Forte Grand Imperial Hotel, Touquay Review

Good bed good customer service, cleaner is a bit clueless though. When we asked her to change the bedsheets she basically just fixed the bed

Absolutely love this place . Fantastic views of the bay. And the staff are friendly and helpful. See you soon

The Imperial is more or less the definition of faded glory. Whilst the public areas have been recently refurbished, the rooms are now very tired indeed though very large and with comfortable beds.

The hotel everywhere apart from the rooms is faultless. The restaurant I would recommend going to its such an experience a really lovely place. Also a live pianist and the service was exceptional. But I wouldn't recommend you stay in the hotel the rooms seem dirty and very old and over used. They just need updating. Some of them just need the balconies painting and windows cleaning. The exterior of the hotel just needs painting and some good maintenance its starting to look like its not being maintained.

Its a big let down as the restaurant is absolutely amazing and I would eat there if I returned. The balcony entrance and hallway are very good and seem to be well looked after.

The management was very unapologetic for the problems we had we had to room move. The second room was too hot and the heating was off, it was like we were above the boiler room. They would not discount the bill due to the issues we had and the fact we had to pay an upgrade room to get out of a room which was horrible and noisy and not clean. The manager I spoke to Stefan his eyes just seemed to glaze over as soon as I mentioned the problems and he acted as if they didn't exist as there were no problems and it was all in my head. He did take me away from reception though to explain this, it was funny because earlier when I complained a guy over heard me and I apologised for his wait and he said nope we had the same thing. If I did as the manager said I would have been complaining every 5 minutes and it would have ruined my stay as we new these were things that they could not rectify. We complained 3 times and that was enough. The room according to the manager was the best room in the whole hotel. Due to him saying this I'm rating the whole hotel poor as if this is the best room, what is the worst room a tent on the roof?

Read the reviews its not just me, and if your unlucky enough to have a bad experience well just expect nothing in return.

As I always do when I feel like I haven't got any value for money and my stay hasn't been great and the hotel is somewhat at fault I always give the hotel a chance to redeem themselves and 9 times out of 10 they do. Most offer a refund for one night or something as a goodwill. All the Imperial Hotel did was waive the parking which I thought was an outrageous charge anyway as everyone drives and they own the car park so its somewhat a catch 22. You can't park anywhere else so they charge you for it. Why not make it free and include it in the room rate I do not know it certainly looks better.

Its just funny because shortsighted management such as this puts customers off and where as I may have recommended the hotel because despite its issues if they said they would address them and also they compensated for it I would have been happy.

If you asked me would I stay here again No I wouldn't.

Would I recommend it? No I wouldn't, I would recommend you stay at a Premier Inn as their customer service is second to none and any issues you get your money back.

Had an upgraded room on arrival. Beautiful views over the coast line. Breakfast was extra but plenty of it good variety. Just over looking the harbour easy walk to torquay amenities. Loved our stay. Would definitely come back.

My partner and I chose the Imperial for a special birthday meal. We asked for a table next to the window upon reservation 2 weeks ago, to be told "sorry" but essentially you'll get what you're given.
We sat at the table for 5 minutes before another (older) couple arrived and were seated next to us. Another 5 minutes had passed when the couple were served water and their orders taken, with their starters brought out minutes later. We asked the waiter of the table adjacent if we could also be served to be told "yeah in a minute" without even looking at us as he passed by. At least another 5 minutes of waiting and we still hadn't received any water or a bread basket, while the table next to us were tucking into their starter. We ended up helping ourselves to water, and after another 5 minutes waiting, decided our money would be better spent elsewhere.
We left straight away, with a lack lustre "apology" from the waiter, who shrugged us off and didn't attempt to make any rights of this situation.

Manager and reception staff were impeccable in their customer service and tried everything possible to resolve the issue, thank you to them.

Unfortunately we believe due to our age, we were most likely stereotyped into being 'lesser tippers', and so treated with less respect and no hospitality in comparison to our fellow diners.

We've always had a lovely time when we've stayed here, although I would choose a room on a higher floor, as I didn't enjoy my stay or like my room as much when I've stayed at garden level. Rooms have always been clean and tidy. Lots of things to do within walking distance. Lovely hotel.

Great dinner, good breakfast and lovely staff in a setting with stunning vistas of Torbay and beyond.

Lovely hotel. Made to feel very welcome and my room was comfortable with balcony and sea views

Attended the Imperial Hotel for a social event and from the little I saw of the hotel it looks clean, well presented, the bar area is spacious and the views across Torbay are fantastic.

Long wait to get drinks and very expensive. Nice hotel and lovely views though.

We had an excellent time in this hotel. The room we stayed in was clean and spacious, and we had a great view from our window
The staff were professional and friendly from checking in, as we walked around the hotel and in the restaurant. Our waiter was very attentive and the food was superb. There was nothing to fault, we would definitely stay here again, thank you to all the staff and chiefs.

Daughter was singer in the Cockington Choir, looks very clean and looked after. Parking a bit of a nightmare but only because of the location

Great place too stay,nothing too much trouble for any of the staff,all staff made us feel at home and very welcome. Xxxx

Beautiful hotel. Food had good presentation but lacked taste and waiters/waitress were not very engaging.
We stayed in the deluxe king room with sea view. Lovely room but the bed was two singles put together and that's including the mattresses and topper which was really quite uncomfortable.
The pool and Jacuzzi was lovely and hotel public rooms, bar, lobby and hallways are tastefully decorated to a good standard as was the furniture and furnishings.
We would recommend but maybe go out for dinner and try and book a room with a good bed.
All clean enough. Lovely views out to sea and we had a nice private balcony.
If the food tasted as good as it looked and waiters were a bit more friendly because we know they're busy but when you say good morning and they don't reply and just ask what room number, they don't even smile which goes a long way and doesn't take up any time!!
As we stayed in the deluxe room with king bed we expected a king bed!!

Dropped friends off for a wedding reception, didn't go in.

Lovely place to stay, had a fantastic holiday, staff are very pleasant & very helpful nothing too much trouble for them

Amazing stay! Great communication with staff and very friendly, the restaurant food and staff were excellent, especially our waiter Ilyas, very friendly, and put a smile on our faces. Would just come back for him :) .

Excellent hotel, well recommended, had a very pleasurable stay here.

Absolutely gorgeous hotel with stunning views of the beach. Me and my boyfriend booked fairly last minute and were expecting a very standard room. We couldn't have been more please with it. It was lovely and clean, huge balcony and lovely extras. The deal included breakfast for both mornings and dinner the first night (three courses). The staff were very friendly and polite and the food was great. Can't recommend this hotel highly enough.

The only downside is having to pay for the parking.

Lovely hotel but the food let it down a bit bacon and black pudding only just cooked had the hake for main course it was probably 2 bites tops in size dissapointed other than that great

Not as great as it sounds. Pools close early and there is no fridge in the room. None were available as they were all in use in other rooms. Afternoon tea was worth the wait, though even with reservations there was quite the wait. Bar tenders and reception both excellent.

Food is nice. Service in the restaurant is good. Rooms and hotel is run down

Wow! From the outside its like looking at a block of flats but get inside and this place will take your breath away

Good sea views. Excellent for a funeral celebration

Rooms are clean and tidy but slightly dated. Room rates are also very reasonable. Would use again as it has very good facilities and also the staff are friendly and polite

This is a very nice hotel in need of some investment to bring it into the twenty first century. The staff are friendly and helpful. The breakfast is generous and the dinner excellent value for money. The public rooms are a happy reminder of another era. An ideal choice if you want to avoid souless chain hotels.

We had to change rooms as the first one they placed us in was totally disgusting. Filthy torn carpets, holes in the walls, damaged seats, ripped drapes and stains everywhere. The second room they gave us, after we requested to be moved, had a great sea view with a balcony, but again was just very tired. The carpet had duck tape across it to keep it in place, everything was just grubby and tired. The dividing door between us and the people next door was very lightweight, would not lock properly and we could hear the other guests like they were in our room with us. This 2 star review is based on the 2 rooms we experienced. I would hope other rooms in this hotel are better than this, otherwise this hotels best days are behind it.

Excellent hotel. Very grand, awesome sea views, staff helpful, room comfortable

A missed opportunity, nice room with a balcony No idea on special afternoon tea and ridiculous charge for meagre breakfast

Tea on the Terrace with peace and tranquillity. A special break from the working day. Loved it.

I don t doubt that in its hey day, it would ve deserved its 4 star rating. But I m afraid this 19th century property needs not just a lick of paint, but a thorough commercial clean. To say the room smelled stale and old, is an understatement. The spa and changing room facilities aren t clean. My dust allergies have flared up.

Had a wonderful swuite with stunning sea views very very good staff

Lovely views, comfortable bed but a little bit worn and tired in places

We have used this hotel on several occasions and so as my son. It is in a splendid location with views across the bay. The rooms of a good size clean and comfortable. We booked a two day stay on the autumn break offer fo our 59th wedding anniversary on the basis that we had in the past had had very good experiences, definitely a good 4 star rating. However on the first morning we were lead to our table which was not laid out. After some time my wife went and asked one the waiters and she finished setting up the table with cutlery, side plates and serviettes. Cups and saucers were brought to the table and we ordered one tea and one coffee. After four attempts of asking we were brought tea for two and we decided to accept that.
The following day normal service was resumed.

Room 105 wasnt suitable for a wheelchair nor the showerThe barman presented us with a bill before we had finished a little rude i felt

Awful customer service. Bar staff inept. General hotel reception staff unable to communicate in English with sufficient degree of dexterity.

Tired looking decor. Food mediocre.

After spending a Christmas party here, will never ever come again.

the food portions are very small and every thing lacked flavour itis "appalling"and overpriced the rest of the hotel is good

Went for drinks before going out for a meal and the service was too notch, couldn't fault it.

It was fine for a drink after dinner but it is a little devoid of character although it is a very pretty interior.

Fantastic day of relaxation with the wonderful angel that is my wife. Staff are soooo friendly and helpful.

On arrival, we went to sun terraces. Food plates, and dirty glasses,stayed like that for 45mins.couldn't find any staff to get a drink .Room was clean and fresh. Breakfast a disaster, not enough staff,1/2hour waited ,then i went to find someone ,just for the tea ,i was offered on arrival .was very dissapointed with the whole stay.Didnt have evening meals in as breakfast was so bad .They need to organise the staff better,its not their fault .

Love the Imperial. Spectacular views over Torbay. In line for a complete refurbishment which will is due.

Ok, visited the pool and gym. Lovely hot tub, pool just the right temperature. Mens changing rooms very tatty and smelly and in definite need of a refurb!!

Realistic rating maybe 3 and half star tops. Long awaited break for a few days. Staff has no name badges so the hard working ones cannot be praised. We booked in half board. Not much choice for continental breakfast just croissants. Dinner good quality, well done to the chef. Room was spacious on third floor with 2 bathrooms, but our 2 bedroom apartment was rather tired with smelly old furniture. We had balconies but were locked so could not go onto them to enjoy the lovely views. This was our second stay in 10 years, not much has changed. So next time we will choose a different hotel.

Well located in Torquay. Rooms are well furnished although they appear a bit dated. The rooms (sea facing) offer very good views of Torquay marina and thereabouts.

Great views from the rooms. Rooms are large and comfortable. Staff are very friendly and understanding of special requests. Only a couple of small things that can be better: most rooms do not have step-free access, and there's no minibar in the rooms. Aside from that, would stay again.

Considering you can get a room for half the price in Torquay I'm not sure it's worth it. Although wouldn't say much needs doing to enhance, but you could go to town as it has the most incredible views that money cant buy!... from one side, but everyone gets to enjoy from the restaurant. Tidy up outside between the hotel and apartments and improve the service and hospitality with some much needed training and engagement. The rooms are fine, dated, but comfortable, although the beds definately need replacing, springs gone and bedding limp.

Always upgrade to a seaview room. Lovely hotel and breakfast is fantastic

Very nice hotel and staff, Barbara was a star when serving our evening meal

Great, old, beautiful hotel in the great spot of Torquay

The views across Torbay are spectacular. If you have the right room then you'll have a truly special experience. The coastal path is worth some effort but if you prefer to explore Torquay or perhaps go further afield to see Overbecks in Salcombe or visit the Dartmouth area.

Stunning views of the bay whilst having a business meeting and coffee. Staff friendly and courteous. Will be back to try out for lunch

Went here with my daughter for my birthday. They gave us room with a lovely sea view. Had a spa package that I thoroughly enjoyed. Breakfast was fantastic. Lots of choice.

Get the right room (and not the wrong one), like the mezzanine (eg 148) with clear view with no floodlight (eg 123) in your face, supremely comfortable bed and perfect room Temperature it's fabulous. Breakfast is exceptional in a grand panoramic view room.

Fabulous location, especially for a wedding. Magnificent views

Lovely hotel, plus such pleasant helpful and efficient staff.
Sea view rooms great with fantastic views over Torbay and super comfortable bed and pillows.
Breakfast still a bit hit and miss regarding some of the food being not hot (and hash browns hard and not hot and mushrooms tasteless cos of how cooked) but it hasn't stopped us travelling 3hrs to come to stay here many times.

Grand old Victorian lady with friendly attentive staff and updated facilities. Rooms with a sea view are well worth the small additional cost.

After claiming for the room they gave us, they changed us for an excellent one. Now we are very well. Excellent breakfast.

I have not yet stayed here however my partner and I were meeting a colleague at this hotel. We arrived quite early and were pleasantly greeted by the staff who allowed us to enter the restaurant while we were waiting. It was a grand hotel with a beautiful interior and the restaurant had a spectacular view. I'm sure my partner and I will be staying here in the future!

Visited for a wedding fayre... beautiful hotel. Lovely staff.

Friendly staff at reception dealt with my enquiry efficiently and politely

Called in for a pint on the way to town. Lovely looking hotel..

Everything is lovely. Stepping back in time it must have been magnificent. Our only downside is the slow service for food and drinks and parking. Having said that there were 2 weddings on the saturday we started our break and not enough staff. Parking spaces are so narrow that if someone doesnt park in the space properly you cant get out of your car . Other selfish people parked in two!

Very good but small things need up grading i.e plastic tables on balcony small things

A dated tired English hotel. . Short staffed. . It's clean and well located, and it's fine for families and older people. It's just still 1980's. . . . I guess I am a bit down on it as it in no way replaces a Mediterranean holiday this summer. . .it's not 4 star in a worldwide sense. , also torquay itself isn't great. . Really hard to get served anywhere and you'll need to book everytime. . .long queues at restaurants generally

Don't judge a book by its cover!

The hotel looks dated from the outside, but the inside is lovely. The foyer and communal areas are grand and stylish. The service is excellent.

The rooms are spacious and I highly recommend the deluxe room with sea views. The views are breathtaking.

My only criticism is that some of the decor and furniture within the rooms are dated.

The hotel entrance and bar areas are magnificent but the room didn't really replicate that. It was still a nice room just incredibly small but then again I think we had the smallest room in the hotel.
Parking however is awful. There's lots of spaces but they are tiny spaces. I have a clio and had to put the mirrors in just so I could get into the space.
Spa area is also very nice but felt a bit uncomfortable by some of the staff gossiping right in front of the hot drinks machine. Didn't think to move at all so I was pretty much getting my drink around them. Yes I could have asked them to move but I'm terrible in situations like that.
I would stay here again.

Far too expensive. Food is well below average. Not value for money.

Really bad
Awful Food
Lazy Staff
Port served in Champagne Flute
So glad did not have Wedding here!!!

With regard to the public rooms, the bar and connecting rooms look very smart in modern tartans and suchlike, but when dining the worn state of the windows and furniture is a little obvious.

In short, the owners really need to invest and bring the quality of the decor up to the same standard as their staff and food.

Service and food cannot be faulted, however, away from the public rooms (even in a 'Deluxe' room with sea view and balcony) the rooms are badly in need of refurbishment.

The general dark wood and colours of decor actually suit the hotels classic ambience, but the furniture is damaged, curtains are tattered and some of the blankets used for secondary bedding seem like they should belong in an army barracks (comfort is there though, via the normal sheets and duvets, especially in the rather luxurious King beds).

Shower pressure within our 4th floor room was notably poor,though not being a plumber, I'm unsure how they would go about improving this.

Here I must mention that in a 4th floor, sea view with balcony, the view of the bay is worth a large degree of the room cost on its own - stunning, and something I doubt any other hotel in Torbay would beat.

In the time we have been guests (the food and service keep us coming back! ), several large hotel groups have owned the Imperial but none of these have seen fit to properly invest in refurbishment of this hotel with its fantastic position, which is a great, great shame.

Went here with my daughter for my birthday. They gave us room with a lovely sea view. Had a spa package that I thoroughly enjoyed. Breakfast was fantastic. Lots of choice.