This is the 104-bedroom Hotel Indigo, a stunning boutique hotel in the beautiful & historic City of Exeter, Devon.

I was very much looking forward to visiting the City of Exeter. It was always one of those places I passed by on my way down to Cornwall. I would be staying at a stunning new £40m boutique hotel right in the heart of the city, Hotel Indigo, just a short walk from Exeter Cathedral. I had been told that Exeter is one of the most vibrant, attractive & historically interesting cities in England, so I was looking forward to exploring it for myself.

The city has a long history, pre-dating the arrival of the Romans in AD 50 and this is reflected in the wide range of exciting visitor attractions across the city including its unique Underground Passages, free Red Coat Guided Tours, the magnificent Cathedral, an imposing Roman wall & beautiful Quayside. Exeter is also home to the award-winning Royal Albert Memorial Museum where visitors can explore the city’s 2,000-year history all under one roof!

I would fully recommend the free Red Coated Guides; I went on a guided walk with my wife. Our guide Dave was very well informed and provided us with a very interesting introduction to the city, during our sixty minute walk. And it was free, although I would fully recommend a suitable tip if you appreciate the guided walk!

Not to be outdone, Hotel Indigo has its own fascinating history too! It was once the home of Colson’s, a department store which was opened in 1792 by a local milliner, Mrs Colson, who by all accounts was a bit of a well-loved local celebrity. It was later renamed Dingles before becoming a House of Fraser department store. The building survived the blitz during WW2, has been re-branded & refurbished and was famously the first store in Exeter to have an escalator installed before its recent reincarnation as the modern Hotel Indigo Exeter.

The transformation of the building into a hotel has been inspired by key parts of Exeter’s history including The House That Moved, Mrs Colson’s department store & the nearby Cathedral Heritage. At the reception desk there are shelves of items which shoppers could have bought at any of the previous stores. A unique nod of nostalgia to the hotels past heritage & history.

Once settled into our room there was much to see within the walls of the Hotel. Colson’s Bar and Restaurant is the ideal lunch, afternoon tea or dinner venue with a unique take on contemporary British cuisine cooked over charcoal & flames whilst The Retreat Spa provides some much-needed pampering & relaxation for day or hotel guests. I also saw many visitors coming in off the street & using the comfortable lobby as the perfect spot for meeting up with friends for a coffee or small bites. If you want spectacular views of the city Beckett’s Champagne & Cocktail Rooftop Bar is the place to head for on the eighth floor to enjoy champagne, cocktails and other Spirits whilst enjoying the panoramic views across the city. The Dugout is an upscale Sports Bar where guests can order small or large plates of classic comfort food alongside their drinks whilst enjoying the atmosphere & passion of live sport with like-minded punters!

Tucked into the historic core of the city, Hotel Indigo Exeter has amazing views of Exeter Cathedral & the spacious Cathedral Green and is a short walk from the River Exe waterfront quay where you can find bars & restaurants as well as artisan craftsmen making their wares for sale. The Hotel is very convenient for exploring the city, whether for shopping, dining, or visiting its heritage sites. Everything is within easy walking distance making the hotel the perfect base from which to explore this fascinating city..

My room was a Super King Suite with a City view balcony. Unfortunately the weather was a little wet during my visit but on a warm sunny day it would have been ideal to sit out on the balcony early evening with a couple of drinks before dinner. The room included a comfortable lounge area with a sofa, armchair and a large spa-inspired bathroom which included a walk in shower & roll top bath. My room was spacious, clean, & tastefully decorated. Added luxuries included Egyptian cotton linens and a huge 40-inch flat screen television, The amenities in the room were as you would expect in a good quality hotel including a minibar, tea & coffee making facilities including a Nespresso coffee machine, Bramley toiletries & plenty of power points for those essential laptops & mobile phones.

We ate in Colson’s Bar and Restaurant, which is where our breakfast was also served.

Starters:

Lightly spiced fish cake with mango & papaya salsa

Venison & wild boar scotch egg

Mains:

Corn Fed Chicken supreme, dauphinoise potatoes, Alsace cabbage & woodland mushrooms

Pork Belly, dauphinoise potatoes, white pudding porridge, kale & baby carrots

Desserts:

Banoffee waffle, Dulce de leche & Banana Ice Cream

Chocolate Torte & Vanilla Ice Cream

Breakfast did not disappoint either. It was well worth getting up for! There was plenty of choice from the continental breakfast bar including warm pastries, freshly squeezed juices, seasonal fruits & local meats & cheeses. I ordered a traditional full English & my wife chose some American pancakes, which were awesome! The hot breakfast was cooked-to-order, so all of the food was freshly prepared, tasty, and plentiful! And as much tea or coffee as you want!

The breakfast waiting staff were warm and friendly. The food at both dinner and breakfast over the two days was always excellent. Care had obviously been taken to source only the best ingredients. The food was well cooked and served by knowledgeable and friendly staff. The hotel staff had been very friendly and helpful throughout my stay. The high-quality level of service really does make you feel very special. The staff were efficient and polite, and nothing was too much trouble for them, which was really appreciated. A good night’s sleep & excellent breakfast to start our day had made our exploration of Exeter a lot of fun.

I would not hesitate to recommend Hotel Indigo if you are planning to visit Exeter or simply passing through. Why not stop and experience their superb food and hospitality, you will not be disappointed. The overall Hotel Indigo experience was very enjoyable and satisfying. Hotel Indigo Exeter offers excellent overnight accommodation options, superb restaurant meals and excellent table service in an exciting city destination. Why not check it out for yourself?

Disclosure: My stay was courtesy of Hotel Indigo Exeter

The views and comments expressed are as usual my own

If you decide to visit the Hotel Indigo Exeter as a result of reading this blog/review please mention The Travel Locker.