The Bluebird Hotel in North Devon

This was our second visit, our first was 2 years ago when we found the hotel to be quite basic as far as the decor is concerned, but alot of improvements have been made since then. The dining room is beautiful, service at mealtimes is very good and the food is excellent.The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. You get what you pay for here with a smile, if you want The Ritz you wont get it on Groupon

Enjoyed a 4 night stay here with my partner it was cosy,welcoming and friendly 👍 food was the best I’ve ever eaten in a hotel anywhere in the world and can not wait to go back and visit Andre and his staff again

We have eaten many meals here and all have been very good and plenty of it. Lovely old hotel right on the seafront. We will be back for more meals

Went for a meal,had gammon egg&chips with salad and a prawn starter, very tasty and have returned on the strength of our first meal here. Friendly staff and owner and made to feel welcome. Nice atmosphere too!

Food looks grey or pink as it would if it was just microwaved, lamb chops, bacon, sausages. Pasta gave my husband a dodgy tummy and we had to go looking for Imodium late at night. Continental breakfast is white bread (or toast) no brown bread option, butter and marmalade put in 1 bowl left on the side. Take your own cereal and don't bother asking for a boiled egg! Portions are good but quality of ingredients are rubbish. There are lots of extremely wonderful places to eat in ilfracombe so give this one a miss. Lady on table next to us returned her salmon as it was rancid and asked for a pizza but it came out as soggy bread with hardly any topping.

We had read the reviews before we went and to be honest we nearly cancelled, but we had a very pleasant surprise!, we arrived just after 2pm and we were welcomed and shown to our room. Tea/coffee available & TV, for you ladies take a hairdryer if you use one!, if there was a comment on the room..dated but we found it clean & tidy (also with a new carpet room 17) Everything you need to know about the 'Groupon' deal is on the back of the door...you'll be surprised how many people didn't read it from the comments we heard in the dining room. Evening meal was part of the deal, my wife had Pesto Pasta & I had the Devon blue cheese burger both very good and well cooked. For breakfast it was Full English with toast and tea & coffee again we thought it was good. Now there are plenty of eateries in the vicinity so if you need a choice!, there certainly nothing wrong with the food. Would we return yes there was nothing to put us off. The town it's self was beautiful and the walk around the Harbour/Town & Tunnel Beach is well worth your time and effort. Something to think of is parking in 'busy season' it's a struggle and you'll have to pay but we found a spot within 10 mins, I did notice some off street parking that was free but you will have to have complete trust in your handbrake!, the Hotel is very well placed for everything.

We drove 6 hours for a half board, 4 night Devon break in the summertime with my family. We stayed less than an hour then drove home again! I would have though Ant and Dec would pop out at any minute!! Can't believe this place hasn't been shut down! I'm not a snob by any means but I would not eat or sleep in this hell hole! Mound, damp, pubic hair, dirty bed sheet, horrible smells was just the beginning! The owner Andre was the most rude, obnoxious man I've ever had the misfortune to meet! We booked two rooms as they only had doubles, so my husband would stay in one room with my 6 year old son and I'd stay in the other room with my daughter. This was booked several weeks previous and we had email confirmation.....when we arrived he abruptly told me that the hotel doesn't accept children!?!? I told hi. This was booked and I have two well behaved children, he then turned his back and walked away, another man cam out and said he'd show us our rooms... well I thought it was a joke, I've seen better broom closets! I can get over old fashioned and ugly as long as it's clean.... well, it was worse than I've ever had nightmares about! Green and black mound, dripping taps, dirt and scum and unmade and unclean beds!! I can't tell you how awful this whole experience is. I'd rather stay in a public toilet than this hotel. Il try and include some photos here......

I've stayed in many cheap hotels around the country and the world, but this should be shut down. I know you get what you pay for but I don't expect to go home I'll, from the mound and dirt! The staff were rude, one had dirty clothes whilst eating his bowl of pasta with dirty hands and when I complained he thought it was funny! The manager had a dig at my wife and when I tried to talk to him he locked himself in the kitchen and would come out to talk to me! Damp rooms with mound all over the walls, smelled like urine, dirty bed sheets, door wouldn't lock and window wouldn't close! Dripping taps and it smelled like something had died in the wardrobe! The manager thinks it's ok and acceptable to speak to women like rubbish but wouldn't come out to speak to me!! DO NOT STAY THERE

This review is for the restaurant only, we didn't stay at the hotel but we had a nice evening meal at the restaurant: the see bass was excellent and so did the burgers. I recommend.

Hotel is old and very tired but staff Staff trying their very best for what you pay it is ideal for couples on a very limited budget and as rooms really do need attention sure that the owners may be able to improve and upgrade over time Food ok and large portions had a room with shared balcony with sea view

The food is good,you need to inform the staff in the day if you want a starter or desert for evening meal...its not standard. Drinks are really reasonable.

Stayed here previously with deal, came again as surprised in good way quality for price. Sea view, really good evening meal, (price includes cooked breakfast, choice evening meal) Pizza is best ever. Bar, seating outside and in , great location, centre of town.

Great if you like the stench of cooking fat,dirt everywhere,sheets smelling of urine with blood and various stains.All made for an intoxicating mixture.Top that off with some of the rudest behaviour Ive ever encountered and you have a good idea of what this place is all about.Ive stayed in some dodgy places as a student but this takes the biscuit.Was half expecting the camera crew in "Holidays from Hell" to burst in.No such luck.Dont touch this place with a bargepole.

Why do people moan so much about this hotel? You pay £30 for a room with breakfast and expect the Ritz!!!

The food here is great and decent value. I had olive oil/balsamic vinegar with bread to start - you could say "well how can you go wrong with that?" - well they'd made their own bread and it was excellent. Then I had a haloumi burger with chips - both of which excellent and both of which easy to get wrong - followed by marmalade cake. All yum! Wine also good. Restaurant is nicely decorated and has quite a sophisticated feel to it. Service was fabulous - smiling staff who appeared happy to serve us. Reasonably full restaurant. The only downside are the amount of young children there. I'd gone out on a date night with my husband and we were drowned out by flushed faced kids who were obviously too tired. Look, I understand, but I've moved on from those days and am just saying it didn't suit our evening. Otherwise, it was a really good evening.

I have just returned from a disastrous weekend away at the 'Symphony Bluebird hotel' in Ilfracombe North Devon, 19/03/2017 The room we were offered was not fit for human habitation with so many hazardous even dangerous faults, e.g. The smoke detectors in our room and throughout the hotel were all covered/sealed with polythene bags, The ceiling in our room was collapsing and only held up/together by the wallpaper. There was mould/mildew down the walls of the room The window would not open and was wedged with tissue paper to keep it partially closed. The sheets were filthy and stained. The bed was broken and had a sheet of hardboard placed under the 3in thick (thin) mattress to stop you from falling through. The shower leaked and filled the slightly sunken bathroom floor with water. This is by no means and exhaustive list and the whole place is in desperate need of refurbishment or possibly demolition. I have stayed in a number of cheap and cheerful hotels over the years, all of which have been clean and pleasant but this is the worst I have ever seen and truly is in a terrible condition. I have returned with a sore throat which I can only put down to the mould and dirt in the rooms and totally unclean environment of the whole hotel After leaving this review, I will be contacting North Devon environmental health and also trading standards as this establishment needs to be closed down before someone gets seriously hurt from this dilapidated building or becomes ill from the fungal mould spores and general filth. The proprietor clearly has no concern for the welfare of his guests and should not be in the hospitality industry.

My previous review of this establishment was taken off TripAdvisor because I made it clear as to the language the owner used towards me on the phone!! I booked a stay here through Groupon and this man subsequently rang me back saying that the voucher had previously been redeemed.I pointed out that we had not stayed or redeemed these vouchers which were a present from our daughter so there must be some mistake. The supposed owner then said that I was a scheming ( bit that I can't say) and slammed the phone down. He then rang back and repeated this. I am no shrinking violet but I have never been spoken to in such a manner , he also said he was going to have me removed from Groupon.I have since spoken to Groupon and they were excellent and gave a full refund after hearing my story. If you look at previous reviews of this hotel or more particularly this man you will understand why Groupon. We're quite happy to take my word on the matter.The price may be good and just maybe the hotel is ok BUT there can be no excuse for foul and abusive language to a paying customer.

obviously a budget price but one not to be missed. Superb sea view, brilliant food. So glad we came and took no notice of some of the derogatory reviews.

Had a 5 night stay. Rooms could do with updating but they were adequately clean. Staff came and changed bed linnnen on 3 rd night and towels. Restaurant limited choice of meals. Great view from room at front.

In May 2016 we booked and paid in fully via card to stay at this hotel in October. Due to unforeseen circumstances I had to phone to cancel the booking. The owner/manager Mr.Desousa was very pleasant and helpful when booking WAS MADE but he certainly changed when we phoned to cancel. He became very aggressive and abusive but in the end said he would pay us back in full and the refund would be put back into our account the following day 23rd Sept.2016 it is now 9th January 2017 and still no refund. I have phoned many times and got the very abusive Mr.DeSousa and at the end of the last phone call with him he shouted WELL TAKE ME TO ******* COURT.I tried many times after that to contact him be never got an answer, always went over to answer machine and my messages were never got replies.I have applied to small claims court to get the refund but because this man has now changed the name of the hotel it is not possible to sue the Bluebird Smphony Hotel.#This man was very nasty, abusive and angry and now reading the reviews on the hotel I wish I had never heard of the place.STEER CLEAR OF THIS PLACE

Good choice of food. Well presented. Well cooked. Breakfast needs more added i.e. cereals for those who are not able to eat full English every day. (Need to renew the toaster.)

pet friendly ..comfy beds..friendly staff..basic and affordable..well situated..my dog loved this hotel as it is right opposite the small dog friendly beach .

Looked lovely from the outside.... Not sure we should have ventured inside? Dreadful white wine some Pinot which boyfriend couldn't find online.. Onto the menu. We wanted some garlic bread to munch on whilst deliberating our main choice.. However that appeared to be a slightly alien concept to our rather bemused young waitress.She wandered off to get the POS tab and let us know what wines were available. In the end, garlic cheese bread plus some crispy beef (with a dubious side salad). Half way through and the young lad who suddenly appeared alongside previous girl asked us if we'd like our mains? Well, actually I'd like mine after the starter.....?! It's really quiet in here, which is a tad disconcerting, normally I don't like too much noise but as an auditor I would recommend some pleasant ambient music. Asked (3 times) for a wine cooler, when reminded again the lovely girl (Milly) ran off to enquire, came back with a 'sorry, we don't have one', we suggested a bucket will do... Returned With a jug and ice, that'll do. If nothing else it's been fun! Mains choice was steak for him, chicken symphony for me (hmm, far too heavy a sauce but tasted ok), chips (rather a mix, see picture) to share. Garlic mushrooms on the side (with an unnecessary side salad, so 80's I've decided).Steak unevenly cooked,which actually rather explains the whole place, half baked, not in a totally bad way, but given a serious overhaul, audit, staff training and drinks menu alteration it actually does have potential! Bring your friends, in fact BYO would be a great concept here, liven it up, expand the food menu.... And then, we might have somewhere worthy of returning to!Ps. Real flowers next time please on the tables.

We ate here while staying in Ilfracombe and were so impressed we returned for another visit. They have an excellent menu, which features some lovely Italian food. I ordered a spaghetti carbonara, accompanied with garlic bread and red wine, and it was delicious. I was so good I had it on both occasions.The on both visits the restaurant was busy, a sign of its popularity, but we were fortunate to be quickly seated. Having read other reviews I am surprised some are negative, we will certainly return here next time we're in Ilfracombe, and would certainly recommend.

The last time we were there it was good but now that they have a refurbishment programme things are getting much better the menu ha's been expanded and they have a resident chef and she is very good . We love the hotel and the staff are very very friendly we can also take the dogs with us as it is pet friendly

I purchased a voucher from Groupon as a Birthday pesent for my son. My son contacted the hotel and made a booking for 2/10/16. Prior to travelling my so telephoned to reconfirm and spoke to the hotel manager who advised my son the booking was for the 7/10/16. My son advised the hotel manager that when he prevusly spoke to him he was advised that the earliest booking date was 2/10/16 which my son advised the manager was ok and to book that date. at this point the hotel manager was shouting and was being rude. The hotel manager hung up.I subsequently contacted Groupon for a refund. Groupon asked me to contact the hotel and obtain a statement that the Groupon voucher had not been serviced. I contacted the hotel and asked to speak to the manager and was transferred to the manager. I asked the manager what his name was and he wouldn't tell me. I asked for this statement to be provided and he said who sid the service hadn't been provide I said I do as my son had not stayed there because of an error on the booking date. The manager took my email address. After a week Iwhen I hadn't received this confirmation I again spoke to someone purporting to be the manager and again asked for this information. The manager was rude and obnoxious and hung up on me. In my view the manager was giving the clear impression that he had attended the Basil Fawlty course on hotel management I subsequently contacted the hotel by email (the email address in Tripadvisor) The email was not delivered. I obviously can't evaluate a stay at the hotel but expess relief that my son did not stay there.I subsequently again contacted Groupon and asked them to contact the hotel as the manager wasn't going to provide me with the requested information. Groupon again responded to me to obtain the confirmation from the hotel. At this point I asked Groupon for a refund otherwise I would have to get the credit card company involved. The refund wasn't forthcoming so I contacted the credit card company. When the credit card company got involved Groupong offered me a credit which I declined then subsequently gae me the refund. All I can say about Groupon is the refund should have been given when I initially complained about the lack of customer focus from the hotel.

Great value for money quality produce and very friendly staff. Restaurant was spotlessly clean and had quirky things to look at. We will be back to try the pizzas they looked amazing!!

I can only tell it has we found it.We booked 4 nights half board through WowCher, the DEAL was £149:00. For that we would get a double sea view room with T.V, WIFI, breakfast and evening meal and tea and coffee. The evening meal was a voucher for £25.00 for two people. There would be a glass of wine on arrival.What we got was a grotty room at the back of the hotel, the TV didn't work, there was no towels or toilet roll, the bed was lumpy with flat hard pillows, there less only one cup and no tea or coffee, there was one small window with a broken curtain, the view was of pipes leading everywhere.We asked the manager/owner if we could be moved into one of the rooms that to the front of the building, we did move at a cost of an extra £15.00 per night. The WowCher deal was now costing £ 209.00 for the 4 night stay.The room we moved into did have a lovely view from the two full length widows. The room itself was clean and tidy, a bit of TLC would not go amiss. We had plenty hot water with a good shower, if one of the other rooms was using the cold water we lost ours.Over our stay no one came to clean the room, empty the bin or replenish the tea, coffee or milk, the towels had holes in and again never changed.The breakfast as OK, English breakfast, one egg, one slice of bacon, one sausage and a spoonful of beans, on two mornings we had mushrooms as well. There was no cereal, fruit or yogurt, tea or coffee was from a central teapot rather than a pot on the table.The deal for the evening meal was a £25.00 voucher, in other words if your meals came to £27.00 then you would have £2.00 to pay.In reality it didn't work like that. Example, 2 pizza's at £8.00, from the menu, one garlic bread, total £24.00, with nothing to pay. WRONG, although the 2 pizzas only come to £16.00, you still have to pay separate for the garlic bread, £8.00.The meals are ok, no complaints there, all the staff, although young and inexperienced, were very good.The outcome from all this is that having spoken to the manager is, the hotel charge £39.00 per night for a standard room and £49.00 for an upgrade, this means that we paid £13.00 more for a WowCher deal than if we had gone through the hotel itself.NOT SUCH A GOOD DEAL.Would we go there again? The jury's out on that one.

The restaurant needs a spruce up, other than that the young waiter and waitress' were friendly and efficient - we all had the steak burger with different fillings and it was a decent burger, a few more chips wouldn't have gone amiss.

Well situated and convenient for the seafront and town centre , this hotel offers a comfortable , very clean en-suite room and an excellent full English breakfast, with the opportunity to dine in the restaurant in the evening. The dinner menu is excellent and well cooked and presented. Good service too. The hotel does not have its own car parking but is opposite a pay and display car park with no ticket needed before 9 am or after 6 pm .

I don't know what the problem is with some of these reviews we were a bit worried but on arrival the staff were very plesent&helpful the room was exceptable & the evening meal was delicious excellant value I also left a bag behind &spoke to Andre who was most helpful we will definitely be back

Got a voucher off groupon for 3 nights with breakfast and one free dinner upto £25. We had read the bad reviews on here after buying the voucher so we did not have high hopes! Upon arriving we were told the sea view room we had asked for was having electrical work done on so the room we had for the first night was not the best however the owner/manager (not sure which) apologised and said he would move us the next day. One of those things i guess could not be helped and we did not mind too much for one night as promised sea view room was ready when we got back the following day. Breakfast was put infront of us without us even ordering and was average at best however the evening meal was brilliant had a really nice pizza and would happily eat there again. Overall the hotel is dated a bit rough round the edges but it is a very old building and i enjoyed my stay there sea view room was very good with a good sizes balcony. Dont believe all the bad reviews for £110 3 nights it was very enjoyable and staff were lovely.

Lovely sea front small hotel. Great food and clean rooms. A great budget hotel with polite helpful staff. Remember this is a budget hotel and you will not be disappointed. We had a very pleasant stay.

Enjoyed a family meal whilst in hols in Devon. Nice pizzas and friendly service. Pleasant environment. Disappointed that not many real ales were available (none on tap) but overall a good experience.

A family group of us stopped by at 6pm on a busy August Friday evening, thinking that a drink in the hotel bar would be just the ticket.Before we could sit down in the comfy chairs, a young lad popped his head out and told us "we don't serve drinks now, it's restaurant only" (bear in mind we were in the bar area of the hotel, not the restaurant next door). So off we shuffled and had a very nice drink in the nearby Landmark Theatre.The sign outside clearly says HOTEL & BAR. Come on people, you lost 6 potential customers that night. Sometimes I'm ashamed to live in this country, where everything can seem like too much trouble. My French family were horrified.

Hotel was very clean, room was excellent, food in the restaurant was very good value and extremely nice. Staff especially at breakfast were friendly and helpful. Would recommend a visit.

Family of 10 looking for dinner around 8.30pm. Restaurant looked OK from outside and owner/manager helpfully created a table for 10. That was about as good as the service got. Waiters didn't seem interested - eventually took our food order after about 20 mins and when asked about drinks, said he would come back. He never did. Dying of first we eventually went to the bar to order. Awful selection of beers and warm soft drinks available. No apology for lack of service.Food arrived in reasonable time but not all at once. One meal came as the others were being finished. 4 pizzas were good. The rest awful. Spaghetti bolognaise was mince and spaghetti. Cajun chicken salad was inedible, gammon fatty and chips half cooked and no egg cos they had run out (we had to ask where it was). We were asked for our view on the food by the waiter who didn't seemed surprised when we said it was rubbish. We weren't charged for the awful Cajun chicken salad but wouldn't have paid for it anyway. A really poor experience - avoid

While the food was good for a reasonable price. It didn't make up for the terrible service. Under trained staff and management that just didn't care.

We travelled for over 3hours to the hotel. We decided to leave within 3 minutes. The room was awful. I know you get what you pay for but as a minimum I expect clean bedding. The furniture was extremely shabby and the bedding grey and stained. We did not ask for another room as we had already been told we had the best room available. We simply handed the key back and left. An experience I want to forget. Truly an awful room.

We had a quick stop for a dinner in this bar/restaurant. The pizza was amazing. The chicken tempura also very good. However we ordered Fusilli and we got Penne pasta. The staff did not bothere to ask or even let us know that they did not have any Fusilli left. The pasta was very grease and salty. The management should think about placing drinks menu. The staff was wearing various sweaty t shirts-should be one design.

I didn't think it was possible to mess up a pizza but last night I was proven wrong. Being an inexpensive option on the seafront should have been a red flag I guess. The restaurant looks like your average eatery, no bells or whistles. The menu is appealing, pizza, pasta, steak etc.. We ordered drinks, 2 cokes, 1 lemonade and a water. The water never arrived (I see someone else had the same problem in another review ). The coke was clearly a budget brand and tasted odd. Right on to the food......Oh dear! A childs pepperoni pizza was a saucer sized burnt circle with 4 symmetrically placed bits of pepperoni on it. The look of bewilderment and fear from my 9 year old son in response to what had been offered to him will haunt my dreams forever. The 3 adult pizzas were in a word.....wet. Undercooked bases, dolloped indiscriminately with tomato puree, a liberal sprinkling of our chosen toppings who were all felt sorry for. This was no way for any mushroom, pepper or cheese to die. Worst of all was the pool of water atop my meat feast. I prefer to think that this was the pizza crying in embarrassment at what it had become but in reality it was probably the remnants of the previously frozen chicken that had been dumped on to it prior to cooking. A quick (and regrettable) glance at the kitchen on the way out was the last dirty act in a very sorry episode. The staff were lovely, if forgetful, but the place is just not up to any standard. The fact that a lot of their trade seems to come from Groupon should say enough, the reviews aren't pretty and for good reason.The hotel/restaurant has been renamed as Ocean Symphony, you can probably guess why the owner has done this...... however I hope he got a good deal at the sign writers because he might need to look to change the name again real soon. Not so much a symphony but a awful racquet masquerading as a seafront hotel and restaurant.

Looked promising from the pizza menu, but that's where it ends!Mine had everything it should have there but was pretty tasteless. My wife's was a different matter. A calzone which contaied what could only be described as a slop of tomato sauce and something that we suppose was chicken. Tasted only of cheap tomato paste and my wife left most of it. One of the worst meals she's ever had, she said.Asked for a jug of water twice but it never materialised. Paid and left without leaving a tip as soon as we could!I suppose that, being on the front at Ilfracombe, they get a regular holiday trade so they don't bother about quality of food or service as most people will not return.

We had a Groupon deal which included 2 nights bb & evening meal, lunch on first day and glass of wine on arrival. Having read some previous reviews and working on the premis of you only get what you pay for, we were extremely apprehensive and expecting the worse but we thought as long as it's clean and comfortable it would be ok, and that's exactly how it was. Yes the rooms are basic and dated at the moment but renovations are being put in place such as new carpet throughout. We had a room in the front with a balcony which had fantastic sea views. The bed was comfortable, the linen was tired but very clean. In fact the whole hotel was very clean. The evening meal on both evenings was perfect and very generous portions. After a basic but very sufficient english breakfast which is not served until 9.00am we decided to forgo our lunch and when we told Andre, he suggested we have an afternoon tea instead which was brilliant. We found the staff extremely helpful especially Andre and Brandon and very friendly and nothing was too much trouble for them.. The position of the hotel is fabulous, it is extremely excellent value for money and we would definitely return.

We only had drinks and although it was ok a tad more expensive than the weatherspoons up the road for the same drinks it was pleasant sat outside watching the world walk by. The young waitress came over to us a few times to see if we wanted to eat which was nice. Ok for drinks and a sit down!

Well where can I start, me and my partner visit this restaurant for our 1year anniversary of being together, and we was seated by a very very young girl. She came across nervous, she sat us right next to the ramp where the waitresses walk up and down, unfortunately it was squeaky and annoying, we then ordered our meals. Our meals came and was very disappointed, I ordered a spaghetti carbonara which tasted nothing like a carbonara I asked for no chicken in it and there wasn't but you could definitely taste it, so they must of just took it out, it tasted more like a chicken and mushroom pot noodle and I hate pot noodles. The mushroom flavour was to over powering. I only had a couple of mouth full. We also heard a few other people complaining about the food which I don't blame them. When I got back to where we was staying I started to feel unwell which put a downer on our first little get away together.

Before I tell you the negatives, it was a very cheap deal from wowcher for dinner bed and breakfast, so I suppose you get what you pay for. We upgraded to a sea view room for an extra £10 a night, and although the room was grotty, cramped and the bathroom smelt, we enjoyed the sea view. The owner says he is in the process of upgrading the rooms, there are vital things that are missing. There was no bin or bathmat in the bathroom, and no hairdryer provided. The breakfast is pretty awful, but you can just get eggs and cook your own toast. However, the evening meal was well cooked, and generous portions.

We ate here as we bought a Groupon for the hotel, which included dinner. The hotel is absolutely HORRIBLE. The staff is HORRIBLE. But the (dinner not breakfast) food is actually good. It was the only good thing about our holiday. The restaurant is dated, old and smell. There was no light in the ladies, so i had to sit there in the dark.They play weird rap music at breakfast. There is only one type of juice, and if you ask for another you will be told no. The coffee is always empty and no one checks it. No one checks on you while you eat. Not once. Even though the food was good, I wont go here again.

Stayed here Friday > Sunday as part of a Groupon deal. After reading reviews on here I kept joking by calling it Faulty Towers ahead of going much to my wife's annoyance lolNo car park. Either find somewhere on a back street to park your car or you'll have to use the P&D car park across the road (fees 8am - 6pm) £11 for all day parking. Upon arrival taken to our room (Room 3 - seaview). The owner mumbled to us the times for evening meal and breakfast and then left.Room dated but you can see they are trying to do them up. New carpets. New ceiling (not plastered yet). Dated units etc. Small balcony but have table and two chairs to sit on. The view is what makes this hotel. To wake up looking out to the sea I could have every morning. Amazing. Evening meals were outstanding. The food is what keeps this place going. But here is where they can make the biggest improvement. Staff serving (the two young girls). Smile! It won't kill you. Know the menu. Don't lean over someone to reach for an empty glass etc. Such simple things that would make the experience 10 times better. We ate here both nights and we both really enjoyed the food. However there were no desserts available - huh really!! We had to go down to the local Wetherspoons for that both nights. Breakfast is "ok". You get served a basic cup English and help yourself to toast coffee tea orange etc. But be quick as it don't last long. Second day there was no white bread. Ran out of milk and orange and long waits to toast your bread. Don't get me wrong we really enjoyed our weekend away. North Devon is a lovely place. However this hotel could be so much more. They are attempting to do the place up and for what we paid I guess we can't grumble. Would we return...... Maybe

We stayed here for two nights with Groupon. The hotel is in a wonderful location right on the sea front. The food is O.K., the rooms are a little dated but adequate, the owner and staff are very good and nothing too much trouble for them. The hotel itself is a little dated but extremely good value for money. I thought that this deal was too good to be true, at £20 per person per night for diner bed and breakfast I don’t know how they can do it. If we went go back to Ilfracombe we would be happy to stay at the BlueBird Hotel.

We arrived open minded after reading some of the reviews well it was a pleasant surprise to see a lot of it was unfounded as the owner and his team were very helpful and friendly we were given a newly renovated room with a good view of the promenade and sea ,the food was delicious a plenty so for forty nine pounds a night for two people with bed breakfast and evening meal in the month of June that is fantastic

We visited the restaurant but weren't staying in the hotel. Food was very good and reasonably priced. The staff were friendly and try hard but need more training. They're also rather scruffy: a white shirt shouldn't be grey and it should be ironed! One waitress had a rip in the knee of her jeans. These points obviously don't affect the quality of the food but they do contribute negatively to the over all impression. That's a pity because they are obviously trying hard and this simple change (try an ironed black shirt and smart black trousers?) would make them look more professional. Good luck.

Just spent two nights at this clean friendly hotel. The owner took over this hotel last September he has worked very hard to please his clientele and it is working,the food is second to none,lots of work still to be done to bring the bed rooms up to the owners expectations.he hopes this will be completed soon.we will return soon.

Evening meals excellent, food was cooked to perfection and presented well. Breakfast was ok. Room and ensuit was very dated and the only tv channel available was BBC wales.

Had a lovely stay.owner and staff very welcoming.bar prices reasonable.food excellent...Rooms do need updating which owner in process of doing.when done will be a lovely seafront hotel.

We stayed on a half board basis. The menu gave us a wide choice. The food was cooked to perfection and delicious. All the staff were very friendly and helpful

We stay here 8th-11th April on a goupon ticket £99 we were greeted by the owner very friendly shown to our room yes its dated but was clean and at the end of the day we only used it to bath and sleep as we were out most of the day. The evening meal was excellent ribeye steak was amazing and very large portions.We will defo be going back.Thank you to all the staff that made us feel very very welcome

We bought this 2 day break on Groupon for the ridiculous sum of £69 for 2 of us for 2 nights dinner bed and breakfast!! Used in March which a friend of mine thought was crazy - Ilfracombe in March! However we were very lucky with the weather and had a lovely relaxing few days,. Went off each day - Lynton and Lynmouth 1 day and Arlington House on the way home. Can't fault the food or the service - all young staff and very pleasant - very interested in their guests. Rooms were tired and in need of updating but still clean and comfortable. Understand that the proprietor - Andre has this in hand for the Autumn. Would definitely return.

We loved our stay here. Yes, the rooms are dated but they are clean and comfy. The location is amazing and the food was delicious. We met and spoke with a lot of the staff who made us feel really welcome. The two girls working in the restaurant had only just started and we so sweet and friendly. Brandon who works front of house was brilliant and lots of fun. We cant wait to go back. The manager even explained that he knew the rooms were not quite up to scratch and will be looking to redecorate at the end of the year but in the meantime, he has given the rooms away for free on Groupon while people dine in the Restaurant. ITS AN AMAZING DEAL so people should stop moaning and see it for what it is....amazing value, great location, lovely staff and SUPERB food!!! We miss it already and cant wait to go back!

Hello...hi....do we...I guess i'll grab a menu myself then......mmmm....wonder do we have to order at the bar......nope, that new table is getting sorted....they must have seen us theres 6 of us.....nope.....i'm gonna give them a few minutes...hhrrmm....cutlery is pretty dirty....do those guys walking around work here or something...they don't look it....oh he must do he's taking an order off that other table......ok thats 10 minutes without even a nod.....screw this we'll go elsewhere.....still not even acknowledged. You missed every tricking basic of hospitality guys, well done.

This hotel was excellent value for money.What on earth do people expect for £80 for two people b & b and evening meal.The lounge,bar & restaurant areas were lovely & very clean & comfortable.The staff all very friendly & helpful.Evening meals absolutely super,yes breakfast you didn't get cerial & your cooked breakfast came out without asking what you wanted,so what,what do you expect for what you paid!Rooms were in need of refurbishment which is going to be done,but it was clean,comfortable bed,tea & coffee & tv.Go with an open mind & enjoy what you get & don't expect five star when you pay so little.JUST STOP MOANING !!!!!!!!!!!

staff very friendly and helpful. food good. amazing value for money. bedroom recently refurbished .on the seafront

My son tried to book this deal straightaway to be told hundreds of people had bought a groupon and there were no weekend s free before the redeem date.So I phoned on his behalf as I had bought the gift to ask which date in the week would be available to be met on the phone with an extremely arrogant person who kept telling me there were limited dates during the week available ..telling me to "hold on and listen darling!" In an aggressive manner , extremely rude , patronising and became abusive when I said I was going to contact groupon about his attitude! Groupon were brilliant. As for this hotel I would never put a family in the hotel or stay there with such unpleasant individuals. GOOD LUCK if you do stay!!

Food came out quickly and was lovely and good value for money , being in the hotel made it easier and finishing off with a drink by the fire was great

Despite the welcome which was quite congenial warm and friendly this was quite possibly the the worst place I had ever been to.The smell of stale cooking fat greeted you on entry ,the hall way carpet was shabby and stained.The room was,which was supposed to be a seaview smelt of stale urine and.The bath was stained and dirty,all In all a quite unpalatable experience.The welcome by the host whilst warm and genial was obliterated by the poor standard of the accommodation.Needless to say my partner and did not unpack,and left almost 10 minutes after entering .Definitely not recommended

Breakfast and dinner here were good we had no complaints. If we had stayed longer the menu choices were limited unless you opted for one of the more expensive dishes ie £23.00 for a main. However starters and desserts at £4.50 were buy one get one free. The cheapest main meal was £8.50 for pasta £10.50 for Gammon Steak and £10 for an 8 oz steak, fish and chips were £12.50 the portions were large.

We ate here mid December 6 adults and 1 child we all had a great meal the staff were very accommodating our little boy fell asleep after we ordered and they happily cancelled his food the chips were great and steak delicious, our one reservation was our vegetarian with us who had a fantastic meal! We will be back this year

We booked this hotel via Groupon, as we wanted to go away with the kids and the dog, it was £109 for 2 nights between Christmas and New Year. Although there was a mix up with our booking when we arrived, as the family room we booked was not available, we were provided with an double ensuite with sea view and the kids got their own ensuite room. The Staff were very friendly, their was a cosy lounge area with a fire to chill before you eat. You got a full English breakfast, kids evening meals were free and adults got £25 off their meals, which included a selection of steaks, burgers etc. Parking was across the road at £1.20 per day, however this will increase significantly in the summer. Overall good value for what we paid.

We booked this hotel through Groupon (£69 for 2 nights B&B to include a cream tea)When checking in we were told by the young guy (who was very helpful and pleasant)that he required an extra £20 for an upgrade to a sea view room. When I said I hadn't requested this and didn't want it we were told that there were no other rooms available so we had to pay the extra - not a good start! When shown to our room it was very dated with basic facilities, we could have accepted this as it was a reasonably priced break (although Old English Inns do deals like this and are always first class), the TV worked intermittently, the hot water ran cold in the morning, there was no refreshing of the towels. no milk for tea/coffee making, and certainly not enough to last for the 2 days. no drinking glasses in the room, no hairdryer and breakfast not served until 9am, no cereal available just a full breakfast and a choice of brown or white bread to toast. no butter to spread just a pale looking soft spread that tasted disgusting.

After terrible rude service over the phone when booking we were in two minds whether to even visit, but we're glad we did as the staff were very friendly, the food was tasty, and having upgraded to a seaview room, the view was fantastic. The hotel is old in decor but is fine if you don't mind that. Very good value for money as we used a £89 Groupon offer. We would visit again, but they need to sort out the attitude of the guy who took the booking as he was so rude and very offputting. Overall great stay.

Best value for money eva. Can't believe how much you can get for your money £69.00 for 2 night stay with dinner bed and breakfast, staff could not be any friendly and welcoming food gorgeous, restaurant and rooms nice and clean. Rebook to go back on summer

We have just returned from a two night bed, breakfast and evening Groupon stay at his hotel and I have to say after reading the reviews I was very apprehensive and wondered if I had made a mistake in booking this. However I could have not been more wrong the welcome we received was brilliant, the food was really good and plenty to eat, the rooms were quite old fashioned but in a quaint way they were really clean and tidy and to be honest we could not find any fault in the hotel at all, I would have liked butter with my morning toast instead of marg but thats just me being fussy and if thats all that I can find to complain about then it must have been good. These guys seem to be trying really hard to make a go of this and need all the support they can get so PLEASE PLEASE do not be put of by the not so good reviews, give them a chance and give it a go, you will be very suprised. Well done to all at the Symphony Bluebird Hotel, keep up to good work and you will reap the benefits for sure

The food was quite nice and the staff were very friendly.the rooms were basic and in need of updating.the new owners were very nice but needed advice on certain particulars about running a quest house ,I wouldn't call it a hotel.there wasn't any hot water in our room or not enough to shower.I would not stay there again but having said that what we paid was very cheap for two nights with breakfast and evening meal.

We booked our 3 night Groupon stay at short notice due to an Egypt holiday cancellation. On arrival we were taken back at how Beautiful the scenery was. We received a very warm welcome at the Hotel, Food was outstanding and very good value for money, drinks at the bar were very reasonably priced and the service from all the staff was wonderful.The Lounge and Dining area were recently refurbished to a very high standard, the bedrooms upstairs were dated but warm and comfortable, we could see that refurbishment had begun in the upstairs rooms and having seen the work so far on a room we could see how wonderful they will all be when finished.All staff were welcoming, warm and friendly. Special thank you to Mikey, there is one nice guy who certainly does go the extra mile to please his guests.We will definitely make a return visit next year.

Just returned from a one night stay at the Bluebird using a Groupon voucher - £39 for TWO people to stay one night including breakfast, cream tea and dinner. Wasn't sure what to expect after reading some of the negative reviews but we had a great time and the deal is superb value for money. We paid a ten pound upgrade for a quirky room with a sea view and balcony - plus we paid ten pounds to take our dog! The hotel is being refurbished - the reception lounge and dining areas are now complete with comfy sofas and a lovely open fire, very cosy! Yes the bedrooms are a little dated but personally we loved the retro/original decor - you cannot get an avocado and faux marble vanity basin everywhere! The rooms are being refurbished one by one. It is not five star accommodation but look at the price you are paying!! It's clean and cosy - the staff are friendly and are working hard to improve the hotel. You get £25 to spend on your evening meal within the deal - there is a good choice of steaks, grills and burgers etc, the £25 will get a main meal for two - plus they do two-for-one on desserts and starters, which you can pay extra for (optional) . The good is plentiful and home cooked, I would recommend the tempura chicken starter - massive! You also get a full English breakfast with unlimited toast/tea/coffee. Overall I don't think anyone can complain at that price! The hotel is right by the town centre in Ilfracombe - plenty of shops, bars, restaurants nearby. I would also recommend the Torrs circular walk from the hotel. We had a comfortable cosy one night stay - very nice being sat in the lounge in front of the fire with a brandy (or two). Recommended!

We have just returned from a three night break at the Bluebird Hotel. I can't believe some of the people writing reviews have been staying in the same hotel. The staff were all lovely, so helpful and always polite. I find it difficult to imagine any of them being rude. The hotel was comfortable and relaxing. The food was excellent. The views are amazing. We went on a Groupon Voucher and have never before had such value for money. We loved it!

After reading such bad reviews a few days before our booking I decided to call to get more information the day before. The man who answered the phone had a very rude manner , I was told parking was across the road for a small charge. When I checked the booking was for dinner, bed & breakfast for 2 , he replied yes but you can only have upto £25 towards dinner per couple & 10 towards breakfast per couple. I challenged him by saying the Groupon voucher did not say this anywhere only to be rudely told "what do you expect for £49 per night, you can't expect any more" I then repeated that the voucher was an offer they were doing & they should stick to that as that's what I paid for, he then shouted at me saying" I will cancel your booking" with that he hung up on me. I could not believe it, I was very upset as planned on taking my husband away for a birthday treat today. I contacted groupon who are going to refund my money & look into it. How can anyone expect to run a business with such rude manners & lies. Although very upset about the whole thing , thing it would have been a disaster had we gone.

We arrived on the Saturday evening, and greeted by the manager almost immediately. Our room was a touch dated, but clean and comfortable. The view was a beaut and waking up with the doors open and the sound of waves was something else! We ate dinner and breakfast here, not much choice but was tasty and the staff really friendly. All in all we will be coming back and next time for longer

Booked this hotel on a groupon 2 nights for £89. Upgraded to sea view room for £20 ,well worth it the view was lovely. The room was a little tired but clean. Loved the idea of been given £25.00 for a couple for your evening meal. You could pick what you wanted off the menu and if you chose something more expensive you just paid the balance. The food was good. The customer service was very good and made us feel welcome. The waitress and waiter was very helpful. Enjoyed our stay

I bought a Groupon which was £89 2 nights for 2 with breAkfast and dinner . They say if something seems too good to be true then if usually is.... I rang to enquire about a wkend and the man on the phone was very rude as soon as I mentioned Groupon . He then had a go at a female colleague (whilst I was on the phone ) I could not believe my ears. He then came back to the phone and said 'hello ' which I replied and then he hung up! I called straight Back and told him he had hung up on me ? He did not apologise . I wanted for him to pencil my name down for a wkend whilst I checked with my partner he could get the time off work. Well he was very rude and very unhelpful and I said I would call back soon. I called back the next morning at 9:30. He rudely said ' I am doing breakfast can you call back in half an hour ' is this really how b&bs run? I don't think so . I then called back to be told he did not put my name down for those dates as they don't take provisional bookings and they were now full . By this time I was very cross and told him he was very rude. He actually argued with me on the phone . I told him I would get my refund from Groupon and give him a bad review . I could not believe his attitude and he would not allow me to talk to the owners , he said ' they will not want to take this call ' he meant he didn't want a complaint about him! . I wonder if the owners look at any of these reviews? and I have read a lot about the poor service of a member of staff call 'Geoff ' which I can only imagine is his name . Very miserable. I am glad this booking did not go ahead. We have booked at a much nicer hotel also on the seafront instead with much better reviews ,

We are here primarily due to the fact the place we wanted to eat in was full... Easy to get a table... Food was ok but not fantastic... Asked for my steak medium to well done and it came out more like rare and my husband wanted his medium but a good vet could've brought it back to life.... Had to send mine back to be cooked more...service again was ok but I think the young lady that served us was relatively new...

Brilliant value, excellent food, friendly staff. We had a very enjoyable stay and are looking forward to another break here in the future

visited using NCROWD voucher, stayed in sea front room for £20 suppliment,Very good room just needed updating, unfortunately the sunday dinner roast potatoes had been cremated, had two glasses of wine and packet of peanuts cost £10.70 seemed a tad too much.Outside sat on bench was a young man having a see how far can I spit on to the road competition, later found he was one of the staff.I honestly consider this hotel with decor update and staff discipline, also food preparation could improve dramatically.

So having paid just £89 on an ncrowd deal for 2 nights b & b with dinner we weren't expecting the height of luxury. You get what you pay for. We were however expecting decent customer service and a sea view room as booked..not too much to expect. So upon arrival at lunchtime we popped in to see what time the room would be available and were told by Geoff in a terse manner 4pm. Ok that's fine. We went for lunch and a bit of a wander. Just before 4 we went back to check in and I presented my voucher on my phone...to be told it had to be printed. We got round that after much faffing then to be told there were no sea view rooms. Now I had rung up to check availability prior to buying the deal, then rung back being very flexible on dates to be assured that a sea view room was available on 21 Sept so was happy to take this date. It was not my suggested date but that of the booking clerk and as I say we were flexible..within a 2 week window. Geoff very rudely said there weren't any, he couldn't find us any and if we didn't like it we didn't have to stay and he would refund us. He tried to imply that we hadn't booked or paid for a sea view room and were trying to pull a fast one -despite the voucher clearly stating superior sea view room. Maybe the problem was that it was on my phone and not s bit of paper!! We asked to see the room he had allocated us..room 16 was tiny and filthy. I wouldn't put my cats in there!! We decided to leave and asked for a refund. At this point he said he wouldn't refund us as the voucher hadn't been redeemed. My partner suggested he pressed redeem so he got paid then refunded us..oh no, far too difficult. We got an email from him confirming I hadn't used the voucher to send to ncrowd and proceeded to go to a nearby Premier Inn. I can honestly say I have never ever come across such a poor attitude from someone working in a customer service industry. He was unpleasant, arrogant and obviously didn't want our business. I suspect that he frequently double books rooms working on the basis that once people arrive many travelling 200 miles as we had done they stay as they feel there is no option. I wouldn't have stayed there if I had been paid to do so. The best I could,get was a ncrowd credit voucher so thanks to the appalling customer service of Geoff I am out of pocket to spend the night in a Premier Inn..but money well spent..at least the room was spotless and the staff friendly and welcoming!

I have eaten here twice in the last few weeks and have throroughly enjoyed the delicious and perfectly cooked steaks each time. They came with a crisp side salad, peas and chips - all very delicious. I had extra onion rings which were in a beer batter and gorgeous!There is a special steak meal deal at the moment which includes two steak dinners and a bottle of wine. Depending upon which cut of meat you choose, the prices are between £20 - £30 - an amazing price for two people!The hotel and restaurant are in a transition period, after recently being taken over by new owners, and positive changes have already been made. There are many plans for the future and these will all take time to implement. However, Andre is very welcoming and goes out of his way to ensure you have a lovely meal.The Bluebird is situated in a prime location on Ilfracombe's sea front and offers wonderful views; is a short walk from lots of attractions including the working harbour, Damien Hirst's "Verity" statue, Tunnel's Beaches and various coastal walks.

The whole experience of eating here was terrible! The decor was bizarre to say the least - although this did give us some amusement through an otherwise unpleasant hour. We had beef Sunday lunch. The beef was sandwich meat heated up. There was some sort of cold cabbage slop with a singular tesco value Yorkshire pudding. There was supposed to be options of desert but thankfully staff were disinterested enough in their job not to ask us. We could not wait to get out. Visit here at your peril!!!!

I rang this hotel after seeing their amazing offer on groupon and the response that I got on the phone was horrendous!! It is like they do not want your custom, i was booking for a 2 night break with my partner, baby and dog and as i went to give him the dates i was looking for he shouted down the phone and said 'WHAT MONTH' when I told him...'september' he just replied 'no. fully booked' and then I gave an alternative date in which he replied 'yep, can book you in for those dates' I then explained that I would need a room big enough for the dog and baby and he said 'well you cant have that then because we dont put dogs in sea view rooms' As if I was meant to know that??? Lastly I gave him another alternative date (at which point I felt like i was selling the room to myself, because he sure as hell couldnt give a toss if we booked or not!!!!) When he confirmed he had the room and it would be suitable for our family and dog I then went on to mention I was looking at the groupon offer and explained which offer it was (as there were a few options) and he stopped me halfway through my sentence and said 'yes, i know what it is'. Well at that point I just hung up, I have never been to stay here and I never will, thanks to your rude receptionist!!!!!!!!!!

My friend and I, both with two young children in tow, stayed here for three nights in mid August, with an N-Crowd deal that included breakfast & dinner.First impressions weren't great as our reservation hadn't been taken properly & so there was some confusion & it didn't feel very welcoming. When it was sorted out & we were taken to our rooms I was at first blinded by the avocado bathroom suites & swirly carpets & thought 'what have I got us into. ..'. But then as we stayed there it became clear that that was just surface stuff & underneath was the foundations of a very nice hotel. The important stuff was all there: comfortable mattresses (I've experienced far worse mattresses in much more expensive places), everything clean, good shower, nice people. After the initial bad first impressions we got to know the staff & in that short time grew to feel quite affectionately about them. They were very kind to our young children. At first I was put off by Geoff as I thought he was a bit bossy & brusque but by the end I had 'got' him & discovered he is a great dude & we embraced like good friends when we left.I was worried about the breakfasts given the bargain price of the package & feared horrible cheap ingredients like Richmond sausages but they were actually really good- the ingredients all seemed good quality, except the bread which was white, sliced & processed but that was fine, I bought my own bread for later breakfasts.Dinners were variable, based on our deal there wasn't a lot of choice & it's certainly not gourmet stuff but based on what could reasonably be expected, we ate well.The location is really perfect, right opposite the beach and The Tunnels, & we were truly blessed with the weather so it all looked stunning & I was able to have a wonderful swim in the sea. Obviously my star rating is based on what you can expect from an amount paid. This was an absolute bargain & we were super comfortable & a fabulous little holiday was had. So its 5 stars from us!Thanks to everyone at the Bluebird HotelX

Lovely few days break with our dog Molly unfortunately couldn't visit Lundy Island due to the rough weather but we plan to return in the future and catch up with mine host Geoff.

Had dinner in the hotel restaurant on the first night and it was that good we went back for night two. The service was excellent as was the food.There is a good selection of drinks at the bar and a good choice of dishes to pick from.

Wasn't impressed. Had steak which was tough and fatty. A pile of frozen chips not hand cut. A bottle of wine that I returned because it was awful.

Had a great time here food was lovely staff were nice brill location very relaxed atmosphere caters all round

This place was horrible and I'd never go here again. We came here for food and felt like we were unwanted there as the staff were really rude and seemed like they couldn't care less and didn't even want to be there. The menu outside was very different to the one that we got given and the food was more expensive than we thought it would be, we'd already ordered our drinks at this point so it was too late to find somewhere else. My boyfriend ordered a steak, medium cooked, when he got it, it was pink inside and still bleeding, I had mushroom tagliatelle, when I got it given to me, it was penne pasta, had I known it would have been that, I might have chosen something else. It also had far too much garlic in it and it was disgusting, I had to get my boyfriend to finish it for me so it didn't go to waste. We would have asked for our food to be taken back and done again but as it seemed like too much trouble to even give us a table, that would probably have been too much trouble too. This was the only bad thing about an otherwise good weekend away, I never want to come here again.

This restaurant is in a great location right opposite the bay and Theatre. It seems to close very early on a Sunday for some reason - we walked in at 7:45pm on the Sunday of late August Bank Holiday weekend only to be told they were no longer serving food because the kitchen had just shut for the night! My 12 year old son loved the décor so we persevered and ate there at 7:30pm the following (Monday) night. The waiter was foreign (not a problem) but didn't seem to speak very good English (this IS a problem). After some confusion over our order when we were placing it, we half expected to get completely different meals! However, we did get what we asked for - fajitas and scampi. The fajitas were really good, the scampi reasonable. A couple on the next table to us had a fantastic looking burger and a nice steak, that they were also complimentary about. So the food seems to be consistently good. One oddity - there is an old, wine-glass-shaped sign on one wall that advertises Irish Coffees at £1.95, but when I ordered one the senior chap (I assume the owner?) said that it was just an old sign to add atmosphere to the decor and that the Irish Coffees were actually £3.95 and that this had "caught out a lot of our customers". So - WHY DONT YOU GET RID OF THE SIGN OR CHANGE THE £1.95 TO £3.95 !!!! Bizarre! Apart from that - a nice meal. Prices are fair.

We walked in after spending a few hours in Illfracombe on a Sunday evening. The people working there didn't seem the sharpest when we walked in, but we decided to give it a go anyway. We told them what we would like to drink, and went to sit down. When our drinks hadn't arrived for 20 minutes we inquired further and were told that we needed to collect them from the bar. Now, I might have misunderstood the service offered but I don't understand why they just stood there watching the drinks go flat without just bringing them over. My wife had seafood salad, which was a bizarre mix of cooked and canned shelfish. I had the chilli con carne which was as close to bland as you could imagine. It's fine not to go overboard on the chilli, but there needs to be some other flavour there: even if it is just the beef and tomatoes. My plate of food just tasted insipid. We were half way through our food when my daughter needed to go to the loo, so I took her there (it was filthy by the way) and my son crawled off, so my wife followed him around the restaurant. It was at this point that they cleared the food away. I couldn't believe they cleared the plates away, half eaten when we were still in the place. Sticky tables, dirty floors, mindless staff, tasteless food, all for the price of a mid-range pub meal. You can decide whether you think it is good value, but for me, I was annoyed with myself that I paid for the meal. To this day I don't know why we didn't complain. I guess I thought that the people there wouldn't understand. It's a shame that places like this exist, purely trading off their location, and not their standard of delivery. I am cross with myself that I have subsidised such a shoddy outfit.

We stopped here for a meal after a day out, expected a lot more for our money as it looks very nice- the burgers themselves were nice, but the 'side salad' was a few wilted leaves and a couple of old slices of cucumber, not nice!Priced at nearly £15 per portion.Waiter didn't know what Rose/ Zinfandel was and the toilets were not looked after, and had no toilet paper.

had a very good sunday lunch here very good service i had the pork ,there was meat on my plate to feed a family of four

loved the cosy armchairs round the pretend wood burner, good menu for both food and drink, lovely view of the sea, cery central.

Just spent two nights over August bank holiday at the Bluebird and quite frankly I can't understand where people are coming from, yes work needs to be done on the hotel but the prices reflect this, we did have a problem with our room(1) but it was dealt with immediately by Andre, all the staff are pleasant and pleasing. I think the negative reviewers need a reality check, for what we are all paying to stay at this hotel you can't expect a five star experience.This hotel represents extreme value for money and you can't expect more than that.

This hotel must be making a fortune because they turned down our business with such rudeness my wife and Iaughed out loud. We walked into the near empty restaurant at 9:00 am and tried to sit down. The waiter shouted across the room "are you residents" we answered "no" he replied "we don't serve non-residents" then carried on his conversation with some other customers whilst there were at least 10 settings where the dirty breakfast plates hadn't been cleared. I do believe after reading other reports he did us a favour. Best not to go there I think.

Visited one night after being out all day, were seated quickly and orders taken promptly, table was a bit dirty on closer inspection, when food arrived, it was distinctly average, was ok but not a lot of it and was pretty average fair, went to use wc, floor wet and grubby, no toilet roll or hand soap available, could of been maintained better, probably won't return!