My observations on this and the consequent lack of security and possible impact on their insurance arrangements was again met with anger.    Cleanliness is also an issue - black mould in the shower, dirty carpet, clump of hair on the bathroom floor (which I had put from the shower into the bin but it was obviously dropped on the floor when the room was cleaned) etc.   No sheet on the under mattress.  Have seen from negative reviews elsewhere that this will be met with a horrible reply from the owners - they don't want to raise their standards or apologise for anything.

We stayed for a wedding anniversary and were delighted by the hotel, its ambience, its situation and impeccable service. We stayed in the room. “Cotton” and revelled in the large comfortable bed and especially the deep, roll top bath. Breakfast was beautifully presented, generous portions and well cooked. If you want a secluded, discrete and tasteful place to stay in Exeter - this is it. Highly recommended.