The Royal Castle Hotel

About The Royal Castle Hotel

The Royal Castle has stood on Dartmouth's quay since the 1630s, its timber-framed facade looking straight out over the Boat Float and the river beyond. Formed from two merchants' houses joined together in the 19th century, the building still carries the low ceilings, exposed beams and creaking staircases of its age, alongside more recent additions that bring the bedrooms and bathrooms up to a contemporary standard.

Bedrooms vary considerably in size and outlook, from compact rooms at the back of the building to larger river-facing rooms with views straight across the water to Kingswear, and each is individually decorated rather than following a uniform hotel template. Downstairs, several bars retain a proper pub atmosphere alongside The Sloop restaurant, which serves a menu built around South West produce, and the hotel is part of St Austell Brewery's managed estate, giving it a solid, well-run feel without losing its character.

Its position directly on the quay puts every part of Dartmouth within a short walk, and the hotel's own history, including a claimed visit from Charles II, is woven into the building itself rather than left to a plaque in the lobby.