Hotel Riviera

The service was impeccable and the food good. The view outstanding! The Hotel is on the esplanade with the beach opposite; fell asleep to the sound of the waves. The interior of the hotel is regency style in keeping with the property but may feel 'fuddy-duddy' to some. If staying during the weekend, I recommend arranging parking through the hotel at £10 per night as all spaces in the town were full. However our stay was spoilt by the owner of the hotel, who was shouting and swearing at staff, (presumably), behind the scenes during breakfast in the dining room. Also whilst I was in reception, the owner was complaining about a member of staff to another staff member. You could see that the front of house staff were embarrassed by the behaviour, I felt sorry for them. Not what you expect from a historical four star hotel!

In December 2022 we had afternoon tea and the service was impeccable and so was the afternoon tea. We felt like royalty, the service was caring and attentive. The sandwiches were of a good size and the chocolate sponge and raspberry topped sponge looked very impressive and tasted good too. When the afternoon tea was brought out, it is supposed to look special. What went wrong this time? We sat at the same table with the gorgeous view this week, but the food and the service were nowhere near as good. When the afternoon tea was brought out, we thought, is this it? The sandwiches were smaller, the tiny sponges were only discernible by taste and the scones and cream portion was smaller. Service was very poor. My partner had to chase for another cup of tea (no pot!) and no-one asked if we had enjoyed our meal including the waiter who took our payment. £50! This was in no way worth it! Someone is making a good profit! We heard a guy schmoozing with those staying in the hotel, who we presumed may be the owner. He didn't bother with us at all. Overall, very disappointing.

We stayed for three nights during which time we had the very best of service, the staff are all very professional whilst still creating a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere. We enjoyed the breakfasts very much and the dinner menu offered a good choice, all cooked and presented perfectly. Our room,on the first floor, had a great sea view, bathroom was of a high standard finish,as was the rest of the hotel.All in all, a very relaxing stay and we look forward to visiting again.

A truly memorable establishment in which to celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary, with immaculate accommodation and superb food; all the staff were most hospitable, kind and caring. The housekeeping team must be congratulated on their high standards of cleaning. There was not a cobweb anywhere! Every effort was made to tailor dietary requirements and menu choices. Meals were a delight, at breakfast and dinner; with staff making time spent in the dining room a pleasure.

Not many hotels offer kerbside greetings and a concierge to arrange car parking and luggage delivery. The Riviera does and the service is outstanding. The location is seafront - just a few steps to the beach, the rooms are comfortable and the service friendly. Not much more could you ask!

Beautiful hotel in a perfect location in Sidmouth. My friend and myself spent a lovely few days here. Super curtious and professional staff. Food was delicious. Comfy and clean rooms. Valet service was a bonus. Will be visiting again next year