Elmington

The swimming pool was empty, and when I asked for a refund, it was refused with a flimsy excuse. I’d give zero stars if I could. This place calls itself the Elmington Hotel, but it’s actually a guesthouse. Our room was dark, grey, depressing, dirty, dusty, and unkept. It had no daytime curtains, so there was no privacy from the parking area, and that room wasn’t shown in the photos on the guesthouse home pages. The bathroom had a filthy toilet brush and a half-broken lock, and there were patches on the bed and carpet. Breakfast was advertised, but none was provided or even mentioned at check-in. The path from the car park was dark and dangerous at night. It was a terrible experience, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here. Think twice before booking.

My fourth-floor room had a beautiful view of Torbay. It’s close to Torquay station, good bus routes, and the local attractions are easy to reach. The hotel is reasonably priced and well located, though old and tired. It was clean and comfortable and only serves breakfast. There are no lifts, and with four floors, getting back after a long day out can be quite a challenge.

The gardens are beautifully kept, and the decor has the feel of a stately home. There’s ample parking, which was a big bonus for us. The hotel is close enough to walk to the main town, while still being far enough away for quiet evenings and nights. Our room was cleaned and the bed made every day, a lovely touch. It was peaceful in the evenings, and breakfast was fresh, made with quality produce, and served in a relaxing setting. Everything was spotlessly clean, and nothing was too much trouble for them. We had a fantastic stay, highly recommend it, and would happily come back.

It’s an adults-only hotel, so it’s not good news for families, but it suits couples or people travelling alone who want a break by themselves. We stayed for a lovely week, seven nights bed and breakfast. There was cereal and a full English, though sadly no black pudding. Liza, the proprietor, is lovely, upbeat, and always laughing. It’s infectious, and the staff are lovely too. The hotel sits in lovely grounds, with a lawn, shrubs, flowers, and a decking path leading to the FREE car park. There’s also a heated outdoor pool, which we didn’t use because we were out gallivanting most of the day.