Southernhay House Hotel
Location: 36 Southernhay East, Exeter, gb
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Property Type: Hotels
About this Property
Luxurious Accommodations
Indulge in the elegant decor and spacious beds of our luxurious rooms, offering views of the garden and terrace. Enjoy modern amenities such as a large flat-screen TV, DAB radio, and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Exceptional Dining Experience
Start your day with a delicious full English breakfast or opt for cooked options, served with a variety of fresh pastries and juices. Throughout the day, savor our bar menu featuring homemade comfort classics that will surely delight your taste buds.
Convenient Location
Located just a short walk from Exeter Cathedral and major attractions, Southernhay House Hotel offers easy access to shopping districts and transportation hubs. Explore the city with ease and return to the comfort of our private garden oasis.
Experience luxury and convenience at Southernhay House Hotel. Book your stay now for an unforgettable getaway.
Important Information
Please note that payment will be requested on arrival.
Kindly note the property cannot process payments from American Express credit cards, and an alternative card will be required.
Please note that there is no parking available at the property. On street parking is available in close proximity to the property in the Southernhay, which is free in the evenings between 18:00 and 08:00.
When booking 5 rooms or more, different policies and additional supplements may apply.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Policies
Check-in: 03:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Amenities & Facilities
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Terrace
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in/check-out
- Safety deposit box
- Fax/photocopying
- Ironing service
- Non-smoking throughout
- Private check-in/check-out
- Shared lounge/TV area
- Concierge service
- Allergy-free room
- Adult only
- Outdoor furniture
- Fruits
- Staff adhere to local safety protocols
- Guest rooms disinfected between stays
- Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
- Physical distancing rules followed
- Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
- Cashless payment available
- Fire extinguishers
- First aid kit available
- Sanitized tableware & silverware
- Contactless check-in/check-out
- Invoice provided
- Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
- Smoke alarms
- Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
- Guest room sealed after cleaning
- Physical distancing in dining areas
- Key access
- Food delivered to guest room
- Access to health care professionals
- 24-hour security
- Delivered food - securely covered
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Express check-in
- Free wired internet
- Snack bar/deli
- Internet access
- Housekeeping on request
- Wine release events
- Reception hall
- Japanese garden
- Vegetarian menu options available
Rooms Available
-
Apartment
The unit offers 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Hair dryer
- Bathrobe
- Radio
- Toilet
- Slippers
- Toilet paper
- Bottle of water
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
-
Lovely Room
This room features a seating area. It includes a large flat-screen TV, an iPod docking station and tea/coffee making facilities, along with complimentary toiletries and free WiFi.
This room has a king-size bed and a bathroom with a shower. It is overlooking the garden or Southernhay gardens.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Minibar
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Radio
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Alarm clock
- Electric kettle
- Linen
- Toilet paper
- Wine or champagne
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Feather pillow
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
- Hand sanitiser
-
Lovely & Luxury Room
This spacious room features a bathroom with a free-standing bath and separate power shower. It includes a large flat-screen TV, iPod dock and tea and coffee making facilities, along with luxurious toiletries and free WiFi.
4 out of the 5 rooms in this category have a bath and so please note that the Apartment has a shower only.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Minibar
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Bathrobe
- Radio
- Desk
- Seating Area
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Sofa
- Alarm clock
- Electric kettle
- Linen
- Toilet paper
- Wine or champagne
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Feather pillow
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
- Hand sanitiser
-
Luxury Apartment
1 King Bed
Individually decorated room
Layout - Bedroom, living room, and dining area
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with digital channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker, electric kettle, room service (limited hours), and free bottled water
Sleep - Hypo-allergenic bedding, blackout drapes/curtains, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, bathrobes, and free toiletries
Practical - Desk, phone, and iron/ironing board (on request)
Comfort - Daily housekeeping, heating, and heated floor (bathroom)
Non-Smoking
Room is accessed via exterior corridors
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Bathrobe
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Dining table
- Toilet paper
- Bottle of water
- Shampoo
- Room service (limited hours)
- Daily housekeeping
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Access via exterior corridors
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Separate dining area
- Free WiFi
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
- Heated floor
-
Lovely & Larger Room
This room offers a separate shower and antique furnishings. It includes a large flat-screen TV, iPod docking station and tea/coffee making facilities, along with complimentary toiletries and free WiFi.
This room has a bathroom with a screen shower. It is overlooking the garden or Southernhay gardens.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Minibar
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Radio
- Seating Area
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Sofa
- Alarm clock
- Electric kettle
- Linen
- Toilet paper
- Wine or champagne
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Feather pillow
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
- Hand sanitiser
-
Charming Room
This cozy and charming room is sunny and fresh linens and antiques. It includes a large flat-screen TV, iPod dock and tea and coffee making facilities, along with luxurious toiletries and free WiFi.
This room has a bathroom with a screen shower. It is overlooking the garden or leafy Southernhay gardens.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Minibar
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Radio
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Alarm clock
- Electric kettle
- Linen
- Toilet paper
- Wine or champagne
- Bottle of water
- Trash cans
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
- Socket near the bed
- Feather pillow
- Smoke alarm
- Key access
- Hand sanitiser
Guest Reviews
- Jan (9/5): Een pareltje in Exeter. - Het pand is oud maar heel mooi gerenoveerd. Niets.
- Alex (9/5): -
- Denise (10/5): Delightful independent hotel in a prime location, which serves delicious food. - Charming, elegant, Georgian hotel, tastefully restored. Fantastic bar with a long and interesting cocktail menu. This hotel is situated in a wide leafy street next to the beautiful area surrounding the cathedral. Southernhay House has many reception rooms mostly overlooking a private garden. The beds are very comfortable and the rooms large and interesting. Liked everything
- JACQUELINE (10/5): -
- Stewart (7/5): -
- IsabelleBD1 (10/5): Luxury - We visited here for a rare mum and dad date night so we wanted something a bit special and this place delivered. We stayed in ‘Tulip’ and it was just pure luxury - as soon as we walked into the room we were blown away and then there are the little details like local coffee and beautiful smelling soaps which just enhance the luxury. The gentleman on Reception / running the bar was friendly and welcoming and knows how to make the perfect Aperol spritz and espresso martini! The location of the hotel is perfect, a 5 minute walk into the city centre / to the cathedral and there is a beautiful wine bar (Rendezvous) a stones throw away which serves the BEST food I have ever eaten. In terms of parking, we arrived after 6pm and were able to park on the road outside, moving the car to a public car park before 8am (again, only a 5 minute walk to the car park). Thank you so much for such a wonderful stay - it’s been so nice to relax and enjoy.
- Monica (4/5): breakfast medio - la receptionist veramente molto gentile e di supporto il bagno in camera, struttura un po’ vecchiotta e non lindissima.
- Robin (9/5): Beautiful / booked again in July - History, look and feel N/A
- Georgina (8/5): Perfect location to Exeter Christmas market and shops - Great room size , lovely warm comfortable Noise during night wasn’t sure if it was the heating or Simone using shower during the night but very loud and disrupted sleep
- Helen (10/5): Comfortable, friendly, convenient luxury. -
- House (3/5): Very expensive didn’t feel it was value for money - Was clean and well presented Rooms weren’t as described , very stuffy and had a very annoying green light on the ceiling which was really bright throughout the night
- toby (8/5): - Free sweets and central location Sink in bedroom
- Richard (8/5): -
- Culture34851613587 (10/5): Excellent hotel in an ideal location - This is a a gem of a boutique hotel handily placed for exploring the city centre. Our room was generously sized and extremely comfortable with super king size bed and a large bathroom. The roll top bath was great for a soak after a hard day’s sightseeing. The town centre and the cathedral are only a few minutes walk away yet the area was calm and peaceful, ensuring a good night’s sleep. Breakfast was excellent with a good choice. The pancakes were beautifully done and the portion generous as was the full English I had the following day. The staff were friendly and helpful.The bar is comfortable and a great place for a nightcap. The hotel benefits from its historic background and yet is beautifully clean and modern. We would happily stay here again
- Michael (8/5): Enjoyable - Breakfast, location, room Safety light on in bedroom all night and too bright.
- 787janew787 (10/5): Gorgeous, peaceful boutique hotel. - A lovely peaceful, quirky, boutique hotel in a very quiet but central part of Exeter. We loved everything about this hotel. The staff were friendly and helpful. The rooms were very well appointed, comfortable and had many lovely luxury touches, whilst being eco friendly. Lovely attention to detail throughout the hotel. The bar and dining area were very nice, great breakfast with a very good choice of dishes and good drinks and cocktail menu.
Would definitely stay again and would recommend this gem of a hotel.
- Chris (9/5): -
- Fabrice (10/5): -
- Didier (9/5): -
- Peter (8/5): Good value boutique hotel experience in Central Exeter - Staff excellent. made to feel very welcome. food was excellent and private dining can be thoroughly recommended. hotel is very well located for shopping in Central Exeter and is only a few 100 metres from the Cathedral which is most impressive. Only real criticism is that the room was stifling hot with no means of turning down the radiators because they were not actually on! Something else was going on there, but with no thermostat that I could see to try to cool the room, the heat made it a little uncomfortable.
I don't like a toilet in the room without a properly fitting and opaque door. We tried to use the ground floor facilities where possible but the mens toilets on the ground floor were only available with a code (surely unnecessary?).
Combined, these two things took the edge of what was othersise a good value boutique hotel experience. I would return, but would seek a different room with more traditional ensuite facilities.
- Paradise652552 (6/5): A cornflake-free experience - Southernhay House must be the only hotel in England (certainly the only hotel charging three hundred pounds per room per night B & B) that does not offer their guests the opportunity to have cornflakes for breakfast.
Or Weetabix.
Or Rice Crispies.
Or any fresh fruit.
Or any fruit juice other than orange juice.
The only cereal they offer is some unappealing-looking granola.
On the positive side, the staff of the hotel are friendly and helpful, the period decor is attractive and authentic-looking, and there are some stunning pieces of antique furniture.
But you can't eat the decor or the furniture for breakfast.
- Mike (9/5): Really enjoyed our stay . - Lovely location . Hotel was excellent as were the staff. Unfortunately one of the guests flooded their room and set the fire alarm off .
- Kristin (4/5): Vårt opphold var ikke tilfredsstillende og vi følte at det var overpriset - Stille gate, men ble likevel vekket av søppeltømming og smelling av dører Rommet ble ikke ryddet og sengen ble ikke redd opp. Ikke påfyll til kaffemaskinen
- PETER (10/5): -
- owenj586 (2/5): Come for a drink, not for a meal. - This review is for the food. Fabulous wine list, food (special occasion set menu was promised, though not delivered in the end) was genuinely vile, expensive and worse quality steak than Wetherspoons . Food was uneaten, because it was awful, waiter didn’t notice.
Hotel was a lovely venue though x
- Geoff (9/5): - Breakfast was excellent. The team were very friendly, helpful and professional.
The location was ideal - a short walk into the town.
- Stefi (9/5): -
- Neville (9/5): -
- JaxC380 (4/5): Beautiful Venue, laclustre food - Booked for a graduation meal. The venue is stunning it’s a shame the food was standard nothing special .
Considering it was a small menu we expected what we would be given would be done very well and a high standard of ingredients would be used, unfortunately this was not the case.
what we received was average to say the least the Steak was not great quality and not cooked well it lacked flavour , the rest of the plate was mediocre, tasteless tomatoes and what I suspect may be frozen chips . The Halloumi sticks my son commented were the same as Whetherspoons .
The Ragu meat was poor and had a lot of fat .
The Wine menu should match the standard of food, if you sell high end like Cristal the food should be of the same calibre .
I would be surprised if they have a Chef more likely a cook , if the food we received was done by a Chef then that’s concerning,
I have had much better food at pubs , felt very disappointed by what we received if I’m honest and everyone commented , which is a shame because this place could be amazing , the venue is beautiful .
- Fraser (10/5): -
- Doron (8/5): נחמד מאוד - מיקום בעיר , ארוחת הבוקר חדרים מיושנים במקצת
- Roger (10/5): - great Bar lady. very helpful
staff also very good
- Michael (10/5): Fabulous - Lady that checked us in was lovely, real asset to the hotel. Looked after us at all points of our stay from reception to bar drinks and breakfast, she was amazing.
Hotel is lovely with a great character and vibe, breakfast was excellent and the sun terrace is a gem.
- Priscilla (9/5): Lovely decor, very wonderful staff, excellent breakfast. The two drawbacks were there was no airconditioning and were w - Very chic No air conditioning
- William (10/5): Exceptional - Atmosphere of restrained elegance. Tasty food. Great staff really friendly.
And of course excellent location.
- Deborah (6/5): comfortable enough, I wouldn't go back. - the room was quiet, the bed was comfortable. it's overpriced, no parking.
- Pritchard (8/5): Absolutely perfect and I will come again but with my own pillow! - Beautiful hotel right in the centre of Exeter so perfect for walking everywhere The only moan I have were the pillows - I didn’t have the best sleep as the pillows were quite hard and lumpy! Pillows are tricky but keep an eye on them!
- Lucy (9/5): Superb - Breakfast was so good. Delicious smoked salmon and scrambled eggs were served hot (which is rare in my experience in hotels)!
Room was lovely and v comfy bed.
- Julian (10/5): Exceptional - Great location, short walk to town centre. Beautiful square and gardens. Great breakfast
- Graham (8/5): Very good -
- Philip (7/5): Good - It has character. Good food. Good bed. Clean. Lovely staff Needs some refurbishment and a coat of paint
- Steven (10/5): - Charming house with great food and bar service. We were treated very well. Location was great as well. Would recommend enthusiastically to others.
- Alicia (7/5): Good - Rooms were large, location was very close to the center, breakfast was very nice.
- Russ (10/5): Exceptional -
- Melanie (8/5): Fabulous stay. Would visit again - Central location. Lovely room. Helpful staff Shower and toilet a bit odd with no proper doors
- Peter (8/5): Amazing Boutique Stay ! Romantic and Wow!!! - The Room was amazing. Definitely had the wow factor!! A huge comfortable bed. The curtains need to be sorted as had come iff hooks in places. Room was very clean apart from the shower trap.. The staff were all very polite and very very helpful.. Breakfast was delicious especially the fresh orange juice and the selection of greek yougart, fruit compote, granola, honey and nuts that arrived pre cooked breakfast... The curtains in the room need to be re hung, they had come off the hooks making it look a bit tatty, although the room was amazing... The shower trap was dirty!!
- Anne (6/5): In my view its only suitable for a one night stay with very light luggage - Evening food was good
They carried my luggage up for me
Mattress was comfortable The shower mat in the room was stained. It had obviously been washed but had it been looked at they would have seen it was stained with black marks and it should have been discarded. The soap bottle in the shower was made of glass....and not fixed to anything so easy to fall and break...not great.
The shower tray was shiny and therefore slippery...by the time i realised I was already in the shower and it was too late to call and ask if they had a rubber shower mat.
One of the water bottles in the room was already opened and looked as if it had been refilled from the tap - it was "over full" compared to the unopened one. This should have been spotted as it was very obvious to me.
The sleigh bed in the room may look OK but the frame is too big for the space. There is hardly any space to move in the room, and the only place to hang anything was a rack of knobs fixed to the wall.
The stairs are steep - its an old building so to be expected BUT they are carpeted in dark blue and there is very little light in the hall way at night. Really hard to navigate if you have any sight impediment in the dark (as I do).
- Jay (9/5): Superb -
- D7187FBjulien (10/5): Beautiful hotel with interesting history - My brother-in-law had his wedding reception here, and the whole wedding party stayed. It was amazing!!!
We were able to drop our stuff off before check-in. By the time we returned from the wedding ceremony, the lovely staff had kindly taken our bags to our room - a blessing as I've got dodgy knees, my husband has breathing problems, and there's no lift😄
We were in Silk. It was beautiful. The bed was so comfortable. The bathroom was spotless with a fabulous shower.
The whole experience was incredible. Cocktails before dinner (I recommend the spicy marg😆)
We had a private dining room, which was perfect for our small group - 8, including the grooms. The food was incredible and enhanced by perfect service.
The following morning, breakfast was great. Loved the presentation of the yogurt, fruit compote etc. The pancakes, swimming in a lake of hot maple syrup, with bacon, just awesome.
If, like me, you are a bit of a history nerd, you'll find the background to the house interesting.
- Andy (8/5): Very good -
- hanaam2025 (10/5): Looking for excuses to book again! - OMG, AMAZING! I really love the decor of this place. For starters, the food was just delish, and my partner and I had the best night's sleep ever! We stayed in a room called Cotton, and the bed was so comfy. We took full advantage of the bath in there, too. The staff were lovely and couldn't do enough to help us; I'm currently looking at booking again for Valentine's Day!
- Giles (10/5): Exceptional -
- Jon (10/5): Exceptional -
- 815beckyc (10/5): Like sleeping in the clouds. - We have stayed in this amazing Hotel before. We travel a lot. This is honestly one of the best nights sleep ever.
The decor is lovely, staff are attentive, great location for Exeter.
Breakfast was great.
But this was the most comfortable restful sleep ever. Great bedding. You might hear the sound of the cathedral bells in the morning but is that not the nicest alarm clock ever?
We do spend a lot of time in Exeter so even when we are not staying at the Southern Hay we always pop in for a drink in the great conservatory.
The conservatory always reminds me of a restaurant in Berkeley Square in NYC.
I cannot find a fault. In fact We are making sure we are going back in February.
- Anouk (7/5): The location was good/ no parking was a problem as it was a very busy time in Exeter - Location /friendliness of staff Woke up by the noise of the water pipe assuming because the guest in the room below had a shower No hot water left after that. The carpet would need to be refreshed and the floor in the bathroom was not very clean.
- Lisa (9/5): Wonderful hotel in a fantastic location! - Friendly attentive staff and nothing was too much trouble. Our lovely room Tulip had great bed linen, towels and products. Gorgeous freestanding bath and powerful shower. Excellent quality coffee teas and biscuits. Breakfast was fantastic but felt it should have been included in the room rate.
- Melanie (9/5): Superb -
- James (9/5): Delightful - No on-site parking.
- Hannahbanana12 (2/5): Noise disturbed sleep and awful customer care - Third and last stay at this hotel. Spent £1,190 on 2 rooms for 2 nights to bring my mother for a treat. On our second night, I was kept awake until nearly 1am by the noise of people in the bar and the staff clearing up. I went down twice in my pjs to ask them to reduce the noise as I wanted to sleep. The next morning the manager eventually and reluctantly agreed it would have been possible to at least shut the 2 doors to the bar and restaurant area so that the noise wouldn't have travelled so easily. The owner was vile about it all and refused or didn't even understand that noise travels and has now banned me from returning (knowing I wouldn't)! So don't stay in the Ivory room if you want some peace at 12.45am. There was never anyone at reception to collect/leave keys with, and we would ring the doorbell repeatedly to try and get someone, look in the bar area etc but couldn't find anyone. My observations on this and the consequent lack of security and possible impact on their insurance arrangements was again met with anger. Cleanliness is also an issue - black mould in the shower, dirty carpet, clump of hair on the bathroom floor (which I had put from the shower into the bin but it was obviously dropped on the floor when the room was cleaned) etc. No sheet on the under mattress. Have seen from negative reviews elsewhere that this will be met with a horrible reply from the owners - they don't want to raise their standards or apologise for anything.
- Hannah (1/5): Dreadful noise, terrible management and customer care - Great location, a couple of the staff are lovely and nice cocktail. Third and last stay at this hotel. Spent £1,190 on 2 rooms for 2 nights to bring my mother for a treat. On our second night, I was kept awake until nearly 1am by the noise of people in the bar and the staff clearing up. I went down twice in my pjs to ask them to reduce the noise as I wanted to sleep. The next morning the manager eventually and reluctantly agreed it would have been possible to at least shut the 2 doors to the bar and restaurant area so that the noise wouldn't have travelled so easily. The owner was vile about it all and refused or didn't even understand that noise travels and has now banned me from returning (knowing I wouldn't)! So don't stay in the Ivory room if you want some peace at 12.45am. There was never anyone at reception to collect/leave keys with, and we would ring the doorbell repeatedly to try and get someone, look in the bar area etc but couldn't find anyone. My observations on this and the consequent lack of security and possible impact on their insurance arrangements was again met with anger. Cleanliness is also an issue - black mould in the shower, dirty carpet, clump of hair on the bathroom floor (which I had put from the shower into the bin but it was obviously dropped on the floor when the room was cleaned) etc. No sheet on the under mattress. Have seen from negative reviews elsewhere that this will be met with a horrible reply from the owners - they don't want to raise their standards or apologise for anything.
- Angela (10/5): Exceptional -
- Stephen (9/5): Superb -
- Purves (8/5): Lovely place. Great bar and cocktails. Fab location for dropping daughter at uni. Will definitely go back. - Fabulous bartender - made us the best margarita cocktail and was lovely too! Water came out of the shower onto the floor due to its design.
- Sigal (9/5): Superb -
- paulbY1831XY (10/5): Elegance in Exeter - We stayed for a wedding anniversary and were delighted by the hotel, its ambience, its situation and impeccable service. We stayed in the room. “Cotton” and revelled in the large comfortable bed and especially the deep, roll top bath. Breakfast was beautifully presented, generous portions and well cooked. If you want a secluded, discrete and tasteful place to stay in Exeter - this is it. Highly recommended.
- Eilidh (3/5): Poor - Location Tiny room, bathroom and shower cubicles at foot of bed, each with glass doors and minimal privacy
- Oliver (7/5): Good -
- Debbie (8/5): Nice stay but nothing exciting. - Comfy room. Great breakfast. Staff were friendly. Good location for central Exeter. Overall a good stay but nothing exciting. No car parking. Feels a little bit soulless in the common areas but only a small footprint. Small outside area but Feels like you're sitting amongst the local offices... which you are!
- Bethany (9/5): Excellent, the apartment was perfect - Spacious, comfortable, quiet
- Mike (5/5): Nice rooms great staff well decorated centrally located - Great staff good town centre location Overlooked by high rise office blocks no parking v exp breakfast if not included lacked a little character
- Di (9/5): Superb -
- Damian (10/5): - Friendly and homely
- Roger (10/5): - ok hotel
- PersianPrincess1993 (6/5): No warm smile on greeting but lovely breakfast. - Arrived around midnight (as previously communicated with the hotel) as it was our wedding night. Also wrote in the notes of the booking that it was our wedding night.
We couldn’t tell if we’d rung the bell properly so tried again. We were greeted with no smile or warm welcome unfortunately. As it was our wedding night, I thought we may have a congratulations note or something in the room but had nothing at all. Really disappointing.
The stay was made up for a bit by the lovely greeting we had in the morning along with a stunning fried breakfast and pancakes.
I’m not 100% sure it’s worth what we paid but it is a beautiful hotel.
- Denise (10/5): Exceptional -
- Vicky (8/5): Very good -
- Kevin (10/5): Exceptional -
- Tina (10/5): Exceptional - The location is fantastic, very close to the city centre
The staff are brilliant, very friendly and helpful, make you feel very much at home
- Michael (10/5): Very nice hotel centrally located in Exeter - Absolutely lovely hotel, centrally located. Very comfortable, and the staff are excellent.
- Candace (8/5): Central if you're walking and visiting areas around the hotel. - Great place, with lots of history. Beautifully decorated. Parking was an issue if you have a car, but I suppose that is a common problem all over the UK. Our room faced the street, so some student noise, and the big beautiful trees have birds nesting, so that could be an issue.
- Emgem1 (10/5): Fantastic boutique hotel - Really lovely boutique hotel with huge rooms, fantastic service and in a perfect central location. Wish we’d stayed for dinner instead of going to Hotel du Vin - abysmal! - so will definitely dine here when we come back. Special mention to Nick on reception who was so friendly and lugged our massive cases up two flights of stairs with a big smile on his face. Wonderful little place.
- Steven (8/5): A very enjoyable stay, perfectly located in the middle of the city. - Location is great, friendly staff, very comfortable bed and great quality bathroom. Room needed a dressing table, full length mirror or mirror stand for ladies to use. The sofa could have been removed to fit these things in easily, as the only purpose it served was as a clothes horse as it didn't face the TV or a window view.
- Brian (10/5): Exceptional -
- Valerie (9/5): Excellent - It was close to the Cathedral which is why I booked it. I loved the history of the house and grand but homely feel of the place. The breakfast was delicious and I would recommend it especially with the added mushrooms. I had tofu, roast tomatoes, spinach and large field mushrooms on sourdough. You don't have to be a vegetarian to like this!! What I would have liked is more space to put my make up and bits and pieces, so another folding table perhaps?
- jerseykathyl (10/5): Beautiful hotel - We stayed at this beautiful hotel for two nights and loved it. It's an oasis in the middle of town.
The whole place is very stylish, beautifully decorated and so welcoming. We had a "comfy room" which had a unique layout but it was certainly big enough for the two of us; it was bright, airy and super clean with lots of thoughtful touches. It also had a great shower and such a comfy bed!
Breakfast was delicious with a good choice and everything both looked and tasted amazing. Service was excellent; all the staff in the hotel were very friendly and attentive though.
We had drinks in the bar one evening, it has a good cocktail and drinks list and is a lovely area to sit and relax after a busy day!
We had a great stay, would love to come back and wholeheartedly recommend it.
- RKREF (10/5): Great hotel in a convenient location - A really lovely hotel in a very convenient location close to the city centre. The room was very large with a large separate bathroom and shower. The service was excellent and the food delicious. Parking is found in a paid parking location nearby.
- SarahKeys (10/5): Just fantastic. - A stunningly decorated hotel with beautiful rooms, excellent food and overall fantastic. We have been here on a few occasions, for dinner and to stay and could not fault anything. We returned with our baby recently and realised it is not a baby friendly place! No changing facilities and charged over £4 for some boiling water for his bottle. However, that is our mistake. Just FYI for anyone thinking of popping in with small children/babies. To be fair it does state this on their website but we popped in for a coffee on a whim and didn’t think to check! Looking forward to our next (adult only!) visit.
- Phillip (10/5): Exceptional -
- Daniel (7/5): Good -
- Julia (10/5): Extremely enjoyable and very convenient for the centre of Exeter. - The room was lovely, very spacious and with really good facilities. The bed was very clean and comfortable. All the staff were friendly and helpful and the breakfast was excellent, personally served to the table which makes a very pleasant change. The quality of the food that we did have was excellent. The hotel is in a lovely part of Exeter and a very short walk takes you straight into Cathedral Close. The hotel was very warm - we had to have our window open even with the heating in the room off - and I think that was the towel rail. The pillows are quite firm too so if you like a soft or squishy pillow bring your own along
- Alan (7/5): Apart from the surprising shortcomings listed, its location is a big plus. - The hotel is well placed, in an attractive setting, close to public car parking facilities, and within easy walking distance of major sights. On arrival, our room and bed were freezing. We had to ask for the central heating to be put on then (and the next day) as there are no individual bedroom controls.
No wardrobe, just coat hangers!
Fixed price full breakfast, no options. We had breakfast elsewhere.
- Scott (10/5): Exceptional -
- vegetarian74 (10/5): Amazing cocktails - I visited the bar with my friend for a few cocktails, three amazing cocktails later and we decided to stay for dinner too!
Totally recommend this place, lovely environment for a few drinks with friends and a bite to eat. Great decor and friendly staff. They have a great log burner that we sat next to having cocktails. I’ll definitely be going back again when it’s warmer, the outside area looks amazing.
- KathrynB832 (10/5): Just what we hoped for! - A lovely break with my best friend, and it was excellent from start to finish. Staff here are an asset for sure, very welcoming and we felt really looked after. Loved our room and the style of the whole place. Great location and so convenient for the centre. Our room was above the bar, but noise was minimal and not too late in any event. Classy, thoughtful and we loved it. Tasty breakfast too. Highly recommended!
- David (10/5): Exceptional -
- Jon (10/5): Best in Exeter - We spent a very relaxing w/e at Southernhay House. The rooms are luxurious, spacious, clean and very comfortable. The staff are welcoming, friendly and accommodating.
Bar and restaurant are both beautifully designed with many references to the building's historic past. The food was excellent also.
- Sarah (7/5): Great location; beautiful lounge and bar and great service. - Prefect location; wonderful friendly staff and beautiful bar and siting area. He breakfast was delicious. Our room was shabby and tired. Not in keeping with the beautiful decor of the bar, dinning and lounge area.
- Teresa (9/5): Superb -
- 73PaulV73 (10/5): This was perfection. - From the moment I enquired about staying at the Southern House Hotel I had a reassuring feel.
On arrival we were warmly welcomed, we were very early, and understandably our room was not ready, on our return our cases were in our room and my glasses cases too, that I had misplaced.
Our spacious room was magnificent, a superbly comfortable bed, tasteful furniture, an unbelievable shower and bath, great colour scheme, the room was also very clean (thank you housekeeping)
Breakfast (freshly prepared) was excellent (the orange juice, the very best) the Full English really was cooked to perfection, the scrambled egg a delicious delight, and so beautifully presented,
Our evening meal of two steaks was equally impressive, the steaks cooked to perfection too.
The bar was a favourite location of mine, a superb range of drinks overall, and the cocktails brilliantly prepared and presented.
The decor across the entire hotel was tasteful, relaxing and inspiring.
Above all what made our stay were the team managing and running the hotel, they were the very best, I so want to specifically mention one or two in particular but that wouldn’t do justice to their colleagues.
The standard of customer service, friendliness and willingness to go the extra mile could not be faulted.
The uniqueness of this hotel limits the opportunity for people to experience this special place, for the hotel to turn into a national chain would of course be a contradiction.
We had an incredible experience.
- FsuGaby (10/5): A uniquely, elegant, hotel! - I stayed at this hotel for my friend’s wedding and I had never been there before. The hotel also hosted the wedding and it was gorgeously decorated and the service was top notch. This hotel offers something different, special, and very unique, in particular as it is located in the city centre of Exeter. Each room is decorated in its own way, comfortably and very elegant. The breakfast was outstanding! I recommend the pancakes and the shower in my room was the best in Devon. I hope to stay again for another special occasion.
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