HOTEL OF THE WEEK
THE MERCURE
Paignton, Devon
WHERE AND WHY: Since its heyday as a tourism hotspot in the Victorian age, this quintessential English seaside town has been sadly neglected to the point of ruin in some parts.
Thankfully, a significant regeneration of Paignton is seeing it rise once more with derelict buildings on its stunning seafront demolished and replaced by modern builds.
The four-storey, 161 bedroom Mercure Hotel has been built in place of the old Park Hotel, and boasts stunning sea views across Tor Bay.
Our spacious room was decked out in white and blue with the biggest, softest and most comfortable bed with one hard and one soft pillow each.
ON THE MENU: An all-day dining menu boasts a good selection dishes. My partner’s mushrooms on toast (£8) were a real winner, rich and full of flavour. The Latitude 50 restaurant also offers pizzas and more traditional grilled dishes, such as steak and burgers, while the desserts are varied.
There is also an excellent cocktail menu and drinks list including some fantastic local beers and wines.
Breakfast offered a good and varied selection of meat, fruit, cereals and breads, while there was a hot option available as well, with bacon, sausage, black pudding, hash browns, beans and scrambled egg.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Paignton Zoo remains one of the top attractions in Devon, with more than 2,000 animals. For the adventurous, there is Splashdown, Quaywest, the largest outdoor UK water park.
WAKE-UP CALL: Rooms at the Mercure Hotel in Paignton start at £69 a night, B&B.
■ mercurepaignton.com