I’ve been a fan of the English Riviera since just after the COVID pandemic when I first visited as part of a staycation experience. Perhaps it’s the classic British seaside postcard vibes, or maybe it’s the great location close to some of Devon’s most stunning spots.
Since then, I’ve actually been to Paignton on a few weekend trips, including one with my kids. But on my most recent trip to Paignton, I dropped in to sample the delights of a new hotel right on Paignton’s seafront, the Ibis Styles Paignton.
Recently there has been a bit of a drive to revamp and modernise Paignton’s seafront. Which is obviously a great idea, and could really add a touch of modern class to this lovely spot on the Devon coast.
As part of this modernisation, Accor hotels have opened two new locations right here on Paignton’s seafront. And the Ibis Styles Paignton is one of those.
A touch of class: modernising Paignton
A hotel can make or break a trip. Stay in a great hotel and it just reinforces the positive elements of your visit. End up with a bad hotel and it can really cast a downer on the whole place…
And while Paignton and Torquay both have plenty of hotels, a lot of the stock is ageing. But the Ibis Styles Paignton is one of a new class of hotel, punching well above it’s 3-star weight.
Offering a contemporary style that compliments it’s surroundings, the Ibis Styles Paignton is a delight on the senses. On arrival, staff were genuinely lovely and helpful, steering us towards some of the best things to do in the vicinity.
There is a subtle nautical theme running throughout the hotel, not in a forced tacky way either. Pastel shades and sea themed paintings adorn the bedrooms, while the main restaurant and cafe areas are decked out in lights which look like boat fenders, and lightbulbs are attached to the ceiling by knotted fishermans style rope.
The whole ambiance is cool and relaxed. On our visit, we enjoyed soaking up the view from the bar towards the sea, drinking delicious mocktails on our plush barstools. And with the sea and the pier visible from almost everywhere in the hotel, it really does make a great base to enjoy and explore Paignton and the English Riviera.
Read: What to do in Paignton?
The hotel room experience
Of course the most important thing in any hotel is going to be the rooms, and the Ibis Styles Paignton doesn’t disappoint. Rooms are doubles as standard, although I believe there is also twin beds available. We opted for the Premium rooms with sea view, which were gorgeous.
The beds are wide and soft, with standard issue crisp white hotel bedsheets. From your bed, you can lazily lie and stare out to see whilst sipping on a cup of tea.
Rooms are also equipped with a large screen TV which can play your own Netflix (as pretty much all hotels do these days), not to mention a small desk area for those of us tapping on our laptops, and fast WiFi in the room.
The bathroom is also lovely and modern, in-keeping with the rest of the room, with a nice big step-in style shower.
And despite facing a road which runs right past the front of the hotel, I found the sleep quality to be excellent. I didn’t notice any road noise. But I did enjoy waking up to that gorgeous sunrise across the bay!
My one gripe with the room is that the tea and coffee was quite basic in the room. And the hotel itself isn’t really strolling distance to a corner shop, so if you want any extra snacks or drinks in your room, you might need to plan ahead.
With that said, it’s around a ten minute walk to the town centre and all the shops. And there are pubs, cafes and the pier just minutes from the hotel entrance, making it really well located for the trappings of Paignton.
Facilities at the Ibis Styles Paignton
The hotel is also equipped with a basic but very decent gym, which I did take advantage of. There were a couple of running machines, weights and enough equipment to help you break a sweat before you tuck into the breakfast buffet.
The Ibis Styles Paignton is also home to the Drift Spa, which offers some very affordable treatments. It was unfortunately closed on our visit, but looked great, and we would have definitely gone for a pampering if it has been open.
In fact, the Drift Spa is a unique offering in the Ibis Styles UK portfolio, being the first of its kind. It is also open to the general public, so if you’ve visiting Paignton and you want to enjoy some beauty and relaxation treatments, it’s definitely worth booking in.
Summing up our stay
From start to finish we found the Ibis Styles Paignton offered a pleasant and relaxing environment to enjoy the beachfront here in Torquay. From the friendly staff, who were all excellent, to the well-stocked buffet breakfast, our stay at the Ibis Styles Paignton was a blast.
We travelled as a pair of friends, with separate rooms. But I could very much see that this could be a great hotel for a romantic weekend, city break (should that be beach break?) or even a workation.
We rated the Ibis Styles Paignton a solid 4 out of 5, and would happily come back again next time we’re in Paignton…
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Comfort: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
