The Bedford Hotel — Hotel in West Devon

Beautiful communiual areas, stunning antique furniture, and paintings alike.

When we arrived earlier than planned, there was a lovely slightly older lady on the reception desk. We asked if we could park our car in the hotel car park early, the lady was lovely and said it was absolutely fine and took our registration plate number to link it to us as guests using the hotel. I will add now that the gates with the cars inside are locked at midnight, which I think is brilliant.

We arrived back after walking around tavistock for a while and checked into our rooms. We were expecting to have baths in our rooms, especially as we paid over £150 each. Unfortunately, we both had walk-in showers.

The rooms themselves were very small in one of our rooms you couldn't open the built-in wardrobe as there were chairs in the way, which were bulky to move and were in the way once you did move them.

As expected, there were complimentary tea and coffee sachets, brown and white sugar, and sweetener, however, having stayed at many other hotels of a similar and cheaper prices I would have expected a nesperesso machine or similar - especially given the bedfords reputation.

The bed was comfortable, and the room was clean.

A little before 5am with my mum and I (in different rooms) were awoken by what sounded like a horse running around this went on for a good half hour and then it sounded like someone was banging on the wall or door up there. It proceeded to be noisy, so I just got out of bed. Missing out on my lay in and relaxation, which is a reason we booked having children at home, 2 of which have additional needs and are quite noisy!

The food, drink, and outside areas. The dinner was outstanding, and the desserts were absolutely incredible. The wine was lovely. I wish the cocktail was made from scratch and not a mixer, though. Breakfast was very fresh and well presented. Our waitress was absolutely lovely. I can't remember her name, but she wore braids on either side of her head and beautiful earrings. This lady is an absolute credit to the establishment. Outside, you have a front garden next to the road, which can get noisy, but it's a nice little seating area if you want to pop out quickly around the back of the hotel you have a walled garden which is over a little bridge with a river flowing beneath which is absolutely beautiful so quiet and peaceful.

When it came to leaving, we were asked how our stay was by a slightly younger receptionist. I explained it was noisy with the people above banging around, and she really didn't seem to care and brushed it off pretty quickly, which was sad again given the bedford reputation.

All in all I would visit for a meal again, however I wouldn't...

My partners 69th birthday for some reason wanted a Real traditionally English afternoon tea . Four of us booked for the occasion. It was EXTREMELY warm that day ( which didn’t help as no room fans were provided ) ..@£25 pp I /we were pretty disappointed. No crisp white napkins, just paper serviettes . Everyday Average crockery and NO additional side plate or cutlery separating your savoury from your sweet! We had to use the same one . The sandwiches were delicious and fresh, as was the slice of home made we believe sausage roll. I/ we’d NEVER ever of expected an onion bhaji to be served .. three of us didn’t attempt that surprise surely possibly a slice of pork pie would have been more appropriate and traditional!! For the price tag I was certainly very disappointed, more so as we believed that The Hotel was the founder of the Scone many many decades ago ( it’s worth reading the history) However- the scones were very light and enjoyed by all. The clotted cream was presented in its shop shelf Tub, opposed to in an appropriate side dish . Overall satisfaction? It’s a firm NO . A Great Shame and we certainly couldn’t recommend the High Tea experience of The Bedford Hotel. I’m not sure the other couple on the table next to us were best impressed either .. as an anniversary gift from their daughter. Pretty substandard for such a grand...

As part of a large group of people dining together at The Bedford we had a beautiful room to eat in, tastefully decorated with Christmas decorations & a lovely table laid out in festive style. The food was good, with vegetables cooked to perfection.

Sadly though, the staff interaction with us was minimal with no-one acting front-of-house. No-one offered to take our coats when we came in or showed us where to hang them. The drink we had on entering was not offered to us & the staff member didn't interact with us at all. Instead it was laid on a small table & left for us to find with no words of welcome.

Service at the table was prompt & well done but again interaction with the staff was basic. No-one checked throughout our meal to see if everything was all right & that we had everything we needed. At the end of the meal after the plates were collected, no-one asked if anyone wanted coffee or checked that we had had a good meal. We were then left to leave with no interaction from the staff at all again.

Staff interaction with the guests coming into the hotel are key to a good experience. To be made to feel special & valued, even for a short time, is very important to the guests experience of the hotel & can make or break your visit there.

Sadly our meal at the Bedford Hotel didn't deliver that...