Royal Britannia Hotel
Royal Britannia Hotel descritpion
In the picturesque Devonshire town of Illfracombe is the Royal Britannia Hotel. Totally refurbished in 2010, the hotel overlooks the harbor and offers 2 restaurants and 2 bars.
Former notable guests of the hotel include Lord Admiral Nelson and King Edward VII. Rooms at the Royal Britannia feature TVs and tea/coffee making facilities, while some have sea views and spa bathtubs.
The large restaurant has exposed wooden beams and serves English and international cuisine. There is a traditional roast meal with a range of meat, and a sea-food menu featuring the fresh catch from Illfracombe harbor.
There are two bars, serving a wide range of drinks and light snacks throughout the day. Devonshire cream teas are also available.
The hotel is surrounded by the harbor stunning countryside walks. The golden, sandy beaches of Woolacommbe are a haven for surfers, and are a 10-minute drive away.
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Facilities of Royal Britannia Hotel
Outdoors ：Grounds | Terrace | Sun Deck
Pets ：Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.
Activities ：Golf Course (within 2 miles) | Fishing | Pool Table | Darts | Beachfront
Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Buffet-Style Restaurant | Snack Bar
Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.
Parking ：Public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not possible) and charges apply.
Services ：Baggage Storage | VIP Room Facilities | Honeymoon Suite
General ：Non-smoking Rooms | Family Rooms | Heating | Designated Smoking Area
Reviews for Royal Britannia Hotel
Review 1：On arrival we had to book in at their reception office, which looked grubby and was a mess and not the friendliest of welcomes. Upon booking we had informed the hotel that we needed a ‘Gluten Free’ breakfast, we were informed that they had not got any gluten free sausages or bread, and were asked if we had brought our own with us! At this stage we were very disappointed, however they did give us an upgrade. The room was clean and tidy, however out of the five light bulbs in the ceiling light only one bulb worked. There was an information notice stuck on the bathroom mirror, which was illegible. Come on attention to detail please. I understand that there was building work being carried out, which we understand must be undertaken. Apart from not having access to the restaurant this did not give us any concerns other than it was very cold eating our dinner in the bar area and also for breakfast. The breakfast was fair apart from not having any gluten free sausages, cereal or bread. However, we arrived at the area that was allocated for breakfast to find that there were no table set and the limited cereals and fruit juice was on a small table. We had to set the table ourselves and then sit in a cold area with very bad lighting waiting for service. There was also no sugar on the table for the cereal. This was very disappointing seeing that we paid extra for the breakfast. In regards to other parts of the hotel it all needed renovating especially the toilets opposite the bar, which was dirty and of a very poor standard.
Review 2：Luckily we were given an upgrade to a bigger room than we booked which had a fantastic sea view. The room and shower room was clean and adequate. We ate in the bar of the hotel (not ideal), however the food was very good along with the service.
Review 3：Noisy area with late night pub activities. Disorderly and drunk youth with late night activities in the center of Ilfracombe. Impossible to get a peaceful good night rest, and breakfast was served after 9h00. Guests arrive at late night, and wooden hotel floors squeak. Smoking aloud inside hotel.
Review 4：close to harbour and excellent for walking within a town area
Review 5：The breakfast was unsatisfactory it tasted as if it had come from a transport café at the end of the night. Evening meal Curry and rice in the bar as the restaurant closed. Tasted like boil in the bag rice overcooked and sticky. The curry itself was grossly under par with no presentation whatsoever. Purchased two bags of crisps for 75p each only to find they tasted soggy but ate them anyway only to find later they were both out of date.
Review 6：The location of the hotel and the room itself were fabulous although the bathroom could have had a little more attention paid to its cleanliness, such as the extractor fan was loose and full of dust.
Review 7：I have no negative comments to make about this hotel.
Review 8：The friendliness of all the staff. The lovely white bed linen and fluffy towels. The amazing room and harbour view from it. The evening meal and breakfast were delicious.
Review 9：We have been to Ilfracombe many times over the last twenty years and to this pub hotel. It said " Totally refurbished in 2010" This is a lie, it looked exactly the same as when we first visited. We were excited by the fact it had been totally refurbised and felt very let down. Would have been better value in a travel lodge or premier inn and much cleaner.
Review 10：They upgraded us to a room with a view of the harbour.
Review 11：Staff weren't ready for breakfast. We had to hunt people down to get served. After stay customer service very poor.
Review 12：The rooms were comfortable enough
Review 13：Appeared understaffed. Had to hunt out someone to book us in and when trying to get a drink at the bar. A guest had left their dog alone in their room and spent an hour or so howling. Nothing was done until I complained. The room and en-suite was in need of some TLC (we are given a free up grade). Breakfast was adequate.
Review 14：The location was possibly the best in the town
Review 15：Upon check in, nobody was there to receive us, we had to knock on the office door to get the attention of someone, who did not invite us in, we were left standing in the corridor and given a key and told to 'find the room, it is signposted.' The breakfast experience was awful :( We ordered from the bar as requested, but there was no waitress / waiter in sight. A container of milk was left on the side and an empty orange juice jug and a bowl of cereal to help yourself to. After 30 minutes wait, the breakfast arrived - dried out and undercooked egg. We left more than half of the food (and we are not usually fussy!) We stayed 2 nights and paid for 2 breakfasts, but only managed the one and the next morning we went elsewhere. Customer service needs a good look at as well as the breakfasts.
Review 16：Excellent location for exploring Ilfracombe and very good restaurants and pubs within walking distance. Good sized room and loved the spa bath.
Review 17：The wait to say we wanted breakfast the next morning was long. A bell or a repositioned camera to cover the hatch would be good.
Review 18：The overall stay was good, the staff were friendly, the room was clean. The décor a little mixed, the pictures in the room for a family room were a little creepy!!! Breakfast additional 6.95 for room only guests, this was nice tasting & good value for the cost. The modernising fits will the oldness of the hotel well.
Review 19：We weren't told of pub nearby with karaoke on until midnight,then loud music until 1am.then fighting and shouting after that.no sleep for 2 days
Review 20：The room was clean
Review 21：No WIFI in rooms. Had to sit in the bar! Room 8 faced onto street, very noisy between 8.30pm and 12am
Review 22：Easily accessible for quay and town. Spotless room, modern décor , bed and shower. Spacious room
Review 23：Very small double room. Hotel menu English / Asian very confusing . Asian seemed to comprise of sweet and sour everything. We eat out all the time.
Review 24：Location
Review 25：No WiFi, narrow corridors and no lift. We were 'upgraded' to a family room but it was still small and felt cramped.
Review 26：The location in the town centre is great. There is no lounge downstairs and the bar was so-so.
Review 27：the reception check in/out is bad.breakfast greeting/ordering is terrible.the bar uninviting,cold with uncomfortable seats.
Review 28：The room was generally good,with a few niggles.The location is excellent.
Review 29：Very noisy, from the bar downstairs and late night bar next door. This went on until early hours not great when you need to get up early for dive boat!
Review 30：Close to harbor for dive boats
Review 31：Having booked and paid for a double room with extra bed we were given a double room because they said booking dot com had messed up the disciption of the room and the room we had booked from the website was already occupied.This hotel has a responsibility of their own to check that details on other websites they subscribe to are correct.We booked and paid for two nights with breakfast but left after one night because of room.This second night should have been refunded because none of this mix up was our fault but wasn't.
Review 32：The location
Review 33：eating breakfast in room next to bar with people drinking and talking of last nights exploits at 08:30 in the morning, booked 4 poster room did not get 4 poster ,
Review 34：bed was comfortable
Review 35：Had to pay to park in the car park as no parking with the Hotel. But that hasnt put us off going again.
Review 36：Location was fabulous, overlooking the harbour.The staff were really friendly, and the room was very spacious, we loved the jacuzzi bath.
Review 37：Stayed in room 27 which was lovely but had very noisy water pipes when another room upstairs used the shower.
Review 38：Location, cosy room, excellent value for money.
Review 39：just one thing found an electronic cigarette refill I think it was under the table in the room but that was all .
Review 40：We loved the room, had the one with four poster bed and the fact it was so close to the harbour too was great !
Review 41：The advertised free WiFi was misleading. There is no WiFi in the room. In the bar, what is available is the Sky "Cloud". To access it, you have to sign up and provide a lot of personal information, which I declined to do. The room was lacking a chest of drawers, and in the bathroom, there was no surface on which to rest a sponge bag, except for the loo seat. In addition, although this was not a problem for me, almost everything in the folder of info in the room was about what is forbidden, and the charges that will be made if you damage the room or steal anything. I get the impression that the hotel gets a lot of rowdy groups, which I would not have liked to have encountered.
Review 42：The staff were all very friendly. The location was right in the centre of Ilfracombe, by the harbour. There is no car park, but council parking can be purchased nearby (best to phone Tourist Information to get a pass). There is a friendly bar, and a decent evening meal is provided for an extra payment. The room was a good size.
Review 43：We were seated in the restaurant and sat there for 15 minutes without being given menus or having our drink order taken. The hotel also smells of Chinese food as they leave the kitchen door wide open and that leads in to the main corridor of the hotel
Review 44：The location was amazing
Review 45：we got there after a few hrs travel, and the room wasn`t ready, they got snotty because we took our bags back to the car : / the room was atrocious, car boot furniture,badly homemade beds. the place stank of stale curry and chinese slop. they should reduce the price to equal the standard, not very clean. my work takes me all over the country, and this place is the worst and with attitude : / take your children elsewhere plz !
Review 46：leaving : (
Review 47：Lack of courtesy at reception. No lift and given 2nd floor room with 2 year old. Car park a little way away and no pull in to unload.
Review 48：Hotel right on sea front. opposite tourist shops and short walk to boat trips. Lovely old building very clean.
Review 49：The prices of the rooms are a bit inflated given the tiredness of the hotel interior - apparently they rely on the location to draw in clients. There is a parking up the street and the price was not as low as they said it would be, but affordable.
Review 50：This hotel has a great location overlooking the small harbour, but only some of the rooms have the benefit of it so make sure to book one of those. The good size room had a big bay window and was clean, albeit slightly tired. OK breakfast.In stead of the pricy Nelson room, book the cheaper Lady Hamilton room one floor up and just as nice.
Review 51：Only little niggles was no onsite parking its a 5 minute walk away but at £3.10 for 24 hours its not bad. And no phone signal for wifi but could just be our network.
Review 52：Great check in,helped upstairs with all our luggage.The family room was perfect for our needs. Very clean.location is perfect.would stay again. Ignore bad reviews!
Review 53：Hotel feels like a pub and on the small side. No lift, had to carry my buggy and all the bags even though the receptionist did offer to help.
Review 54：Location was really good in terms of activities around the hotel. Staff were friendly and nice.
Review 55：It was fine for our short stop-over, though the place was a bit outdated and could have been cleaner. The wifi connection was also not very good. Overall, it was fine for one night. The late check out time was a nice addition.
Review 56：Our room was to hot, we have been boiling there, rest of the hotel had nice temperature except this particular room :( we couldn't sleep at all because of that. ...and on our duvet we found huge spider , around 4cm big.
Review 57：Location & pet friendly, there is a pub downstairs but was quiet and no laud music or drunk people , big plus for that.
Review 58：Wifi was aweful couldn't get any connection. If im going to be picky the hotel was a little tired and needed updating. But we had amazing weather and we were out all day. So really enjoyed our stay
Review 59：We thought the hotel was ok for our needs. Staff were friendly and location was lovely. Was what we expected it to be like to be honest not amazing but adequate for what we wanted. Breakfast was lovely.and was nice to be on the harbour and had easy traveling distances from other places to visit too eg Woolacombe
Review 60：The room overlooks the harbour and the bar patio. Although a sign on the patio door said it had to be vacated by 10.45, this did not happen on a number of occasions. This patio also had speaker music which the staff failed to turn off at night. this kept us awake on two occasions and I once had to go down and ask the staff to turn it off at midnight, as it was keeping us awake. Sloppy management.
Review 61：The room view
Review 62：Being ignored by staff when trying to check in aswell as no-one dealing with a fight which was happening beside us. Arrived at 6.30 - courtyard was full of extremely drunk people who were shouting foul language. Obviously people get drunk in pubs but this was extreme and no-one seemed to be attempting to deal with it. Was not worth £85 for the night.
Review 63：Great location and view.
Review 64：We did not have breakfast here as we thought it was quite expensive & no discount for children's breakfast.
Review 65：Staff were friendly & helpful. Late check-in was very appreciated.
Review 66：Didn't realise it was was just rooms on top of a pub... Apart from checking in we saw no staff except the pub staff
Review 67：Room was big. View was great. Clean
Review 68：Staff were rude and I didn't want to eat here but there were so many other local eateries that were much better.
Review 69：Great location. I would recommend this hotel as a base.
Review 70：No free wi-fi in the room, but no real hardship as it was available in the bar. No free parking, but long-stay car park, adjacent to the harbour was only £3-10 per day.
Review 71：Perfect location. Harbour-side and right amongst the shops. Great view over the harbour. Plenty of tea and coffee supplies to the room.
Review 72：Plug of shower basin was blocked. No light above shower so pretty much showered in the dark. The didnt have an ironing board so had to iron clothes on the floor. Tok a long time to find an iron as they had lent one out to another room the day before but couldnt remember which room it was lent to. Doors to rooms were very thin so could hear people walking through the corridor as if they were in the room.
Review 73：The location was great as it was right next to the harbour.
Review 74：The wifi did not work as would have had to subscribe to Sky to obtain it. So not instant access as advertised
Review 75：Friendly comfortable and very clean. Would def stay there again and recommend it to others
Review 76：No wifi anywhere in hotel, despite what you advertise. Not just my problem, my 2 colleagues were unble to connect either.
Review 77：Clean attractive rooms, simple and uncluttered. Lovely ensuite, all excellent value for money. Location couldn't be better.
Review 78：My misunderstanding of the booking of a triple room but luckily the staff sorted it out. The Karaoke in the pub opposite!
Review 79：The convenience of the hotel for the Lundy Ferry
Review 80：No one on reception when we arrived ,the barman though very busy was helpful.Did not realise that there was no lift.being disabled could not manage the stairs unaided.Barman carried our case for us. Never saw the owner the whole stay.On checking out no one to help with the suitcase,this was a serious problem.We left at 8ish it would have been helpful if we could have had help.We tried to contact reception the night before for help but,it appears to be permanently closed.This is a nice room in a great location above a rundown pub.
Review 81：I liked the location on the harbour.The bar staff were very helpful.Never saw the owners
Review 82：Breakfast not available until 8.30 so our trade (and another party of 8, making total 16 people that I was aware of) was taken to a nearby cafe.
Review 83：Well positioned for our fishing party, Very clean rooms with good shower. Bar facilities excellent and good outdoor area overlooking harbour.
Review 84：could have done with another couple of nights
Review 85：A friendly welcome and somewhere nice to get our heads down for the night(s). In lovely spot to stay right in the heart of town
Review 86：No feeling of welcome,room 17 above the bar, loud music played untill late,then loud singing/drunken shouting from the bar opposite.Then very loud street sweeper lorry in the early hours.Breakfast hit or miss,only cereal choice cornflakes.beer served from 9 am to the scruffy hardened drinkers / old fishermen!! .wouldnt stay again.
Review 87：Ilfracombe is lovely,had a great meal in the Smugglers.
Review 88：No parking. I didn't realise if you went to the right of the harbour at the end of the road the parking is cheaper
Review 89：Good location near to harbour and restaurants and bars
Review 90：The hotel is very tired, carpet in our room needed replacing and the bed had been repaired more than once! Food is not served all day as advertised and breakfast isn't until 9am!
Review 91：There are absolutely no negatives. For us everything was perfection.
Review 92：The staff dealt with everything with a genuine smile, yet neverinterfered in any way. We loved the way that we had no restrictions puton us, and we're left to enjoy the stay. Our dog was happy too andstayed on his bed quite contentedly, which left us in a relaxed frame ofmind. Fantastic, very, very highly recommend these lovely people
Review 93：The rooms have obviously been refurb'd and were nice,simple and clean. Very comfy bed (important as a bad back follows a bad nights sleep). Is far better than the exterior may suggest
Review 94：Nothing
Review 95：Paying 55 pounds a night we didn't expect so much. Modern bathroom, spacious light room, no noise from the bar, partial sea view. Very happy with the choice!
Review 96：stairs not suitable for an older person
Review 97：very helpful specialy kirsten nothing was to much trouble for her to help my stay .very comfortable bed just the room a bit snug and noisy late at night .stairs
Review 98：Unexpectedly ended up staying in Ilfracombe for the night. An enjoyable diversion from other tourist sites. Hotel is on the harbor, with enjoyable combination of working fishing boats and local beach amenities.
Review 99：small room no place to put suit case. no mirror in bedroom only in en suite. lot of noise from late night drinkers. 5 or 6 spot lights missing,
Review 100：walking distance to shops and sea front.
Review 101：The single beds mattress wasn't brilliant but as we also had a double wasn't a problem. There was something noisy in the early hours, sounded like washing machine/ dishwasher as it is above a pub but wasn't major issue
Review 102：Location was great, room was large (free upgrade because they didn't have a small room made up), tea facilities.
Review 103：Nothing at all!
Review 104：On arrival we were made to feel very welcome, the staff were very friendly and helpful. They helped me in arranging a little surprise for my partner and any request was no trouble. The room was very special indeed, with stunning views over the harbour it was special sight to wake up with.
Review 105：We were upgraded to a harbour view room, with a four poster bed. The view was beautiful. The staff were very helpful in helping us to locate family members who were staying in another hotel. We would happily stay in this hotel again, next time for longer. We did not eat food in the hotel as this was a short visit to meet family.
Review 106：Wasn't nowt to not like ..
Review 107：Was located near harbour plus a few other pubs noise levels weren't that high great value for money very helpful young lady brakfast was lovely...
Review 108：The breakast was awful. Limited choice and cooked very badly. Very expensive for what we received
Review 109：Lovely upgrade room looking ove the harbour. Excellent location. Staff were helpful
Review 110：Single glazed windows so can be chilly and let the noise from the pub downstairs in Over priced for the room size and facilities No parking so you must pay for the public parking No wifi in the upper rooms - was told it doesn't reach that far up.
Review 111：Bed was huge and comfortable Great location right next to the water Above a pub so easy to get a drink Right next to some nice chip shops Friendly staff
Review 112：Being woken by the fire alarms which took a long time to sort. Service at breakfast was awkward no menu available and limited choice but tasty.
Review 113：Lovely views over the harbour, very comfortable bed. Friendly service on arrival. Kind to my 3 year old.
Review 114：Dining arrangements a bit chaotic, food and drinks ordering particularly, but we were told improvements are about to be implemented.
Review 115：Wonderful bedroom (N0 15) overlooking the harbour, fantastic sunrises (weather permitting!)
Review 116：Minor things- no light in adult part of family room. Only two cups in room for 5. Every table was wobbly.
Review 117：The location of the hotel was perfect for us. Right in the harbour.
Review 118：If you are driving, the nearest "pay" car park is about 250 metres away. Some limited street parking is available across from the hotel after 6pm, but very limited spaces. Staff were indifferent and not particularly helpful. As a guest certainly did not feel very welcome.
Review 119：A great location, huge room and bed. This has potential to be great accommodation. Has a number of good restaurants very close by.
Review 120：sewage smell in bathroom, soap dispensers instead of proper soap. toilet roll holder and shower coming away from wall. several men waiting to get in 7.00am onwards being allowed to drink beer at that time
Review 121：scrambled eggs
Review 122：Facilities Size of room No separation from the main bar when booking in Rabbit warren, up 4 flights of stairs, through 2 doors, then a step up in the corridor, and another one to get into the bathroom
Review 123：Position
Review 124：Really nice location and convenient. However, to get the best rooms with views overlooking the Harbour you need to ask as they are very popular and book up quickly.
Review 125：Pretty loud Karaoke in the put opposite that continued until late, which affected sleep. Suspect wouldn't have been a problem in a room on the other side of the hotel.
Review 126：Very accommodating as we'd booked late and secured the last standard double - but we're upgraded to a slightly bigger room FOC since they had one available. Friendly staff and simple check-in and out which suited us. Good value for money!
Review 127：very small bedroom and the step up in room number 13 was a nightmare i fell nearly every time i went in and out of the room ! !!
Review 128：friendly staff relaxed and funny liked the way random people served up breakfast lovely ;-)
Review 129：The noise from the pubs around. The tap being on a timer so not even being able to clean teeth without pressing five times Banging my head on the wall every time I turned as room so small Bathroom tiny and soap and shampoo dispensers like a public loo Outdated decor Light by bed did not work Overall impression very poor
Review 130：Location excellent
Review 131：May not suit everyone as it is in the center of a busy harbour area, and above a popular pub, this is an old inn.
Review 132：Clean a comfortable room, good view, nice hot shower. Interesting history.
Review 133：We were allocated a attic room which was minute unable to get round bed no room for bedside cupboards,a short wooden pole across the corner was the 'wardrobe', bathroom consisted of a small shower, cloakroom size handbasin with loose taps and a toilet.The dirty window rattled,the room was in poor decorative condition and generally unclean.One night was enough.
Review 134：It was difficult to decide who was staff and customer. A uniform or even a name badge would help. Although the description stated that noise may be an issue I had expected the noise to be birds or boats, not people singing and playing music till 2.15 am. When we left the hotel we had to seek out a member of staff, and despite having spent 4 nights there, I still couldn't identify who was in charge. Reception area never staffed. We decided not to eat at the hotel.
Review 135：This hotel was full of character. The view across the harbour was excellent.
Review 136：Tiniest room of our trip. Mattress had broken springs/needed replacing. Neither bed side lamp worked. Nice view of the road (I'm sure when I booked it I was offered a view of the docks).
Review 137：Hearty and timely breakfast
Review 138：Noise! We were aware it is a working harbour and fully expected some noise however it's surrounded by other pubs so the language was rather choice until the early hours, also it seemed everyone chose to smoke under our windows. We had two young children so not ideal, both got quite intimidated by the screaming & shouting at times. The checking in & out was quite disorganised too and was hard to find a member of staff when needed. Room facilities were very dated, TV's weren't secured properly and only worked intermittently. At the end of the day it's an old Inn, not a swanky hotel but it could do with double (treble!) glazing on all floors not just the top floor, upgraded facilities in rooms and a general spruce up.
Review 139：Superb location, ideal for long weekends and couples. Friendly staff. Cleaners did a good job considering very dated rooms. Bathroom was good.
Review 140：Proprietor had no idea of areas or parking cost which became an issue and additional expense during the stay at £1 an hour. we found a dirty pair of pants in the wardrobe of our bedroom (granted they were behind extra pillows) the shower was dangerous as you are required to climb 3 steps which are set on a triangle.
Review 141：The position was superb, the hotel was well laid out and had a wonderful terrace to the rear, in general our room was clean and tidy. There is a wonderful staircase part way through modernisation
Review 142：Noisy seagulls in the morning. Hotel Chinese restaurant was terrible. Pub needs a lick of paint. Not value for money really.
Review 143：The view from the admirals room was very good looking over the harbour. The harbour is a working harbour but that means it is noisy in the early morning with the fishing boats coming in. It didn't bother us. The upside is the fresh lobster, crabs and fish that is available. The Hotel has a Chinese restaurant that is terrible. However, There is a First class restaurant near by called No. Seventy One on the oldest road in the town leading to the harbor. A great find.
The Fine Print
Please note that the Britannia Inn is the hotel's on-site restaurant. The hotel does not accept American Express.