After long days spent exploring, shopping and sightseeing in any city full of myriad ways to spend your hours, there’s nothing nicer than retreating to a stylish hotel for some great food, restful sleep and leisure activities, if you still have the energy that is.
Having been open for a matter of months, the boutique Hotel Indigo in Exeter’s city centre has quickly become the go-to pit stop for locals and shoppers seeking out meals and drinks, and those requiring a stylish place to rest, in the centre of Devon’s ancient city.
Hotel
Blending characterful, welcoming interiors, a host of ways for guests to indulge and super stylish rooms, all in a fantastically central location, Hotel Indigo Exeter draws guests in and entices them to stay for longer, despite being so accessible for the local shops, restaurants, bars and local sights.
The sign of any good hotel is one that makes it hard for guests to want to actually leave, and here, it’s the mix of hospitable public spaces that entice, like Colson’s Bar and Restaurant, Becketts Champagne and Cocktail Rooftop Bar, the lower ground sports bar called The Dugout Bar as well as The Retreat Spa.
Starting life as shop (named C0lson’s) trading silk and teas in the late 18th-century, which transformed into one of the West Country’s first department stores, the building evolved over the centuries and saw life as a Dingles and House of Fraser before being given a new direction as the Hotel Indigo. The hotel pays homage to its roots with characterful touches throughout the hotel, such as the display cabinet at reception, artwork in the restaurant and furniture in the rooms, and its colourful style and use of soft textures provides a welcoming and comfortable space from the moment you enter the building.
Room
You can be sure that the warm and inviting nature of the hotel really shines through within its rooms, with carefully planned décor resulting in sumptuous spaces that you’ll feel instantly comfortable in. There are 104 rooms and suites to choose from, with plenty of differing colour palettes and with varying elements to upgrade any stay from standard to superb.
I was lucky enough to have a seventh floor balcony room for two nights – the highlight of which had to be the outdoor area. Running the length of the room, the balcony adds another half of space for guests to unwind on when the weather is on side. Relax on the sofa and chairs when conversation or a good book calls or at the bistro set when you fancy a little food outside with views over the ancient Roman city walls.
The stylish interiors stand out here with varying shades of green and pink blending together with mid wood tones to create a calming and on trend space, all married together by a super king (and super comfy) bed. The trendy tones filter through to the shower room where you’ll find a walk in shower – with a delightful rainfall shower head – and the ever-gloriously scented Bramley toiletries.
Handy features in the room include lots of storage space, which resembles a haberdashery display cabinet, a minibar with a few items inside, a kettle and espresso machine, air con, a big smart TV, a desk and chair and iron and ironing board.
Food and drink
Head to the ground floor for a meal at the open plan Colson’s Restaurant, after a drink in the lounge bar or The Dugout Bar, of course. The teal and tangerine-toned bar area certainly speaks of its character and when I was seated at our table around the corner for the night, I was happy to see comfortable armchairs in place. Stylish, modern and comfortable with its blue hues and warm, rich wood tones, it made for an inviting space, even if drinks were slow to come by (I was informed that the bar was short staffed that night).
Snacks of beer battered oysters in their shell with a spicy seaweed hot sauce and a wild boar Scotch duck egg with a hot and sour yellow pickle made for a tasty introduction to the menu. These were followed with starters of three hand dived scallops smoked over coals with white miso, fermented garlic, pepper dulse and lime; and tempura langoustine tails with a fish sauce caramel, red capsicum oil and prawn tea. The descriptions of each dish sells them well and they tasted just as good as they sounded.
My main course consisted of a pink peppercorn roasted duck breast with cauliflower puree, maitake and a honey and burnt orange jus. I have to say that I generally choose duck when I spy it on the menu, so I’ve eaten a few duck breast dishes, and this was one on the finest dishes I have devoured to date. The quality of the meat always has to be top notch as it’s the centrepiece of the dish and, here, it melted in the mouth like butter. The sauce was rich in flavour and somehow light and delicate at the same time and, served with its accompanying elements, it was utterly delicious.
Dessert was not an option after all of that delicious food, but delights like almond frangipane, white chocolate parfait, and a Devon cheese board are up for grabs. I opted for a liquid dessert consisting of an espresso martini.
Head back to the same spot for breakfast, where you’ll find a good choice of buffet items including full sized and mini pastries, fresh fruits, cheeses, hams, juices, breads, cereal and the like. Hot food from the kitchen includes full and vegetarian breakfasts, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on a toasted bagel, and Belgian waffles with fresh fruit, crème fraiche and seasonal berries.
Sadly, I was a little too early to experience drinks at Becketts on the rooftop as it was due to open a week after my visit, but it certainly looks like a sophisticated spot to sip on a cocktail and so I’ll have to make sure I return very soon.
To do
Guests weary of shopping and exploring will always be glad of a spa they can head to when their aching muscles need attention, and Hotel Indigo’s Retreat Spa offers exactly as the name suggests – a retreat in the middle of a busy city centre. Two luxurious hydro pool hot tubs await alongside a steam room, sauna, and Niagara Falls rainfall shower, while treatments using the ever-delightful Elemis products are sure to soothe.
The centrally-located hotel, in the heart of the pedestrianised shopping area, is perfect for exploring all of the city’s highlights on foot, including the neighbouring Gothic cathedral; the Roman walls, which date back to 55AD; and vaulted medieval underground passages, which wind their way beneath the city.
Sports fans can take in some live action at the racecourse; at Sandy Park, where the Exeter Chiefs rugby team play; and at St James Park, where EFL League One Exeter City FC play, while those who love to shop are perfectly located for this pastime.
I visited the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and was fascinated by the exhibits, which included a detailed history of Exeter and Devon throughout the ages as well international items including an Egyptian mummy, a display that ornithologists will enjoy, an intricately decorated harpsicord and much more.
In a nutshell
Modern, stylish, paying homage to its roots and with plenty of ways to keep guests happily entertained within its walls, Hotel Indigo Exeter provides a welcome haven in the heart of this delightful Devon city.
Factbox
Address: 3 Catherine Street, Exeter, EX1 1EU
Tel: 01392 301801
Email: reception@exeter.hotelindigo.com
Website: exeter.hotelindigo.com
Hotel imagery credit: Veerle Evens
See snippets of my travels on Instagram @tashheard_food_travel
