Guest Comments

What a few of our guests have said:     

"An excellent accidental find! Booked into the Swallows Eaves at last the minute. These things are always a bit "hit or miss" but this was a hit. I must mention the level of service and willingness to help by all the staff owner to the housemaid. The food was wonderful and the chef was friendly, approachable and able to meet my dietary needs with no fuss. An added bonus is no children under 14 or pets which means you can have a relaxing time. Only one point lost due to the room we were in needed updating but it was clean and functional and I know the new owners have a refurb scheduled. Thank you SE team." Booking Ref: October 2011 (Trip Advisor)

"We'll be back! A lovely welcome from Dorothy, and very much appreciated tea and biscuits after a long drive from London. Our room was excellent, very clean, warm, cosy and comfortable with everything we needed. We had dinner for 3 nights, lovely, though a tad pricey for us pensioners, but if you can stretch to it, it's well worth the experience. The staff were obliging, cheerful and very professional. We understand there is a refurb due in the next few months. Though the rooms are a bit tired and dated they were comfortable so we are looking forward to seeing how the refurb takes shape. The proprietors certainly have an excellent eye for detail and we are sure it will be wonderful. Swallows Eaves is centrally located, everything on the doorstep, from coast to gardens and stately homes, oh and the donkey sanctuary is worth a visit too! We will most certainly be back..." Booking Ref: September 2011/Couple (Trip Advisor)

“On arrival at Swallows Eaves, we received such a warm welcome… all the staff were so friendly and provided an excellent service which helped make our stay so very special. The hotel is well situated for visiting Dorset and East Devon. We were so impressed by the comfortable beds, quality linen and excellent standard of cleanliness throughout the hotel. Reeds Restaurant is a “real gem”, the food was superb with such attention to detail and the service was excellent. I’m sure you’ll soon receive a Michelin star. Michael Caines had better watch out!! Thank you for making our stay so special. We’ll definitely be returning.” Booking Ref: August 2011/Group (Personal letter)

"Faultless, everything exactly as you would expect from a well managed establishment." Booking Ref: August 2011/Couple (Late Rooms)

"A very pleasant stay. The superior twin room is a good size and very comfortable, although rather 'tired'. (Extensive refurbishment is happening next year, I believe). The staff were very helpful and pleasant. My sister and I didn't want to use the car every day so the fact that the hotel was by a main coastal bus route was perfect. (It wasn't a hugely busy road so we weren't disturbed by traffic noise). We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would definitely go there again." Booking Ref: August 2011/Group (Late Rooms)

“A most enjoyable experience. On arrival, we were welcomed with a complimentary pot of tea with biscuits and throughout our stay, staff and proprietors were hospitable, friendly and efficient. The general appearance of the hotel was smart and freshly decorated. Our room was clean and comfortable, although the ensuite was very small. A generous breakfast with plenty of choice was provided. Menus in the Reeds Restaurant were attractive and imaginative and the food was superb." Booking Ref: August 2011/Couple (Trip Advisor)

"Thank you for a wonderful stay last week, we really enjoyed it and hope to see you again in the future. Also thanks for recommending your butcher over the road. We purchased a piece of beef and it was absolutely delicious!" Booking Ref: August 2011/Couple

"Reeds Restaurant. I am local and visited this restaurant with a group of friends in June for lunch. I was so impressed that took my son for a special dinner when he was visiting. Food is superb, better than some of the famous names in the locality, my compliments to the young chef. The owner welcomed us warmly on both occasions and remembered me. Don't miss it, it's a lovely beautifully decorated restaurant, couldn't be better." Booking Ref: July 2011/Family (Trip Advisor)

"Doesn't get better. This hotel went way beyond our expectations. The hotel is set in attractive gardens. Right by the road, but this was in no way intrusive - indeed, a bonus. Car parking on site was perfect. The staff greeted us warmly on arrival. The room was bright, well presented, comfortable and so welcoming. The owner, Dorothy, made herself known to us in the evening and was extremely friendly and solicitous. The dinners in the restaurant were memorable and the breakfasts (cooked by Dorothy) were enough to set us up for the whole day. This hotel is a gem and ticked all our boxes. No complaints. My wife and I should love to return and certainly shall when we are again in the area. We recommend it unreservedly. A memorable experience..." Booking Ref: July 2011/Couple (Trip Advisor)

"Friendly and comfortable. Upon arrival we received a warm welcome and were given tea and biscuits as we filled in our paperwork. Swallows Eaves is set back from the road, in its own grounds. It would benefit from a slightly larger parking area as one night we had to park in an adjacent road. The room was light and airy. It was comfortable, clean and quiet. It also had wifi and an en-suite with separate bathroom and toilet. There was a good selection of food for breakfast, including various cooked options. We did not dine at the hotel restaurant, but have read good reviews. The hotel served all our needs and is in a good location for exploring the Jurassic coast." Booking Ref: July 2011/Couple

"Fabulous! I love attention to detail when I see it, and this place fits the bill perfectly. A charming mid Victorian property perched in gardens overlooking the main road. Even the gardens were well maintained, and added a perfect foil, despite the rain. The hotel is decorated tastefully and vaguely minimistically throughout the lower floors. A great shame we weren't staying - I would have liked to have seen the bedrooms! However, we were meeted and greeted warmly; seated in the conservatory waiting area, provided with drinks and nibbles, and our orders taken. All very efficient and welcoming. The food was excellent - a new London chef, so the local grapevine said. Good food at good prices, with good service, and we came away both replete and happy." Booking Ref: June 2011/Couple (TripAdvisor)

"A delightful friendly home from home. My wife and I decided at the last minute to have a short break in Lyme Regis. Our usual place wasn't available so I trolled the 'net for an alternative. We found Swallow Eaves and from the moment we arrived we wondered why we had never picked it before. The welcome was genuine, you get to be able to tell these things, the room was spacious with adequate supplies of refreshments and the breakfast was to die for. Highly recommended." Booking Ref: April 2011/Couple 

“Fantastic food, quiet room, excellent courtesy and welcoming from Owner. We stayed here for two nights having read the previous reviews. It was everything we could have asked for. Starting with being greeted by the Owner and asked if we would like tea right through to the moment we left. Nothing was too much bother for the team at the hotel. The two dinners were excellent, well prepared, well presented and very good value for money as well. Breakfast was all that one could ask for. The room was very comfortable with good beds and bathroom facilities. We were told to make full use of the heating but due to the weather it was not necessary to use it very much. All in all - everything we could have wished for." Booking Ref: April 2011/Couple (Trip Advisor)

"We were delighted with both the pre-arrival booking experience/ helpfulness at Swallows Eaves and the experience. The hotel is clean and fresh, the food excellent and our hosts impeccable. A great experience, a warm welcome and we would definitely return if we are in that area again. (Which is highly likely!)." Booking ref: April 2011/Couple

"A hotel of character, friendly proprietors, cosy room, excellent tasty breakfast much enjoyed. I have reviewed this hotel after previous visits & again after this recent stay found everything to my liking. I can most certainly recommend it." Booking ref: November 2010/Couple

"Just to say that we enjoyed our stay with you very much. The room was comfortable and the food excellent and we did appreciate the kind gesture of a special dessert for our anniversary." Booking ref: October 2010/Couple

"Wanted a good stopover near the coast in east Devon. Did all the cross-ref. inc Michelin, Swallows Eaves had to be the best bet. It lived up to all reports: it’s quiet, lays back off the main road in its own grounds with easy parking. The staff were extremely pleasant and helpful. Our en suite ‘Superior twin’ - not enormous but very comfortable. The big surprise was its restaurant. Whatever you do, don’t underestimate this place. Go out of your way before this truly gifted young chef moves on somewhere! The restaurant is called Reeds." Booking ref: August 2010/Couple (Trip Advisor)

"Dear Dorothy, many thanks to you and your staff for your excellent service, with the extra attention which helped to make our anniversary weekend so special." Booking ref: June 2010/Couple

"Simply the food was superb, the variety on the menu was very pleasing and all sounded fantastic. I think the pudding is the best I have ever had, white chocolate baked cheesecake. My friend and I will be going back but taking our other halves next time! We were advised that the menu is seasonal, locally sourced produce and always changing. My compliments to the chef." Booking ref: June 2010 /Friends (Trip Advisor)

"This is a beautiful hotel, everything you might need when on a short break, thoughtfully provided. Excellent standard of cleanliness in our bedroom and in the communal areas. Comfortable bed with quality bedlinen - best pillows ever! The dining room is fab and has been stylishly decorated. Breakfast was superb – high quality and locally sourced – could not fault it! Hosts very welcoming without being intrusive. Have already recommended to friends! In fact we were wondering why it only has two stars." Booking ref: May 2010/Couple

"Dear Dorothy, I would like to thank you and Craig for making G’s birthday so much more than an ordinary restaurant would do and I appreciate it very much. Many thanks again. We’ll be back!" Booking ref: May 2010/Group

"Beautiful hotel superbly situated. Hosts very welcoming without being intrusive. The cleanliness of our room and the communal areas was excellent. Comfortable bed with quality bedlinen - the best pillows ever! The dining room has been refurbished to a high standard and breakfast was superb- quality produce locally sourced - no complaints at all! and I am not very easily pleased when it comes to hotel standards - ask my husband!" Booking ref: May 2010/Couple (Trip Advisor)

"Lovely accommodation, welcoming and friendly hosts." Booking ref: Feb 2010/Couple

"We had a couple of nights there and thoroughly enjoyed it. The owner was charming and friendly, nothing was too much trouble. We got there and was greeted by name (it does make a difference!). The food was great..... (they) managed to get the balance between good service and leaving us to enjoy our meal. We'll definitely be going again." Booking ref: Nov 2009 /Couple (Trip Advisor)