Abode Exeter, EXETER

How sad. I've known the Clarence all my life - and what a sorry story these reviews tell. Most amazing of all is the arrogance exhibited by the current owners in changing the name; the Clarence has a good claim to being 'the first Hotel in England' (the first recorded use of the word in the UK - 7th September 1770, by the then French landlord).

Biographies of Nelson, Liszt, Thomas Hardy, Clark Gable and Gary Cooper are unlikely to reference the 'Abode'. Maybe just as well!

I was treated just like Bradninch the last time I ventured inside - what on earth possesses second-rate hotel management to think that treating customers like they don't matter is a good way to run a business?

I'm sorry to add to the Clarence's woes, but I too had a rotten experience there earlier this year. I was looking for somewhere decent to take a party of friends for a fortieth birthday and called in to check out the hotel's prestigious dining room at about 10.30am one weekday morning.

Having eventually found the restaurant (which admittedly was not difficult, despite there being a total absence of any staff seemingly on duty) I was having a look around when someone in a uniform came rushing in and practically accused me of being a burglar intent on nicking their cutlery or whatever else I could lay my obviously grubby paws on. When I explained what I was after (in my not exactly oiky voice) I was looked at as though I should apply for a position as the kitchen porter, had a menu thrust in my hand and simply left to my own devices, whilst being watched closely by Mr. Uniform. Eventually, feeling somewhat self-conscious I left returning his menu with a big smile and a particularly effusive "thank you" vowing that this was one restaurant to which I would NEVER return!

How silly, how stupid, how witless! Why could not someone have greeted me, asked me what I wanted, then shown me around the dining room, pointing out the better tables, how many in my party, what type of food did we like, etc, etc.??

Funnily enough in the end we all ended up going to Ask just nearby and had an excellent evening at a tenth of the price, even though, being a fortieth I had seriously considered going to the Clarence first.

Maybe the Clarence should be drowned in a but of Malmesly Wine, just like its royal namesake in 1478.

None of ClaireM's review surprises me - I (and everyone I know) gave up on the Clarence - both Hotel and Restaurant - some time ago. How can I describe my experiences - simply 'NO food makes up for supercilious staff.' And I'm talking about the management here, not the waitresses. From the front-of-house right through, they are about as unwelcoming, unhelpful and full of themselves as can be. I don't ever want to find my own name in the Maitre d's book EVER. What I want is 'Good evening Mr B, this way please.' Instead I got 'NO - we 'avent got a booking. NO - it's not here.' Not when I'm taking my mother-in-law out for her birthday. Not ever. Same treatment in what passes for a bar (I fondly remember the days before the Clarence was refurbished, when locals used the bar).

Hopefully the credit crunch will do for them. Either that or theyll have to pull their fingers right out.

I have to be honest and say that considering that this establishment prides itself on being the most prestigious hotel in Exeter, I had the most appaling experience. I have stayed in hotels all over the world and have never been treated with such rudeness, arrogance and unprofessionlism as I was here. The entire night was a complete farce.
The service was shabby, at one point I thought that the porter was the guest from the room next door, that is when he eventually arrived to claim the ice bucket ! This was following the member of staff from room service who brazenly walked into our room whilst I was in bed and promptly started to agrue the toss about how the stake had been cooked, seemingly thinking it is perfefectly appropriate to do this with a semi naked female guest less that 4 feet away from him ! The grand fanalie though was that the steam from the shower set off the fire alarm and the entire hotel was evacuated. The night manager who is a total liability to the reputation of this hotel is no more than a thug
in a suit and would be better off as a bouncer at a night club, was rude and obnoxious.
The sad thing is that I know how hard Michael Caine has worked to build up his reputation which is excellent as a chef, it is just such a shame that the staff that are employed at the hotel are destroying that reputation, one that can be lost very quickly, but take a long time to build back up again.