Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel

The rooms were very clear, and the staff were excellent. We had an amazing stay, close to amenities, and I’d recommend it and definitely come back if I visit Exeter. The air conditioning wasn’t working, but fans were provided. Well done, everyone, and thank you.

The location was great for the Christmas markets and shops, and the team made our stay lovely. My mistake was booking a double instead of a twin, but they sorted it out without fuss, even though it was a very busy weekend. They were wonderfully accommodating, and nothing seemed too much trouble. The room was spotless and spacious, with a handy fridge. The bathroom was big and had a lovely walk-in shower. Thanks, Mercure!

Mercure Hotel Southgate was our first choice for a budget-friendly stay near public transport, and we got a good deal for 5 nights and 6 days with breakfast included. The room suited 2 adults and 1 8yrs old, with plenty of space between the beds. Towels were changed every day, and breakfast had different options and choices. We also had FREE use of the swimming pool, plus FREE tea bags and coffee. The hotel had the hairdryer I needed, and the linen was clean. We loved the body wash, shampoo and hand wash. Some people say the TV doesn’t work, but we didn’t use it, so that didn’t bother us. We had no problems during our stay and enjoyed it all in all.

The breakfasts and dinners were the only redeeming parts of my trip, and they weren’t enough to make this a good stay. My room had terrible Wi-Fi that kept dropping, especially in some areas. The only spot with a proper connection was the bathroom, which obviously wasn’t suitable for working. I was given the password for another network, but it worked much the same way. I came for software development business during the hottest week in the city, with broken AC, a moth swarm and trash in the corridors. After a very long journey with heavy luggage, nobody helped me, and I was given the wrong card, so I had to make a second trip. The corridor was so full of trash that carrying my luggage through it was difficult. The room smelled horrible with the AC out and the windows nailed shut. When I asked about them, I was told I was using them wrong and should use more force. They had to come check and confirm the windows were nailed down, then a maintenance guy took about an hour to unscrew them. Because of the heat, I had to open the windows. The hotel is relatively close to the quay, and the heat drew lots of moths to the room lights. I counted hundreds at one point and went to reception for help. They gave me moth spray to deal with them myself. Nobody offered cleaning or anything else until I specifically mentioned it the next day. The staff seemed like nice people and listened when I raised my complaints. They offered a complimentary dinner, which is why I raised the service rating slightly, but I can’t justify more than 1 star for the overall experience. Guests were offered free water and one beverage coupon for the AC failure. I think water should be free for guests anyway. The beverage coupon wasn’t bad, I guess.