Premier Inn Seaton

After a hard day of driving, I was annoyed to be told at check-in that they couldn't serve us dinner. They said they had 140 people booked, though only 40 had arrived so far. After speaking with the manager and chef, they made room for two more, and I thanked them. Reece took the initiative to sort it out, which I appreciated. I'd stayed in Seaton before, but hadn't eaten there in the evening. I also had to pay for the car park, which felt a bit cheeky. It did leave me wondering whether Thyme restaurants cater only for P.I. guests, since I shouldn't have been told I couldn't eat there. Feeding their guests is their one job.

For a good value stay outside peak periods, the hotel was fine, and the staff were generally pleasant. The room was what I'd expect from Premier Inn. I stayed two nights in January, and the lifts were noisy enough that I needed earplugs to sleep. I had to book an evening meal, though I was the only customer in the restaurant when I went. The garlic and cheese pizzette was tasty, but it was partly frozen on the first night. Breakfast was disappointing too, with shrink-wrapped croissants instead of fresh ones. The worst part was the music. Heart Radio was blaring in the restaurant and reception, mostly bratty American pop that got really annoying. The chef had a separate radio on as well, playing another station at the same time. The wall said “Eat, drink, relax,” but all that noise made relaxing impossible. Even the Whitbread royalty-free tape is better than Heart.

I travel for work and stay at Premier Inns all over the country, and my restaurant experience at Premier Inn Seaton Hotel has been one of the best. Chloe, Tony and Jodie were the team that day, and Chloe was especially attentive from the start and again when I came down for food. I'd chosen something that wasn't available. I mentioned I'd been looking forward to it, but was happy to pick something else. Chloe immediately checked with Tony in the kitchen without me asking, then came back with an alternative that turned out even better than my first choice. Tony and Chloe were thoughtful and caring, and nothing seemed like too much trouble. The service felt warm and attentive, just genuinely human. Premier Inn should be proud of people like Chloe, Tony and Jodie. Thank you for such a lovely experience.

The staff were lovely and very helpful, and the location is great, right near the seafront. Breakfast was tasty with lots of options, but on the second day the cooked food took far too long, 45 minutes. Our room was comfortable, though not as clean as it should have been. There were lots of cobwebs and something questionable down the sink plughole. We'd stay again and hope the room is cleaner next time.