Thanks to this hotel for giving my family a wonderful break. The views were amazing, the facilities good for families, and staff could not have been more helpful. It gave us all the chance to have fun and relax. Looking forward to coming back with just my partner to pamper ourselves after school holidays are over. We will be back!

I have stayed at the Imperial on many occasions including this past month. I frequently travel on both business on my own and have stayed with my wife and children during term breaks. From the moment we arrive at the Hotel to the time we leave we have been made feel welcome. This is the reason we keep returning.

The rooms retain their Victorian Grandeur and the cleaning has always been first class.

Both TQ1 and the Regatta Restaurant have fantastic views, decor, food and service.We particularly enjoy the buffet breakfast as we have children.


I would certainly agree with both the AA and RAC guide in recommeding 5 stars to the Imperial in Torquay.

I agree with the previous reviewer completely. How does the Imperial Hotel Torquay retain it's 5 star status? In fact, does it actually retain that status because I couldn't see it promoted anywhere - not on the hotel signs or within the hotel - and surely that would be something to promote if they did in fact actually HAVE that status?? Perhaps in fact, they don't, and are just living off "days gone by"...well, all evidence from our weekend (16th-18th July) there would indicate that they certainly do not deserve to be a 5 star establishment. Positives - staff were on the whole very helpful, friendly and pleasant (with the exception of a dark-haired female receptionist who was an unhelpful officious disdainful ignoramus).
The view from our room (premium seaview 323) was fabulous as were the views from the Regatta restaurant.
Negatives - everything else really - the level of refurbishment throughout the hotel was disappointing to say the least - tired and in many places dirty - especially paintwork and doors which were often extremely chipped and marked, the lift (main lift just by Reception) was a total joke - lined (not just the floor but the WALLS as well) with FILTHY old pink carpet, it lurched and juddered and deeply unpleasant to ride in; the bedroom was a Premium Seaview room with balcony - the balcony was filthy - walls, floor, loungers, table and glass partition. Great view but did we really want to have to clean before we felt comfortable going out there?
The room itself was very tired and disappointing - the wardrobes had not been updated or seen a lick of paint since the seventies (or so it looked); again the paintwork was chipped and dirty, carpet was faded and dated and the wallpaper was patched and torn in a number of places and even coming off the wall on one side of the bed....and the bedding - a horrible dirty brown blanket above the sheet which was something I haven't seen in a 4 star never mind 5 star hotel for at least 5 years...
Did we complain I hear you ask? Of course we did. Politely we suggested that we were disappointed with the level of refurbishment to the room. Snooty officious receptionist butted into our comments to state that all rooms had the same level of refurbishment and they didn't have another room to offer anyway (not true since they weren't actually full..)
We were only pleased that we had phoned before we had arrived and on discovering that we had originally been allocated a Garden room (below ground floor with distustingly filthy, broken wooden terrace more suitable for 2/3* than 5, we discovered on exploring the hotel after checking in) we had asked to be given a higher level room which they had done. Our room was on the top floor of the hotel which was good as the floorboard were creaky it meant we weren't disturbed by people above us.
Food was adequate (breakfast pretty good with the inclusion of veggie sausages) but dinner pretty bland and overcooked - and not cheap either.
We did fill in a customer feedback form but no doubt on reading it it was binned without any points being taken on board.
My final point is - Torquay is just HORRIBLE, full of ------------------ who were busy trying to hit each other with broken bottles/be intimidating when we ventured into town on the friday night and other visitors seem to be hen and stag parties - there are no nice restaurants really - and by this I don't mean posh/snooty/expensive - just nice pasta/pizza bars (we found ONE - Sirium) or similar things - everything was either takeaways, full of hen and stag nights and very dated and grotty - or smarter but with heavily increased prices and dated heavy food.
The only thing worth visiting in Torquay as far as we could tell was the homemade fudge shop on the right hand side of the harbour/marina (I think it's called Roly's and its fab)....other than that - there is nothing to see or do other than bars full of hens and stags and takeaways.

I really do have to recommend avoiding Torquay and the Imperial Hotel.

Why do the AA/RAC rate this as a 5 star hotel? Meals in Regatta Restaurant are moderate to say the least, often on the nights we stayed meals were cold. Coffee & the mint (!) provided in lounge after dinner attracts £2.50 surcharge! Suite not available on arrival until 4.20pm. Reception inefficient to the point of rudeness. Comfortable but tired furnishings. Housekeeping sub standard. No flowers, chocolates or any welcoming touches. Young, ill trained staff.