Ilfracombe Carlton

Ilfracombe’s Sea Festival is almost here! It’s going to be a real fiesta atmosphere and we’ll be right in the middle of it. As you know we love fish at The Carlton, and we’re so lucky to have such amazing local suppliers. Over the weekend - 1 and 2 September - we’ll have Torridge oysters freshly shucked and dressed (shout out to Phoebe!) and a fab seafood risotto made with fish from Nathan at Passmores. We couldn’t resist adding in our famous Scotch eggs too – AND we’ll have a vegan option. Come along, say hello and EAT!

Have you booked for our August Foodie Friday event? If not, what are you waiting for? It’s a simply divine combination of moules and prosecco – that’s the freshest Appledore mussels, cooked in a delicious cider broth, and you get fizz to share too. All this for £28 for two! Book quick as tables sell out fast. https://bit.ly/2LiisiS (And just in case mussels aren’t your thing, then we do have a full menu of tempting dishes to choose from!)

Who can resist the world’s most adorable little cars? The annual Mini car Grand Tour finishes up at Ilfracombe on Sunday 27th. Hundreds of them! And what a nice thought that after tootling round the lanes of Devon they land up in our town. Go and see them lined up along the seafront – it’s quite a sight!
Correction: The minis finished their annual Grand Tour here in Ilfracombe on Monday 27th (not Sunday as stated). We loved seeing them - did you catch them?

We’re all getting ready for carnival time in Ilfracombe! It all kicks off on Sunday evening. Make sure you get down here early to grab the best viewing point. It starts at Hillsborough, down to the High Street and along to Wilder Road then back to the Seafront and down to St James’ Place.
Why not come and have Sunday lunch at The Carlton, before settling down to watch the parade? Take a look at our menu: https://bit.ly/2nHcGhp Then give us a call to book a table! https://bit.ly/2MURDDn

Food, beer and music – what’s not to like? We’ve got all three happening in Ilfracombe over the Bank Holiday weekend – so head down to the Landmark Theatre for the annual Ilfracombe Beer and Food Festival. What’s more - at the same time, get ready for the biggest 70s’ party ever with the Dancing Queen show – on at the theatre! And there’s a prize for the best fancy dress 70s outfit!

There’s an impressive two days of live music coming to Ilfracombe soon – and it’s all part of the Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival. The event runs from 1 - 2 September, and although it’s based at the harbour there’s lots of extra activities going on around the town. Check out the website for more info: https://bit.ly/2nC4xuB
Music-wise the big name is Sound of the Sirens, and there’s a host of other bands and singers too, from our own Sonic Fusion to ska band the Liquidators and not forgetting plenty of folksong and sea shanties!
Come and say hello to us too as The Carlton will be there!

Do pop down, but leave us some, please!

The last summer Bank Holiday is fast approaching, so if you want to grab a few days’ holiday down in North Devon then give us a call now. We should still have rooms available if you don’t delay. If you’ve stayed with us before you’ll know just how amazing our newly refurbished rooms are – they promise the height of comfort and we’ve made sure you’ll get a perfect night’s sleep. Come and experience the breathtaking beauty of North Devon. https://bit.ly/2vOh2Yz

Fancy having a go at sea fishing? There are loads of options for you to have a go if you go down to the harbour, with trips ranging from mackerel fishing adventures for beginners to all day deep sea fishing trips. It's a great way to spend a few hours or longer and when you return to the harbour you can relax with a well-earned drink or meal at The Carlton: https://bit.ly/2Ml8WQW
Watch out for the Sea Festival weekend too on September 1 - 2 as there’ll be lots of sea-themed activity down at the harbour (and we’ll be there too!).

One of the highlights of any visit to Ilfracombe has to be the harbour, which bustles with activity all year round. There are visiting boats, trips to Lundy island, fishermen at work, Damien Hirst’s Verity, attractions like the Ilfracombe Aquarium, the lifeboat station, a row of little shops and cafes, pubs ... we could go on. But a date for your diaries when you must get down to the harbour is September 1 - 2 when it’s the Ilfracombe Sea Festival. Live music, food, entertainment, and a host of sea-themed stalls, info and activities. It’s a great celebration and we’ll be there too with our stall. Come along and say hello!

We’re often asked for ideas on where to enjoy a picnic and we always like to suggest places that we or members of the team at The Carlton like to go. Just the other side of us along towards the harbour is Capstone Hill – great sea views and although it can be a little windy, it’s a perfect place for a sunset picnic with glass of fizz. Another great place that people don’t often think about is Bicclescombe Park, it’s a beautiful spot and has a gorgeous little stream running through.
Take a look at our blog for these and other ideas: https://bit.ly/2KMxPjo

We love dogs! So we know just how important it is for you to be able to bring them along on holiday with you. That's why we have pet friendly rooms, with dog beds and foodie bowls, just to make sure your furry companions enjoy their stay too. https://bit.ly/2vRxoz2
And of course we can recommend great beaches where they’ll be welcome all year round: https://bit.ly/2ORRn9g

Don't worry about the rain we've got forecast, there's still plenty to do in Ilfracombe! We’re really proud of our town’s museum and if you haven’t done so yet, make sure you visit. It’s got some amazing exhibits, thanks to Ilfracombe’s many Victorian collectors. There are loads of drawers containing insects, bats – even wedding cake.
The museum is great for children too, as they run activity sessions in the holidays. Visit their website for more information: https://bit.ly/2OYJQG0

What an amazing day it was for the Ilfracombe Golf Club Sponsored Open! We've very proud to sponsor our favourite golf course, where you really can 'See the sea from every tee!'
If you're feeling inspired, we also offer golfing breaks here at The Carlton: https://bit.ly/2vyfkL1

There’s one day in the year when we really think you must be mad to live in Ilfracombe – and that’s when the South West Birdman competition takes place. Organised by Ilfracombe Round Table, this is when locals really show how barmy they are by designing home-made flying machines and then throwing themselves off the harbour into the sea - the idea being to see how far you can ‘fly’. Having said it’s locals, this event actually attracts people from all over the country. You HAVE to see it to believe it!

There'll be a real buzz to Ilfracombe this weekend when the Devon Street Food Festival rolls into town from 10-12 August. The streets are packed with stalls selling a huge range of foodie treats, and there's a pop up bar too.
But you might want to take a break from all the hustle outside to relax in our comfy lounge, where you can enjoy a leisurely glass of wine or a G&T (or two!).

One of our local churches, Pip and Jims along the road towards the harbour, is having a flower festival this weekend. It begins on Friday August 10 and goes on until Monday 13th. Go along and support this event – some very talented people put their all in to creating wonderful floral displays, and they look stunning in the beautiful church surrounds.

Now that the summer holidays are here, it’s a perfect time to explore some of the wonderful gardens we have around us in North Devon. Take a look at some of our local favourites in our blog post here: https://ilfracombecarlton.co.uk/garden-he aven/

well the staff owners and every body , were all wonderful such a lovely place, the food was wonderful the room was super and the bed was so comfy we were sorry to leave hope to go back sometime and a big thankyou from bonnie

in one word, outstanding!! From the minute we walked through the door the hospitality of both owners and staff has been second to none , our room is gorgeous , the food is 1st class , very relaxing reception area, nothing is to much trouble, would highly recommend staying at here

Wow. Amazing service, food and surroundings. Highly recommended. Had lunch today (Mothers Day) and I can't wait to go back again. This place is definitely a phoenix risen from the ashes...Well done guys x

Would just like to say a massive thank you to all the staff for making our Xmas party a great night last night with great food and staff thank you we had a great night x

With the warmest of welcomes, exemplary service at meal times, wonderful hospitality and fabulous decor - there is no better place to stay in Ilfracombe. Michael and Eliot deliver the highest standard of service and nothing is too much trouble. Their knowledge of the area is second to none and their team reflect their ethos in every sense. The food at The Carlton is both imaginative and completely delicious with so many of the ingredients being locally sourced. Please don’t miss this absolute treat of a hotel.

We were extremely well looked after for the whole of our 5 night stay. Elliot and Michael and their staff cannot do enough to please. We could not fault the food, breakfast or dinner all excellent! Our favourite starters were the Chicken and Ham cheese pancake bake just amazing, as were the Appledore mussels. Our room was absolutely beautiful and the bed so comfy. We felt completely at home. The gun room is a huge asset as we love the local grounds. We were a large group and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their stay. This is the hotel we will be returning to time and time again.

We went for a family meal out at the Carlton last night, absolutely wonderful! The staff are friendly, prompt and welcoming. The food was superb. We had steaks which were perfect, and the turbot was excellent. On Fridays, 2 steaks and a bottle of wine were only £25!



The hotel is dog friendly throughout, and our dogo was thoroughly fussed and spoiled!



Highly recommend- will be going back soon.

We held our grandsons Issac christening here last year, absolutely amazing first class service from Michael and all staff. Food was sooooooooooooooooo delicious and plenty of it. Everyone of the party who stayed overnight said they would definitely return and would highly recommend the Carlton to all family and friends.Staff could not do enough for you ..so once again a huge thank you to Michael and staff for such a lovely day ...will definitely be booking for future events xxxx

This place is an amazing find and I've stay in enough upmarket hotels in my line of work, and this place is right up there. It is very evident the owners have spared no expense in revitalising and modernising this hotel to very current high standards of expectation.



There is however one important difference that makes it more special and that's the personal touch that comes with a stay here. I felt welcomed and was blown away with the hospitality I was treated with the moment I stepped foot in the door. Every member of staff was passionate about not only their role but for the hotel itself and I loved how all the staff members took the time to introduce themselves and greet us as we passed through the hotel.



We had arrived at the hotel after a very long day walking part of the south west coastal path, ( perfect placement if you enjoy coastal walks) for one night with our little dog. The huge work and transformation that this hotel has undergone is very much worth it and it looks so good. I even turned to my partner and said ' are you sure this place is dog friendly, it looks way too nice in here' .

It's true, this beautiful hotel is dog friendly which means that just because you have a dog does not mean you have to sacrifice your own comfort. The little man was even given his own bed and bowl for the night and it's little touches like this that make people want to tell their friends and defiantly come again to stay.



Elliot and his team here at the Carlton are amazing, nothing was too much trouble and the hotel room we were given was stunning with very clean, immaculate and modern facilities. Oh and did I mention they have the worlds comfiest bed.

That evening we treated ourselves to dinner in the restaurant and I cant do the food justice in words just how good it was..... Delicious and visually stunning. We also had breakfast the next morning which is included in your room price and again we were not disappointed. Just what we needed ready for another long hike on the coastal path.

If you are every in Ilfracombe then please do yourself a huge favour and stay in The Carlton you will not be disappointed.





Thanks again Elliot, one amazing stay. We hope to see you again soon.

Stayed for four days with my walking group and its just great. The staff are warm and friendly and very helpful. The rooms are smart and clean. Our meals have been exceptional, especially given the size of the group, and all served on hot plates! Well done 'The Carlton' I would definitely recommend you and book again myself.

Lovely staff. Really friendly and relaxed. We had a coffee and cake there in the morning. Don’t think they where really open but they could not do enough for us. The cakes where delicious. Definitely will be going back to have a meal.

Just returned from this amazing hotel, we were lucky enough to stay in suite 106 a fabulously spacious room with an equally spacious bathroom. From the moment we arrived the whole staff team seemed to go that extra mile. We stayed on a bed,breakfast and evening meal basis and could not fault the quality of the menu and locally sourced produce cooked to perfection. Micheal and his team are working wonders in transforming this place into a non pretentious high quality hotel. Thank you for a very chilled and relaxing weekend. Karen and Chris x

Just come back from a weekend at the Carlton and what a lovely weekend, as soon as we walked in we were looked after in such a personalised way which continued all weekend. Although we stayed in one of the older rooms it was clean and served us well and the work done already fantastic.

Attended a wedding reception there which was well organised and the food was great. Well done to Michael and his team who were all friendly and worked hard all weekend always with a smile. Special mention to Dawn and Nick who were particularly good . Will definetly come again and look forward to seeing the new updated hotel.xx

Just come back from Devon after a weekends clay shooting near Ilfracombe. We stayed at The Carlton and couldn't have been looked after any better. The hotel facilities and staff very good and although we were in one of the older rooms it was very clean and comfortable. However the owners are working through the whole hotel to update it and i have no doubt that with their attention to detail the end result will be a 1st class establishment.

Improvements to the premises since my last visit in 2016 have greatly enhanced the hotel. Very friendly staff and the meals cooked by their current chef are excellent. Enjoyable weekend break, hope to return

Great hotel, very friendly staff who are happy to go the extra step if needed. They opened the kitchen and gave us breakfast 45mins early as we had an early start. Rooms have been refurbished to a very high standard. I will definitely stay again if I’m in Ilfracombe.

Couldn’t fault the hotel ,mike made us feel welcome soon as walked through the door,rooms were spotless ,beautiful decor ,staff were polite and very helpful,food was excellent,highly recommend the Carlton 5*****

Brilliant stay at The Carlton for a wedding next door at Tunnels Beaches. Super cool decor and a great choice of ales and gins. We stayed in the suite and it was fab for the two of us and the two kids. Breakfast to die for and staff very friendly and helpful. Thoroughly recommend � � � � �

Beautiful food.. freshly cooked and good quality. The decor and re-furbishment in the hotel is stunning and gives the place the air of quality it deserves based on the standard of service and food. I was lucky enough to see one of the new rooms... absolutely beautiful. Thank you for a fabulous birthday x

well the staff owners and every body , were all wonderful such a lovely place, the food was wonderful the room was super and the bed was so comfy we were sorry to leave hope to go back sometime and a big thankyou from bonnie

in one word, outstanding!! From the minute we walked through the door the hospitality of both owners and staff has been second to none , our room is gorgeous , the food is 1st class , very relaxing reception area, nothing is to much trouble, would highly recommend staying at here

Wow. Amazing service, food and surroundings. Highly recommended. Had lunch today (Mothers Day) and I can't wait to go back again. This place is definitely a phoenix risen from the ashes...Well done guys x

Would just like to say a massive thank you to all the staff for making our Xmas party a great night last night with great food and staff thank you we had a great night x

With the warmest of welcomes, exemplary service at meal times, wonderful hospitality and fabulous decor - there is no better place to stay in Ilfracombe. Michael and Eliot deliver the highest standard of service and nothing is too much trouble. Their knowledge of the area is second to none and their team reflect their ethos in every sense. The food at The Carlton is both imaginative and completely delicious with so many of the ingredients being locally sourced. Please don’t miss this absolute treat of a hotel.

We were extremely well looked after for the whole of our 5 night stay. Elliot and Michael and their staff cannot do enough to please. We could not fault the food, breakfast or dinner all excellent! Our favourite starters were the Chicken and Ham cheese pancake bake just amazing, as were the Appledore mussels. Our room was absolutely beautiful and the bed so comfy. We felt completely at home. The gun room is a huge asset as we love the local grounds. We were a large group and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their stay. This is the hotel we will be returning to time and time again.

We went for a family meal out at the Carlton last night, absolutely wonderful! The staff are friendly, prompt and welcoming. The food was superb. We had steaks which were perfect, and the turbot was excellent. On Fridays, 2 steaks and a bottle of wine were only £25!



The hotel is dog friendly throughout, and our dogo was thoroughly fussed and spoiled!



Highly recommend- will be going back soon.

We held our grandsons Issac christening here last year, absolutely amazing first class service from Michael and all staff. Food was sooooooooooooooooo delicious and plenty of it. Everyone of the party who stayed overnight said they would definitely return and would highly recommend the Carlton to all family and friends.Staff could not do enough for you ..so once again a huge thank you to Michael and staff for such a lovely day ...will definitely be booking for future events xxxx

This place is an amazing find and I've stay in enough upmarket hotels in my line of work, and this place is right up there. It is very evident the owners have spared no expense in revitalising and modernising this hotel to very current high standards of expectation.



There is however one important difference that makes it more special and that's the personal touch that comes with a stay here. I felt welcomed and was blown away with the hospitality I was treated with the moment I stepped foot in the door. Every member of staff was passionate about not only their role but for the hotel itself and I loved how all the staff members took the time to introduce themselves and greet us as we passed through the hotel.



We had arrived at the hotel after a very long day walking part of the south west coastal path, ( perfect placement if you enjoy coastal walks) for one night with our little dog. The huge work and transformation that this hotel has undergone is very much worth it and it looks so good. I even turned to my partner and said ' are you sure this place is dog friendly, it looks way too nice in here' .

It's true, this beautiful hotel is dog friendly which means that just because you have a dog does not mean you have to sacrifice your own comfort. The little man was even given his own bed and bowl for the night and it's little touches like this that make people want to tell their friends and defiantly come again to stay.



Elliot and his team here at the Carlton are amazing, nothing was too much trouble and the hotel room we were given was stunning with very clean, immaculate and modern facilities. Oh and did I mention they have the worlds comfiest bed.

That evening we treated ourselves to dinner in the restaurant and I cant do the food justice in words just how good it was..... Delicious and visually stunning. We also had breakfast the next morning which is included in your room price and again we were not disappointed. Just what we needed ready for another long hike on the coastal path.

If you are every in Ilfracombe then please do yourself a huge favour and stay in The Carlton you will not be disappointed.





Thanks again Elliot, one amazing stay. We hope to see you again soon.

Stayed for four days with my walking group and its just great. The staff are warm and friendly and very helpful. The rooms are smart and clean. Our meals have been exceptional, especially given the size of the group, and all served on hot plates! Well done 'The Carlton' I would definitely recommend you and book again myself.

Lovely staff. Really friendly and relaxed. We had a coffee and cake there in the morning. Don’t think they where really open but they could not do enough for us. The cakes where delicious. Definitely will be going back to have a meal.

Just returned from this amazing hotel, we were lucky enough to stay in suite 106 a fabulously spacious room with an equally spacious bathroom. From the moment we arrived the whole staff team seemed to go that extra mile. We stayed on a bed,breakfast and evening meal basis and could not fault the quality of the menu and locally sourced produce cooked to perfection. Micheal and his team are working wonders in transforming this place into a non pretentious high quality hotel. Thank you for a very chilled and relaxing weekend. Karen and Chris x

Just come back from a weekend at the Carlton and what a lovely weekend, as soon as we walked in we were looked after in such a personalised way which continued all weekend. Although we stayed in one of the older rooms it was clean and served us well and the work done already fantastic.

Attended a wedding reception there which was well organised and the food was great. Well done to Michael and his team who were all friendly and worked hard all weekend always with a smile. Special mention to Dawn and Nick who were particularly good . Will definetly come again and look forward to seeing the new updated hotel.xx

Just come back from Devon after a weekends clay shooting near Ilfracombe. We stayed at The Carlton and couldn't have been looked after any better. The hotel facilities and staff very good and although we were in one of the older rooms it was very clean and comfortable. However the owners are working through the whole hotel to update it and i have no doubt that with their attention to detail the end result will be a 1st class establishment.

Improvements to the premises since my last visit in 2016 have greatly enhanced the hotel. Very friendly staff and the meals cooked by their current chef are excellent. Enjoyable weekend break, hope to return

Great hotel, very friendly staff who are happy to go the extra step if needed. They opened the kitchen and gave us breakfast 45mins early as we had an early start. Rooms have been refurbished to a very high standard. I will definitely stay again if I’m in Ilfracombe.

Couldn’t fault the hotel ,mike made us feel welcome soon as walked through the door,rooms were spotless ,beautiful decor ,staff were polite and very helpful,food was excellent,highly recommend the Carlton 5*****

Brilliant stay at The Carlton for a wedding next door at Tunnels Beaches. Super cool decor and a great choice of ales and gins. We stayed in the suite and it was fab for the two of us and the two kids. Breakfast to die for and staff very friendly and helpful. Thoroughly recommend � � � � �

Beautiful food.. freshly cooked and good quality. The decor and re-furbishment in the hotel is stunning and gives the place the air of quality it deserves based on the standard of service and food. I was lucky enough to see one of the new rooms... absolutely beautiful. Thank you for a fabulous birthday x