Saunton, Braunton, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Cliff-top location overlooking a stunning beach
Elegant Art Deco
architecture and decor
Rooms have flat-screen TVs with Sky Sports channels; most have sea views
Family-friendly facilities and services, like playrooms and free childcare
Decent restaurants with alfresco terrace and sea views
Outdoor and
heated indoor swimming pools
Sports facilities
include squash, snooker, and table tennis
Breakfast included in room rate
Free Wi-Fi and on-site
parking
Few bars or restaurants in walking distance
Some rooms in need
of renovation
Poor water pressure in some
bathrooms
The upscale Saunton Sands
Hotel is a landmark property with distinctive Art Deco
architecture overlooking North Devon's Saunton Sands beach. Abundant leisure
facilities make it hugely popular with families, but its spectacular setting
has universal appeal for vacationers. Dining options are also very good, which
is fortunate as there's little else within walking distance. The 92 rooms are adequate
and most have stunning views, though a few could use a makeover. All in all, while certainly not the cheapest
option, it's an impressive hotel with outstanding sea views.
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Scene
A landmark family-friendly hotel with plenty of Art Deco elegance
With its
distinctive gleaming whitewashed facade, Saunton Sands Hotel has been a local
landmark since its construction back in 1936. Hotelier Percy Brend bought the
property in 1977 -- it still remains one of a handful of hotels belonging to the
Brend chain -- and its charming Art Deco aesthetics have been maintained ever
since. Ushered through the entrance by a top-hatted doorman, guests arrive at reception, a
fine example of 1930s decor with plenty of polished brass
and walnut-toned paneling. But as a firmly family-friendly hotel, the atmosphere is often busy and bustling -- specially in the summer
and school holidays -- with plenty of kids playing and running about. It's
also a popular property with older guests taking in the sea air and beautiful views of the
iconic Saunton Sands beach from the hotel's manicured, cliff-top gardens.
Location
A cliff-top setting overlooking stunning Saunton Sands in North Devon
The hotel is
perched on a cliff overlooking the north end of Saunton Sands -- a stunning stretch
of sandy coastline on the northwest coast of Devon. A coastal path winds down
the cliff to the wide golden sands that stretch three miles along the coast and
besides Braunton Burrows, a 1,500-acre sand dune system and the largest in
England. While there are plenty of blustery seafront footpaths in the area,
there's not much in the way of bars and restaurants within walking distance.
Also a few times a year this section of the beach is cordoned off and designated
training area and air strip for military transport planes.
Rooms
Stunning sea views from mostly well-maintained rooms
The hotel has 92
rooms, most of which are decorated in straightforward, traditional designs with beige carpeted floors, neutral textiles, and Art Deco-inspired wooden
furnishings. While the majority of the rooms are well-maintained, there are some
that are looking tired and in need of renovation. Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs (with
Sky Sports and Freeview channels), and mini-fridges (with bottled water) all
come standard, with higher room categories also providing bathrobes and slippers.
Bathrooms are also generally clean though vary in quality depending on how
recently they were renovated (and there have been some reports of poor water
pressure). Most rooms, however, feature spectacular views of the beach, some
from small balconies.
Features
Excellent leisure facilities including two swimming pools, a sauna, and squash court
A choice of full English
or continental breakfast is served in the hotel's main restaurant, which opens to an outdoor terrace with spectacular views over the beach. The
restaurant also serves decent menus based on local products for lunch and
dinner in an Art Deco-style dining room lit by original cut-glass chandeliers.
There's also the Sand on the Beach restaurant that, as its name suggests, offers a la carte dining practically on the beach. A bar and terrace lounge also
provides plenty of space to unwind with a drink.Aside from drinking and dining, the abundance of
leisure facilities at the hotel is impressive. There's heated indoor
and outdoor swimming pools -- both with shallow areas for children -- as well
as sauna and a range massage treatments available in the spa. Sports activities
are also plentiful, with table tennis, snooker, and even a squash court on-site -- golf
and surfing can also be found right next to the hotel. As a family-friendly property, kids have their own facilities, with playrooms and nurseries. And two hours of free childcare are available for all
guests. On-site parking is available and free of charge.
