The Imperial Hotel — Restaurant in North Devon

I have to say Barnstable, is a bit of a British Gem, its clean tidy and while there are a few empty shops, the town is very vibrant has an interesting history and is full of nice people, so if you have never been, it is worth a look.

So where do you stay if you do visit, well, I can tell you you are in the home of The Brend Family, who as a family hotel business run 11 wonderful hotels in the South West across Devon and Cornwall.

In Barnstable, being where their headquarters are, you have 4 to choose from and I have to say you won't be disappointed if you book a stay with them.

Why?

Because they have a style that warms your heart the moment you drive into the carpark, because everything is pristine clean and tidy. Once inside your eyes are treated to flowers, furnishings and finishes that feel 5 star.

Then once you interact with the staff, you feel like you are loved and cared for as if you were in a time capsule from the past, where you get called Sir & Madam and nothing is to much trouble.

When it comes to food and beverages, you will not be disappointed, they all have a top draw restaurant, that again transports you to a time, when white table clothes, great decor and impeccable silver service, where they do things the way they used to happened, but nowadays it's rare to experience.

And no matter whether you are having breakfast, lunch, a traditional afternoon tea or dinner, the food itself is unlikely not to be wonderful, even a drink in the bar is a great experience.

Today, we are off to another Brend hotel at Bideford, where we already know what to expect, and are excited to once again feel what it's like to experience hospitality at the highest level.

Thank you The Brend Family and The Amazing Team, you are super appreciated.

Live, Life Loving -...

This hotel sets a standard which other hotels should follow. The staff are exceptional. Every guest is made to feel special and valued. Nothing is too much trouble. The food is wonderful! A four course table d’hôte menu changes daily , with tea and coffee to follow. The ALa Carte menu offers guests on half board a reduced price. The breakfast menu is as comprehensive as you will find anywhere. The hotel is so clean, from public toilets to windows and doors.|We have spent a few nights with family ranging from ages 15 to 80, celebrating a special birthday. We cannot commend the staff highly enough for all that they have done to ensure that we had a perfect stay.|My husband is especially fond of seafood, and pronounced the oysters with accompanying vinaigrette amongst the best he has enjoyed anywhere. Those who had the lobster thermidor pronounced it equally the best ever, beautifully prepared.|The clientele is in the more mature age group, and from the overheard conversations with staff it was obvious that there are many repeat visitors. What impressed us was the care with which less able guests were welcomed, eg in the beautiful dining room everyone, able or not, was ushered to their seats and any strollers were whisked away without a word being said.|The hotel is part of a family run group of hotels in the West Country. Some of them cater more for younger families, and we can attest to the service which we have enjoyed in several of the hotels over the years.|If you are looking for a perfect break in lovely surroundings you can do no better than coming to Barnstable and the Imperial Hotel or any of the Brendt...

We have just returned from a very enjoyable three nights. Everything was as presented on the website and our rooms and bathrooms were comfortable and spotlessly clean. We appreciated the relaxed atmosphere coupled with more formal service standards - a difficult balance to achieve. Many staff have clearly worked at the hotel for years and know regular customers well - some staff were less experienced, but were friendly and keen to please. When my friend lost her room key (twice!) and I messed up the code on my room safe, the staff were understanding and sorted us out with no quibble. The clientele were generally older than average, but that helped create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. The lounge areas are large with plenty of comfy seats and good service for drinks, coffees etc. There are also smaller seating areas in the lobby and on the landings, and on a fine day you can sit at tables on the front terrace to catch the sun or to watch a sunset! Our only criticism is that the Bistro is a rather dull and uninspiring room, but the food quality was as good as in the restaurant. Food prices are on the high side, but that is what we were expecting from the website. The hotel is brilliantly located for walking around the town and parking is easy, though perhaps limited if you arrive later in the evening. All in all we wouldn’t hesitate to...