Had a family break over three days.
Staff un-attentive, surly and un-responsive, some plainly have no interest in their jobs or care one fig for their clients. Require training &/or replacing
Food on conveyor belt. Plates hotter than the food.
Still waiting for a drink.
Bathroom like a sauna- basin chipped & cracked -
still awaiting plumber to fix cold tap on bath
Staff don't take any notice of 'Do not disturb' signs.
EXPENSIVE EXPERIENCE

If you like good standards & excellent service then this could be the place for you. We had five very enjoyable nights at the Belmont helped by some unseasonal sunny & warm weather. The staff are all nicely dressed so instantly recognisable, very friendly & helpful. There is a dress code in the dining room so no knees-out jeans & 'T' shirts which was rather nice.

The food is excellent, helped by a nice reasonably priced wine list. The service in the dining room was especially good.

The public lounges are comfortably fitted out & look out towards the sea. The dining room is elegant but doesn't have a sea view. Only a few yards from the seas & a short walk from the town centre the Belmont is very well situated.

The only downside was our bedroom which for a 4 star hotel was rather small; we've had better rooms in 2 star hotels. Despite this, overall we had a most enjoyable stay.

Derek & Sylvia Stephenson

I live only around half an hour from Sidmouth but we decided to take a spontaneous overnight stay. We just turned up in reception and asked if anything was available. They gave me (without my asking) a discounted late availability rate which, while still relatively expensive, was fair for a hotel of its size and standard.

The hotel decor is a bit dated in places, but that is actually a positive thing. It adds to its charm. Service was superb from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. We didn't take dinner in the evening, as the hotel, somewhat quaintly, have a jacket and tie dress code for evening meals. As this was a spontaneous trip, we didn't have those with us. We ate out a pub in town, of which there are many good ones in Sidmouth.

We didn't specify a sea facing room (which would have been presumably more expensive) and were allocated a small, but pleasant room. A bath was a nice surprise, as most hotels provide only showers. The porter who showed us to our room even amusingly asked us if we were OK wtih one flight of stairs - clearly used to an older clientele! There is a lift for those for whom that would be a challenge.

Being an old building, the floors are a little creaky, which is to be expected, but was somewhat irritating when the person in the room above us decided to get up at 6am the next morning. Who gets up at 6am in a seaside hotel? Not me.

Breakfast was truly excellent, both in terms of quality and quantity, and service could not have been better. The waiting staff appeared to be exceptionally polite and helpful without being instrusive, a very welcome change from indifferent staff in other hotels I have visited who offer no help other than to point you to the self service area. I could not praise the Belmont staff any higher - from reception to bar staff to management to waiting staff (with some performing more than one of these roles) they were all beyond criticism.

Perhaps one day, before my time, all hotels were like this. I wish they were now. I will definitely be back.

If you want a comfortable stay in a traditional hotel with very high standards, this is your hotel. The location couldn't be better, overlooking the sea with great views across the cricket ground and town. This hotel really stands out for the exceptional service provided by all the staff who are polite, helpful and very friendly. The hotel is spotless with a very comfortable lounge and bar overloooking the sea. The rooms are spacious, well furnished, spotlessly clean with modern bathrooms. The food in the very pleasant restaurant is excellent and cannot be faulted. Staff in the restuarant are exceptional and manage to have adopted the correct balance of efficiency with friendliness and thanks especially to Steve who was simply excellent. The warmth of this hotel will certainly make us return in the near future.