The Royal & Fortescue

3.0 star property
Hotel with free parking, in the vicinity of Saunton Sands

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Royal & Fortescue

Front of property
Point of interest
Lunch and dinner served
Standard Room | In-room safe, desk, laptop workspace, iron/ironing board
Interior

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Room service
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Laundry

Explore the area

View in a map
Boutport Street, Barnstaple, England, EX31 1HG
  • Place, Pannier Market
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Queen's Theatre
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Saunton Sands
    ‪17 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Double Room, 1 Bedroom

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(18 reviews)
  • 129 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Superior Double or Twin Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 189 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Single Room, 1 Twin Bed

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • 100 sq ft
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

Deluxe Double Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 205 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Twin Room

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • 129 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

Standard Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

Superior Double Room

  • 189 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

Comfort Double Room

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(15 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Luxury Double or Twin Room

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Twin Bed

About the neighborhood

Barnstaple

Close to the boardwalk/promenade.At this Barnstaple hotel, you'll be within 9 miles (15 km) of Saunton Sands and 12 miles (20 km) of Croyde Bay Beach. Exmoor Zoo and RHS Garden Rosemoor are within 12 miles (20 km).

What's nearby

  • Pannier Market - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Queen's Theatre - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Saunton Sands - 17 min drive - 9.6 miles
  • Exmoor Zoo - 23 min drive - 10.5 miles
  • Woolacombe Beach - 27 min drive - 13.4 miles

Getting around

  • Barnstaple Station - 9 min walk
  • Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Barum Takeaway - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Claytons & the Glasshouse - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪The Water Gate - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Caffè Nero - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Subway - ‬2 min walk

About this property

The Royal & Fortescue

Enjoy 2 bars/lounges at this 3-star Barnstaple hotel
There's a restaurant on site, as well as a coffee shop/cafe and a snack bar/deli. You can unwind with a drink at one of the 2 bars/lounges. Public spaces have free WiFi. The business-friendly The Royal & Fortescue also features coffee/tea in a common area, laundry facilities, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Self parking is free.

This 3-star Barnstaple hotel is smoke free.

  • 49 guestrooms or units
  • 2 bars or lounges
  • Meeting rooms
  • Deli
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Bellhop
  • Elevator
  • No smoking on site
  • Dining venue
The Royal & Fortescue offers 49 accommodations with safes and coffee/tea makers. Flat-screen televisions come with cable channels.

Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations, slippers, and complimentary toiletries. This Barnstaple hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Snack bar/deli

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM for a fee: GBP 16.50 for adults and GBP 10 for children
  • 2 bars/lounges
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Snack bar/deli

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with cable channels

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Limited room service

More

  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • Portable fan
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 16.50 for adults and GBP 10.00 for children

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a smoke detector in each accommodation.

We should mention

  • This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).

Property is also known as

Fortescue Hotel
Royal & Fortescue Hotel
Royal & Fortescue Hotel Barnstaple
Royal Fortescue
Royal Fortescue Barnstaple
Royal Fortescue Hotel
Royal And Fortescue Barnstaple
Royal And Fortescue Hotel Barnstaple, Devon
Royal Fortescue Hotel Barnstaple
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel
The Royal & Fortescue Barnstaple
The Royal & Fortescue Hotel Barnstaple

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Royal & Fortescue to the airport?

The Royal & Fortescue is 51.9 mi (58-min drive) away from the Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does The Royal & Fortescue have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at The Royal & Fortescue.

How close is The Royal & Fortescue to the beach?

This hotel is 8.7 mi (25-min drive) from Saunton Sands and 10.1 mi (27-min drive) from Croyde Bay Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does The Royal & Fortescue offer free breakfast?

Free breakfast isn’t provided at The Royal & Fortescue, but full breakfast is offered for a fee of GBP 16.50 for adults and GBP 10.00 for children. It's available every day from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM.

Is there a casino at The Royal & Fortescue?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at The Royal & Fortescue?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

Is there free parking at The Royal & Fortescue?

This hotel offers free self parking.

Does The Royal & Fortescue have a pool?

The Royal & Fortescue does not have a pool.

Does The Royal & Fortescue have a restaurant?

Yes, there is a restaurant on site.

Does The Royal & Fortescue have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is The Royal & Fortescue to downtown Barnstaple?

The Royal & Fortescue is 0.1 mi away from Barnstaple.

The Royal & Fortescue Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 338 out of 623 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 202 out of 623 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 53 out of 623 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 21 out of 623 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 623 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

julia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very conveniently placed hotel in the town centre

I found The Royal & Fortescue to be a lovely comfortable place to stay in the centre of Barnstaple very close to all amenities including the bus station which was so handy for getting to other near by attractions. The hotel is very clean and welcoming. We had a really nice relaxing stay and if in Barnstaple again would be more than happy to stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jess

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lee

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debra, Seattle

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Right in the center of town and an easy walk from the train station in Barnstaple. Everything is right there in walking distance and it's all just as funky and charming and welcoming as can be! The hotel's foundation has sunken a bit (or more in some places) which is charming but a little disconcerting if you're thinking you might fall out of bed!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely hotel in the heart of Barnstaple
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A very pleasant stay
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

christine

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Lovely place to stay with very helpful staff
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Eric

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Cara

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good

Rooms clean with nice decor
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Damp smelling rooms

We stayed there one night, found it on the internet, photos looked lovely, they wrote they are pets friendly. We had with us our dog and when a person at reception saw a dog she changed our room to a horrible, damp stinking one, I saw dark patches next to radiator on the wall, once touched it they were wet! We asked for another room and they changed it to one next door to that terrible one. The only difference was it didn’t have wet walls, stank really bad too, heating was not working when we ask about it, we were told that there is no need for heating as it was warm for last days. In the end they brought us a little portable heater. Conclusion: maybe rooms in main section of this hotel are nice but if you travel with a dog you land up in a very old, not renovated for ages, very damp smelling part of the hotel still being charged as for nice rooms.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stuart

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

4/10 Poor

Catherine

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Convenient for the town, but parking and access is tricky - carrying bags from the car is quite a distance. Higgledy stair cases even after the lifts take you to the correct floor. Corridors in particular are in need of updating. No fridge in the room. No air conditioning - needed window open all night and felt like a security risk as there was relatively easy access from the flat roof outside. Unappealing view. Comfortable, sizable bed.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Darran

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christopher Michael

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
when we raised concern over a loud noise coming from a room above ours the staff dealt with the problem quickly and efficiently.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Ben

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Central Barnstaple

Lovely weekend stay at the Fortescue Hotel very central for town. The room was of good size and facilities very clean and comfortable bed.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Richard

Traveled with group
Bar closing times early.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Martin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A great independent hotel, with friendly staff in the heart of the town. It was Valentine’s Day so restaurant was fully booked
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ray

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good break

Friendly staff and refreshments readily available. Car park a bit hit and miss but plenty others nearby. Nice break
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hilda

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Stewart

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely hotel

This was a nice hotel/ location to stay in, would stay again
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Malcolm

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A word of thanks to people who rarely get any.The standard of housekeeping in the room was outstanding. All staff very helpful and polite. Would we stay thete again....without doubt if we were in that area
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

James

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Marllyn

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely hotel and very helpful staff, good location and parking ok
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025