The Cliffden Hotel

We had a fantastic five-night bed and breakfast stay at the Clifton Hotel while exploring Devon and Cornwall. The huge room was warm and comfortable, with plenty of space for the three of us. Teignmouth is tied to some special family memories for me, so coming back felt lovely, and staying here made the trip even more special. The staff were so welcoming throughout. We especially enjoyed our morning chats with the breakfast waitress, she was fabulous. The buffet was a great start to each day before heading out. Thanks so much for having us, we loved our stay.

We were really looking forward to using the pool, so it was very disappointing to find it closed because the CCTV wasn’t working. I wonder whether anyone actually watches the cameras when they are working. They could have had someone supervise the pool for shorter opening hours. The rooms are a bit dated but clean. Dinner was okay, and breakfast was too.

We had two rooms booked for two nights, for just under £300, and both had problems. Room 106 was over the kitchen, so once the staff arrived and turned on the radio, we got an early morning wake-up we hadn’t asked for. The other room hadn’t been cleaned at all. We checked in at 1700, and there was no staff member on site who could clean it. The towels had been used, the coffee cups and glasses were dirty, and one glass still had lipstick on it. When we raised this, we were offered a complimentary drink. That wasn’t the answer we wanted, especially since nobody offered to clean the room because they “had no staff.” Breakfast was busy on the first day, and they ran out of both side plates and main plates, with no one seeming to refill them. The cooked breakfast was sausage, bacon and a hash brown, with no beans, black pudding or mushrooms. You had to ask for eggs, and the scrambled eggs at the buffet bowl were always gone. I hadn’t planned on leaving a bad review, but after three emails since checkout asking and reminding me to review, here it is. Avoid.

The room and bathroom were dirty, with thick dust beneath the radiator and along the skirting boards, plus a grimy line around the shower screen. The mugs in the tea set smelled strongly of Dove, as if they’d been washed with the shower gel. At least they’d had some kind of cleaning. The bedside light switch was badly placed too, so I had to get out of bed and walk around to turn it off. Breakfast was dire. The cooked food looked dry and unappetising, and the scrambled egg was so dried out it looked like popcorn. The service felt slovenly, and carrying mugs and bowls around the room was a hassle. There were no milk jugs, and sugar came in packets to sprinkle on cereal. Parking is very limited and first come, first served. Reception staff send overflow cars to the nearby housing scheme, which suggests there isn’t enough parking for a hotel this size. This hotel is poor. I heartily recommend passing it by.