Hotel Riviera Brochure

Handsome 18th and 19th century architecture abounds

in Sidmouth and the hotel’s fine Regency facade was

once a terrace of three-storey houses. Inside is an

alluring blend of old-fashioned service and present-day

comforts. The hotel has a long tradition of hospitality

and is perfect for unfor-

gettable family holidays,

long weekends, unwinding

breaks and all the spirit of

the glorious Festive Season.

Business meetings are also

more assured of a successful

outcome in the superb

working environment of

the self-contained conference suite. Whether you

stay on holiday or on business you will be treated to

the kind of friendly, personal attention that can only

be found in a privately-owned hotel of this quality.

Welcome to Hotel Riviera, the home of excellence.

HOTEL RIVIERA, with its echoes of the South of

France and prime position on the seafront, is the

choice for the discerning in search of relaxation and

quieter pleasures. Sidmouth has retained its exclusivity

and elegance since Regency times, when it became a

fashionable watering place

and attracted ‘the people of

quality ’. Most prominent

among these visitors were

the Duke and Duchess of

Kent with their infant

daughter Victoria, later to

become Queen. The resort’s

natural beauty and excellent

climate also captivated many famous literary figures,

including Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Coleridge,

Thackeray, Jane Austen and H.G. Wells. Thackeray

knew the district well and described it in ‘Pendennis’,

in which Sidmouth is thinly disguised as ‘Baymouth’.

SELECT HOTEL, EXCLUSIVE RESORT

“Sidmouth!

Silvery-pink and

creamy Sidmouth!”

John Betjeman

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and complimentary toiletries. Every bedroom is taste-

fully decorated and furnished to the same exceptionally

high standard and a lift provides easy access to all

floors. Gracious living includes being served traditional

Devonshire cream teas in the lounge or outside on the

patio in the summer. Later,

you will be spoilt for choice

from the extensive dinner

menus. Local seafood is a

speciality in the elegant,

bay-view dining room,

where every dish is a pure

delight, expertly served

and complemented by a

wide selection of wines. And there is no better place to

end the day than the Regency Bar, with its atmosphere of

relaxed luxury and impeccable service. As one enjoyable

day draws to a close, you can happily contemplate

another exciting tomorrow at this very special hotel.

HOTEL RIVIERA is splendidly positioned at the very

centre of Sidmouth’s Esplanade, overlooking Lyme Bay

and with the beach on its doorstep. As soon as you

pass through the grand bowed entrance you feel that

you are being welcomed into a large private house.

Many of the friendly staff

have served here for over

a decade and it shows in

their old-style courtesy

and extra concern for your

well-being. The hotel is a

haven of homely comfort

and a warm, family atmos-

phere prevails throughout.

Naturally your bedroom will be everything you would

expect from one of the leading hotels in Sidmouth.

Glorious sea views can be enjoyed from many rooms,

all of which have colour television, radio, direct-dial

telephone, hairdryer and thoughtful touches like flowers

YESTERDAY ’S ST YLE, TODAY ’S COMFORTS

“Glorious,

sunny Sidmouth

place of peace

and calm . . .”

Mary Patience





as a Conservation Area, and the shops still retain a

tradition of quality and courtesy. Having won the

Entente Florale Internationale, Sidmouth can justly

claim to be the floral town of Europe. The Connaught

Gardens are not only a floral showpiece but also a

marvellous setting for the

open-air band concerts.

Sidmouth has a long asso-

ciation with cricket going

back to 1823, and boasts the

finest ground in Devon.

Bowls, croquet, tennis,

putting, sailing and fishing

are just some of the other

sporting choices you will find here. And the welcome

does not fade with the end of summer. Sidmouth’s south

facing location, sheltered between pink-faced cliffs,

ensures especially mild winters. Hotel Riviera assures

you of a most memorable stay at any time of the year.

HOTEL RIVIERA is within easy strolling distance of

Sidmouth’s many attractions. Directly opposite the

hotel you can enjoy a swim or simply laze on the sand

and shingle beach; children love nearby Jacob’s Ladder,

which reveals a long stretch of golden sand at low tide.

Indeed, Sidmouth’s beaches

are particularly noted for

their cleanliness and water

purity. Hotel Riviera has

special arrangements with

Sidmouth Golf Club for

guests to play the scenic

18-hole course. The hotel

is also pleased to arrange

on request pheasant and duck shooting for guests on

seven privately managed estates in the South West of

England. Nowhere lends itself better to pottering

about than Sidmouth, with its enduring architectural

charm. The town centre fully deserves its designation

SIDMOU TH, A HIVE OF ACTIVITY

“If it were not

for the sea, Sidmouth,

I thought, would

be tropic forest . . .”

John Betjeman



horticultural interest. South of Sidmouth is Budleigh

Salterton, whose sea wall is the setting of Sir John

Millais’s famous painting ‘The Boyhood of Raleigh.’

And to the north is the small town of Ottery St. Mary,

birthplace of the poet Samuel Coleridge. The enormous

14th century church was

modelled on nearby Exeter

Cathedral. East of Sidmouth,

the coastline is riddled with

shallow caves and was once

notorious for its smugglers.

A memorable cliff walk links

Beer, an enchanting fishing

hamlet, with Branscombe,

Britain’s second longest village. Axmouth, an unspoilt

village with a cluster of cottages, and Colyton, a charm-

ing little town with a history dating back to AD 700,

should also be included on your itinerary. As a touring

base, Sidmouth and Hotel Riviera can hardly be excelled.

DURING YOUR STAY at Hotel Riviera you should

certainly take the opportunity to explore some of the

delightful villages, rolling countryside and coastline of

East Devon. On foot, there are breathtaking walks along

the Heritage Coast trail as far as your legs will carry you.

By car, the possibilities are

numerous. Dartmoor, with

its mile after mile of ever-

changing scenery, is of

course a ‘must’ for every

visitor. Just to the west of

Sidmouth lies the Raleigh

Country. Sir Walter was

born at Hayes Barton, in a

beautiful Tudor building which is now a farmhouse.

Neighbouring East Budleigh is a peaceful village with

thatched cottages climbing a steep hill. Bicton Gardens,

due north, were designed by André le Nôtre, who plan-

ned the gardens of Versailles, and are of outstanding

OU T AND ABOU T IN EAST DEVON

“For the

love I have here,

I would as soon

settle myself as

anywhere else.”

Sir Walter Raleigh



BY CAR: Sidmouth is 165 miles from London and 13 miles from the M5, exit

30 (then follow A3052). The average journey time is approximately 31/2 hours.

BY RAIL: Fast trains from the North, Midlands and London (Paddington) to

Exeter St. David’s. Journey time from London is 2 hours 30 minutes. There is

also a service from London (Waterloo) to Honiton. Journey time is 23/4 hours.

Hotel Riviera will be pleased to make arrangements to meet guests on request.

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY LOCATION

“Sidmouth is

typical of Devon

and Devon is typical

of all that

is good.”

Anna Sutton

BY AIR: Direct flights to Exeter Airport are available from various

destinations. Exeter Airport is just 30 minutes from Sidmouth. Enquiries

may be addressed to the Managing Director, Peter S Wharton, at

H o t e l R i v i e r a : T h e E s p l a n a d e S i d m o u t h D e v o n E X 1 0 8 A Y

Telephone: Sidmouth 01395 515201 Facsimile: 01395 577775

E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.hotelriviera.co.uk

© H

otel

Riv

iera

Ltd

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f thi

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Hotel Riviera Brochure