Visited the cocktail bar with friends (as a non resident) on 3 occasions during the week before Christmas. On each occasion the small cocktail bar, which also services the restaurant was not busy. The two bar staff gave no acknowledgement of our being in there and waiting for service let alone spoke with a "hello", "good evening" or "be with you in a minute". My opinion is that they deliberately avoided all eye contact, displayed a sullen demeanour and did not wish to serve us. The drinks were fine when they came, on one occasion a full 28 minutes after we had arrived in the bar and 15 minutes after placing the order. I would suggest that if they do not wish customers to visit the bar then they should display a notice to that effect.

My second visit to this hotel and I had no hesitation in returning.
Positives:
- Great central location
- Comfortable room
- Friendly staff

Negatives
- Part of the hotel's charm is being an old building, but as a result expect the associated quirks that you wouldn't get in a purpose built modern building e.g. sloping floors and old lifts.

Worth noting that if you don't want to pay hotel prices for breakfast there are plenty of coffee shops nearby that are open early, including some with Cathedral views.

We stayed here in January for a quick one-night break for our wedding anniversary. The room was lovely, double-ended bath looking out over the cathedral; and I liked the open-plan design, with the bathroom flowing straight into the bedroom. We booked an 'Enviable' room, the 2nd highest grade of room, and I have to say I wouldn't have wanted to stay in a smaller one. It wasn't too small but it wasn't spacious exactly, either. But the bed was enormous and glorious.

I did email the hotel the weekend before we wanted to stay to enquire about rooms and no one replied to it. In the end I booked online. After that blip however the staff were absolutely excellent, incredibly accommodating and helpful, smiling and personable. We didn't eat there but we had a drink in the champagne bar which was nice if a bit quiet.

Overall this is a very pleasant hotel, great location with charming staff.

you really can't beat the location of this hotel right in the centre of exeter. it's worth checking the website for last minute deals as we got and exceptionally good room rate over Christmas.

the room we booked was very noisy on the first night as it was directly above a karaoke night at the local pub- worth saying on reservation that you don't want rooms on pub side of hotel. after asking to change rooms we were given a beautiful room and an upgrade on the second night of our stay. the hotel staff were very understanding of the noise problem and changed the room happily.

in general all staff we met at the hotel were exceedingly friendly and very helpful. the room we moved to was spacious and very well presented and had an incredible view of the cathedral. the beds are huge and very good quality- although very soft.

breakfast- full- is very worth booking and delicious and with a huge variety of cooked options.

all in all this is a great city hotel which we would definitely book for future trips to the city.