It is like being transported back to the 1970s and what was considered sophisticated at that time. The hotel is a Grade II listed building, situated on a headland between Paignton and Preston beaches, with fabulous views from the gardens of the whole of Torbay, and yes the gardens and those views are to die for.
There is a new and good indoor pool with sauna area, and a gym, which I didn’t use so cannot comment on. There is also an outdoor pool, but this is only open late July through August.
The rooms are uninspired at best. We had a standard twin. (I had originally booked a double with a sea-view, but we need a walk in shower, and s9 had to switch). The fittings and furnishings resemble my student accommodation at the halls of residence, from the 1970s. No air-con, no fridge, no hair dryer, no vanity mirror. Yes you could ask for a hair dryer and a fan, but the hair dryer really should be integral to the room, and whilst the Grade II listing may make it difficult to install air-con in the rooms, they could at least have put in ceiling fans.
Breakfasts were actually pretty good. A selection of cereals, melon, yoghurts and fruit drinks, followed by a cooked breakfast, and the scrambled eggs were excellent and we had them every day of our stay and they always looked freshly prepared.
Evening meals, if you wanted to dine in the hotel, were not as good. The menu is again uninspired, and the food perfunctory.
Also I would say, not a hotel for anyone under 50.