The Royal & Fortescue Hotel

The Royal & Fortescue Hotel descritpion

Right in central Barnstaple, this historic hotel combines old world character and charm with the convenience of a modern hotel.
As well as Lord Fortescue's restaurant, the hotel also houses "62 The Bank" a popular cafe/bar/bistro.

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Facilities of The Royal & Fortescue Hotel

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Breakfast in the Room | Snack Bar | Special Diet Meals (upon request)

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

Reviews for The Royal & Fortescue Hotel

Review 1：The shredder toilet system very noisy and you could smell the sewers. Taps rubbish on shower impossible to turn them with wet hands. Comfy chairs in hotel in need of a clean or replaced would be better.

Review 2：Staff very friendly and recognised us as returning guests. Glad they have started to re furb rooms, but pity they have skimped on the plumbing.

Review 3：Not impressed with the breakfast for £9.50. I have Coeliac disease so have to have Gluten and wheat free food, but the staff had to go away to check if sausage on breakfast complied with my needs; the waiter came back eventually saying that it was not, neither was the fried bread not hash brown as this was deep-fried in with the normal fried bread. There was nothing in place of these, but charged the same as my husband who could have everything. Also didn't find the bed comfortable.

Review 4：Location great in the middle of the town. Lovely hotel and very clean.

Review 5：We had the buffet breakfast. Croissants were provided, but only if we asked for them, as they were not on the serving table. We know why this is - they are served fresh and warm - but it felt awkward asking for, say, one, and then being uncertain whether to ask for another.

Review 6：The staff were friendly and efficient and were able to provide us with all the information we needed. The bed was large and comfortable; falling asleep was not a problem

Review 7：The room was next to a bar which played loud music until 1am, I said to the receptionist that I felt like I was trying to get to sleep in the middle of a niteclub! I understand it was a Friday night, in the middle of town, but some double glazing would have helped cut out the noise.

Review 8：Location was good but the car parking was limited. I arrived around 7pm and managed to squeeze into the last spot.

Review 9：Room was a bit more dated that the rest of the hotel. Booking.com messed up so we had twin beds instead of a double.

Review 10：The hotel lobby, restaurant etc was excellent and staff were very helpful. Car park was full but they managed to get us in their covered garage instead.

Review 11：Parking was available but very limited, breakfast ended quite early for a Sunday but check out wasn't until 11AM which was good

Review 12：Breakfast very nice, and rooms very clean and comfortable

Review 13：Went on a weekend when they had a couple of dinner/dances. So hotel bar was closed off and music went on until midnight, so difficult to get to sleep. As a resident, this made me feel a little like a second class citizen.

Review 14：Central hotel with good refurbished room.

Review 15：It was in a very good location for us, the staff were very helpful and friendly and the food was delicious. The room and beds were really comfortable. I would definitely recommend it to others.

Review 16：Disappointing cooked breakfast was expecting something of a slightly higher standard for a hotel of this quality

Review 17：Two superb evening meals friendly staff nice atmosphere

Review 18：The noisy entrances when we arrived due to floor laying and during our stay we had problems getting to our room due to stairs not available and lift out of order

Review 19：Good service great food

Review 20：During our time they were relaying the floor on the ground floor. It was ill-organised, the guests were not considered in the working out of how things were done. No proper leadership. Parking facilities are difficult in the centre of town - unhelpful.

Review 21：The food was excellent; thank you.

Review 22：Work being carried out on the installation of floor tiles causing limited acces to stairs, reception area & lift. Could not use main entrance of hotel for 2/3 days.

Review 23：Personal attention to all your needs. Very good standard of food with good valve for money. Good location for shopping in the town. Close to the railway station

Review 24：Room was too warm with only a portable air-con unit to cool it as opening the window allowed in a lot of noise. Wasn't offered the wifi code and no info on it in the room.

Review 25：Lovely to see a good, old-fashioned town centre hotel that hasn't been allowed to decline and has maintained the highest standards. Centrally-located.

Review 26：ROOM SMALL FOR THE MONEY.KITCHEN FAN OUTSIDE WINDOW.STARTING UP AT 6.00 IN MORNING! ON COMPLAINING MANAGER GAVE ME BREAKFASTS OFF BILL. BREAKFAST "MEAN" DID NOT WANT SAUSAGE OR BACON.JUST EGGS,BEANS,TOMATOES AND MUSHROOMS.BREAKFAST WAS SERVED WITH 1 EGG .1 TOMATO,SPRINKLING OF MUSHROOMS!!! POOR VALUE,POOR ROOM. WILL LOOK ELSEWHERE IN FUTURE.

Review 27：CENTRAL TO THE TOWN

Review 28：Some confusion with another guest at check in and incorrect bill at check out. Someone had charged coffees that we hadn't had to our room number but we weren't charged for breakfast that we did have !! It was quickly sorted out.

Review 29：Town centre location with a private car park at rear of hotel. Out of the main entrance and straight into the shops, cafes and restaurants.

Review 30：The lack of space in Room 105, the noise of the 'ventilation system' started up at 6.00 am and turned off at 22.00pm. Car parking was awfull, small spaces, difficult to access and the possibilty of none as the car park was very limited. When questioned, Reception said there was some space in a store area, up the lane.?

Review 31：Staff where generally very good. When asked about the smallness of 'bath towels' - 'bath sheets' were supplied. Bathroom was exceptionally clean.

Review 32：the hotel and room were very hot.We opened the window to cool, but as they were redecorating rooms next door it created alot of noise, this was a very minor issue for us.

Review 33：the staff were more than helpful and friendly

Review 34：The Wifi in the Hotel was not very good. we couldn't get a solid signal.

Review 35：The location of the Hotel is very good, for what we wanted. We have a great time there. Staff are all very happy helpful.

Review 36：The noise from the pub nearby kept me awake until 3 am on Friday night and 4 am on Saturday night. The 'double bed' was two single beds put together and the join of two single mattresses was uncomfortable to sleep on.

Review 37：The staff were welcoming and very helpful. The location as far as the centre of Barnstaple and shops was excellent.

Review 38：Room in Mews was musty, noisy - early am when kitchen staff started work, and light flooded in from outside even with curtains and blinds.

Review 39：Hotel location and cafe bar/ restaurant

Review 40：Finding the hotel, a nightmare. Parking was a nightmare, had to move other cars to get ours out. Also we had a bulky luggage due to the nature of our visit it was a long way to the car.

Review 41：our first room overlooked what i imagine was the kitchen extractor fans. staff were very helpful in moving us.

Review 42：My single room was close to the lift, and I could hear it each time through the night.

Review 43：Traditional hotel style, at the high end. Very good staff and cleanliness. Conveniently situated in a nice little town.

Review 44：clean comfortable and well run only downside is getting to the hotel by road. Anybody not knowing the area has a problem due to the complexities of the towns one way system. Perhaps a decent map and directions would help

Review 45：bathroom was lovely size but plumbing was a bit dated and could do with upgrading

Review 46：Friendliness of staff nice big room with plenty of storage comfortable public areas good food

Review 47：Before and after our stay I received an e-mail.On each occasion I was addressed as 'Dear Roberts'.This is sheer pig-ignorance,and although I have pointed this out, the hotel has not answered.I will not be staying there in future.

Review 48：Car park a bit of a hassle. Bed not great - too many obese people had used it so dip in the middle. I slept with the pillow at the foot of the bed then it was ok.

Review 49：Great breakfasts. Excellent position. Lovely staff.

Review 50：The taps to hard for me to turn.

Review 51：The staff were helpful when I could not turn the taps in the bath/shower. They also provided a shake awake smoke alarm as I am deaf.

Review 52：Parking can be an issue due limited space but if you leave the car keys at reception they will move your car as necessary

Review 53：The location was excellent for access to the town and its market

Review 54：Difficult to find, due to one way system. Odd set up for eating - 3 places in one hotel seemed very odd. We went when a wedding was booked so that meant we couldn't eat in main restaurant & other 2 restaurants were very busy. No sleep until early hours due to loud music

Review 55：Location was great being in main shopping area

Review 56：This hotel is in the High street and it was a Saturday so I expected some noise but it was incredibly loud and didn't stop until 5.15 am

Review 57：We had a fabulous meal at 62 The Bank hotel restaurant

Review 58：bed wasn't that comfortable 2 singles pushed together at different heights, and was expensive for what is was and breakfast a bit limited in the morning

Review 59：nice hotel for a 3 star food portions good

Review 60：Our room was incredibly noisy. We were disturbed by people outside walking passed along the alley. Also the car park was very inadequate. Perhaps best to be more accurate about this

Review 61：very clean and great bathroom. Lovely coffee lounge

Review 62：The establishment serves a number of purposes and was very busy in the daytime. It was difficult to impossible to get a lunch serving, or early drinks. Though this only shows how popular the hotel must be. Our room ran alongside an alleyway, which overlooked the hotel car park. It was a Friday night. From 10pm onward, the noise from drunks and revellers was unbearable. We are not killjoys and enjoy a drink and party ourselves, but this was on a different level. There were things being thrown in the alleyway, such as glasses and bottles. Street furniture was thrown about. We heard several fights, women screaming, one man sounded in a lot of pain and we were concerned about the safety of our car until things started to die down, around 3am. It is not the fault of the hotel that the alleyway attracts such noise and anti-social behaviour - but it was still part of our holiday experience.

Review 63：The hotel was conveniently located in the centre of Barnstaple, which suited us as we had a meal booked for the evening in the town. The bedroom was comfortable and clean.

Review 64：The room was not the one in the image shown to me. The road noise was appalling. Bathroom was so old and dated and toilet wouldn't flush properly and made an awful noise.

Review 65：The breakfast was good.

Review 66：Our room was situated over the alleyway and noise levels were a little intrusive at night time.

Review 67：Ease of booking. Good welcome at Reception. Location within the town very useful. Proximity to public transport as we travelled by bus and broke our journey at Barnstaple.

Review 68：Confusion with the bill twice, and being charged for breakfasts for the day we arrived! Then for 2 breakfasts we didn't have. This I found embarrassing.

Review 69：Safe Car parking, nice food, served beautifully, lift, and a lovely bathroom.

Review 70：The bed was too soft for my liking which led to bad sleeping posture. Also the seagull apocalypse at 5:30am was deafening, although management can't really do anything about that.

Review 71：Courteous staff, nice rooms and facilities.

Review 72：Due to the location or my room, I found the noise from the street to be excessive especially after midnight. I do not know if I was unlucky with it being the end of August with the place full of young people on their surfing holidays. In conclusion, the staff and the hotel were very good.

Review 73：The hotel in general was what one would expect from a Brend group hotel., including the meal I had in the Italian Restaurant.

Review 74：Poor water pressure in bathroom. Paid for 3 guests only get towels for 2 guests?? Only the house keeping let them down not as good as previous visit.

Review 75：Restaurant meal deal 3 course for £20 good offer and food was excellent as well as service.

Review 76：Parking is in a very tight space!

Review 77：The staff are excellent and make you feel welcome. Food is delicious and the hotel is very comfortable. More like a 4* than a 3*

Review 78：The staff here were very welcoming and friendly. The hotel is situated in a good central location with easy access to a variety of shops,restaurants and pubs so I wasn't limited to dining in the hotel, which I did in the bistro cafe bar and was more than pleased with. I stayed here on a business trip and would recommend staying here. I will do so myself again and most likely take the family with on a weekend break in the near future.

Review 79：Requested via booking.com ground floor/ level access accommodation as travelling with elderly mom. Was placed in first floor room which required mom to use lift and then climb two x two steps to get to the room. The shower was also over the bath therefore accessibility was an issue. The hotel was fully booked so we were unable to swap rooms on arrival and as our stay was only brief we did not pursue this and managed to work round it. Parking was also a bit awkward in terms of accessibility but staff were helpful. Combination of town centre location and weekend booking meant it was quite 'lively' and a little noisy and when we returned at 10.30pm I felt uncomfortable leaving mom alone whilst I parked the car so I had to leave car outside in restricted area and take her straight to the room and then return to park the car. Had to select mature couple on this review as 'best fit' - booking.com need to review options please

Review 80：Generally good.

Review 81：Its like they want to collect money and not spend any. A hotel of that level should not be holding a Saturday night disco till gone midnight, with throwing up outside really wasn't our ideal Saturday night. Has we known we wouldn't have booked hotel. Be aware that "town centre" really means "nightclub and latenight central".

Review 82：Staff were friendly and helpful in what was obviously a difficult time. Hotel is in need of a deep cleanse and food was a little varied in quality.

Review 83：Very poor directions to car park Poor car parking facilities Being woken up at 7am by the noise of staff pushing trolleys full of empty bottles etc through the courtyard !!! After reporting a leak in the shower hose & being told it would get sorted unfortunately it wasn't !!! Therefore the water was constantly running onto the bathroom floor each time I had a shower!! No lift in hotel therefore i had to carry my case up & downstairs ! A lift should be an essential in every hotel with more than a ground floor .

Review 84：Friendly / helpful staff Cleanliness of room

Review 85：The bedroom & constant noise of staff moving trolley's outside before 9am.

Review 86：Bed mattress worn out & uncomfortable, floor of room 414 not level resulting i.e when lying down your looking up at the ceiling, dresser underneath the tv lopsided due to floor level.

Review 87：Parking is a joke. Bedroom tiny. My room was overlooking some industrial fans/ ventilation units so noisy till about 1 am. Asked to move, couldn't. Bar shut at 11, wouldn't serve us even though we were residents. Very disappointed with the stay.

Review 88：Comfy bed

Review 89：Not a criticism but found the bed a bit soft, prefer a hard mattress but overall the bed was well dressed.

Review 90：The hotel was very welcoming and user friendly. Good quiet nights sleep every night. 62 The Bank was very good, food excellent and very generous portions. Drinks in the bar after night out very pleasant.

Review 91：No curtain in the bathroom so felt a little exposed at night with the light on!

Review 92：Great location,very clean and very polite staff,would definitely stay there again.

Review 93：Not the hotel's fault, but our room backed onto an adjoining alleyway where noisy " revellers " passed by en route to a late bar . other than that, nothing to complain about.

Review 94：Excellent traditional hotel in the middle of Barnstaple.staff were friendly & helpful,rooms were very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was really good and we also ate in one of the 3 restaurants linked to the hotel, that was very good also. Hotel had a very relaxed air to it Which was perfect for our weekend break.

Review 95：The window in the upgraded room we had was frosted to block the roof view which was not good, Thought that at least we would have had a clear view window at least. Also the TV was only small.

Review 96：Room was nice and spacious, Bathroom very good.

Review 97：We were rushed to eat the evening meal so we went out the other nights to take a steady meal with out having to rush other than that it was fine.

Review 98：The location was just right for my wife as she has a mobility scooter the staff were helpful and friendly. Food was good but were rushed to have the evening meal.

Review 99：1. I had requested a double bed about 2 or 3 days before my stay but upon arrival, we were given a twin bed room. The hotel could not change our room because it was fully booked and Booking.com apparently never informed them of my request.2. When I booked my room, it was stated to be a classic room and Booking.com provided 4 "sample pictures of this type of room." This was at the booking stage not the home page of the hotel so I naturally relied upon the pictures. My roon was NOTHING like the pictures. the room was much smaller and bathroom so very disappointing. The toilet was literally in a separate room to the shower and washbasin so even to wash hands, we had to go to the next door room. In this day and age, how can a hotel have such bathrooms?!

Review 100：Location very central so good, but extremely noisy with drunk people getting taxis from outside the hotel. Nightmare.

Review 101：Use of Barnstaple Hotel leisure facilities. Staff were excellent, very welcoming. Breakfast great.

Review 102：We didn't have a bad experience but when we arrived our room was lovely but the following morning we got woken up early hours due to being above the kitchen fan. It's was very loud but we kindly asked and were moved to the top floor. The room was dated but was clean and presentable. Unfortunately the hallway was very creaky and noisy when people were walking through which kept us awake. We also could here our neighbours next door which were very loud with hearing the tv etc. sadly we found the cleaning staff to be a inconsiderate when it came to the morning when due to clean. There were talking loudly and had the tendency to let the door slam.

Review 103：The staff were very friendly and helpful at all times.

Review 104：View from the window not great but fine for one or two nights. Parking very limited but good it is there. A bit of updating required for decor.

Review 105：Central location. Variety of dining choices in the evening. Size of room and en suite. Large comfortable bed. Efficient check in and out.

Review 106：Room very small. Poor ventilation in room. Hot water took ages to come through especially in the morning. Mews rooms quite noisy due to staff working - emptying bottles and waste etc.

Review 107：Location of hotel and friendliness of staff.

Review 108：The car park is a little difficult to find but it is in the town, and the staff did come to our rescue.

Review 109：Staff were excellent nothing was to much trouble, very pleasant. We eat in the hotel two nights and the food was excellent variety and reasonable priced. The banoffe pie is the best I have tasted.

Review 110：Staff were amazing. Service was excellent as was the carvery. My son was ill and we had to cut our stay short but they were fantastic and even offered to make us sandwiches for the long journey home as he couldn't have any breakfast. Nothing was too much trouble for any of them.

Review 111：The full English breakfast for £9.50 was of a very poor quality. The kitchen somewhat seemed disorganised.

Review 112：Staff is very polite and the hotel room was very specious. Wi-Fi could be faster!

Review 113：Parking was an issue. Website oversold this hotel as luxury when the only thing that was luxury were the biscuits in the tea box. Room was dated and needed a good deep clean. Hallway and route to the room was dark, poorly lit and smelt very musty. Strong overpowering smell of air freshener to mask the smell but did not quite doing the job. Menu prices were very overpriced and offered little incentive to eat there as a guest.

Review 114：Staff were friendly.

Review 115：room 302 very small toilet not good for large people single beds very narrow but to be fair you could not have fitted larger beds in that room hot and cold taps are the wrong way round but wont stop us using hotel again

Review 116：central location ideal for our visit very good service from front of house to housekeeping

Review 117：Lovely old world atmosphere and delightful staff that were exceptionally friendly and helpful. Excellent value for your pound. I would return and stay again.

Review 118：Very noisy as located in centre of town with pub next door. Room extremely hot. Although air conditioning provided too loud to sleep with it on so had windows open and then couldn't sleep due to noise from revellers, seagulls and traffic.

Review 119：Excellent location & facilities

Review 120：Room was on a major lean. Bit noisy - heard everyone stumbling home/arguing at early hours of the morning. Windows didn't open. The hotel reception staff were great but the staff in the hotel bar were slow and seemed very unorganised

Review 121：Comfortable bed. Clean and tidy.

Review 122：The bed the mattress was too big for the bed.

Review 123：The staff and breakfast was excellent. You do not feel like you're hungry after having a breakfast and taste very good.

Review 124：The room we stayed in was far too hot- we had to keep the fan on constantly.

Review 125：Staff were very friendly and hospitable and the room was very nice. Cleaners were extremely efficient.

Review 126：I thought the hotel was most welcoming and the rooms very simply and nicely furnished. The standard of service was very high, but not stuffy. It seems to me that you must have very good training programmes for your staff and it certainly pays off.

Review 127：The room we had overlooked a side street with a pub at the end which resulted in quite a lot of noise late at night, if we had realised this we would have asked for a quieter room.

Review 128：Staff were very helpful. Meals in the Bistro were outstanding. Warm and welcoming

Review 129：Very welcoming and all staff were most helpful.Comfortable. Clean We liked the character and the history of the place, nice to be in the centre of Barnstaple, so we were able to pop out to the shops and local amenities.within walking distance of the theatre and the cinema.

Review 130：The shower was slightly low in water power and not too obvious how to make it work.

Review 131：Room great, good size and very clean. Breakfasts excellent.staff courteous and helpful.

Review 132：I would have liked some Aircon and a fridge in the room.

Review 133：The staff were excellent, nothing was too much trouble and the attention to detail was impeccable.

Review 134：Bathroom in need if an update - especially the plumbing. Plug didn't fit the basin and toilet didn't flush properly - lovely avocado suite too

Review 135：Great location in the centre of town and a lovely traditional lounge and dining room

Review 136：I think the rooms are a bit small. Also, it was too hot in the room, as there was no airconditioning, and with the window open we were woken up early by the seagulls

Review 137：It's a beautiful building, decorated to perfection, good food in the restaurants with plenty of choice. Parking facilities at the back, with backup at the sister hotel nearby.Perfect place for a few days away.

Review 138：room was dirty dead flies all over window cills skirting boards and light fittings needed a good dust shelving in room had hair and dust on we complained and was moved to a superior room which was better but still had faults light bulbs needing changing and again dusty and a dirty bathroom bin we did not want to change again so accepted these things but we're disappointed

Review 139：helpfulness of staff was great and position of hotel was perfect for our needs

Review 140：Meals expensive in hotel so we ate out which is a shame really as it would have been nice to have a meal in hotel.

Review 141：We liked central location. Really nice clean hotel. Staff very nice and helpful. Car park small but hotel have a garage that you can park in which was good as it was securely locked at all times. Member of staff let you in and out of garage.