Hotel Riviera

Large, airy bay-window room looking out on the promenade and sea (room 202). Very friendly and helpful staff. The dining room was beautifully decorated and included prints of Regency Sidmouth. The five course dinner was the best we have ever had anywhere in the UK.

Hotel still provides the high standards it is known for, food excellent as always but there are changes being applied. Hotel has been fortunate over the years to have some very loyal key staff who steer the ship. Some of these are now gone for varying reasons and a number of new younger staff have come in. Whilst all the new staff witnessed continue to conduct themselves to the high standards used to seeing the impact of this is the senior staff that remain have to carry out multiple roles which appears to be impacting morale. This needs monitoring closely. In order to address the issue of underused bar trade new initiatives during daytime have been applied to attract more trade e.g happy hour, beach party etc. which is all good and hope they succeed. However no additional evening activities were experienced during my short stay indeed resourcing of bar seems to have been reduced. Mostly unmanned and closes at 10pm as staff have multiple roles taking them away. Closing at 10 is not typical of UK hotels and drinking habits. I see no problem of manning during the day but if numbers can't justify costs of manning later then suggest night port is given powers to serve late and provide means of quickly getting service in normal hours i.e bell, phone or camera etc rather than waiting then have to go hunting staff, not appealing to see an empty bar and non-residents were witnessed as close to walking out until service was drummed up for them. I appreciate that it must be challenging to balance costs and still maintain standards and hopefully the management can find a route and look forward to continue to support the hotel.

We went for dinner at the Riviera recently snd were delighted with both the service and the delicious dinner we were served …. Most comfortable dining room good ambiance and lovely view of the sea front .. will definitely be back … a very lovely relaxing evening