Brooklands Lodge

It was my first time in Bournemouth, and I needed somewhere at short notice. This place got me checked in within 15-20 mins. The room was clean, staff were polite and helpful while signing me in, and the street scenery was amazing.

My £50 deposit has been stolen. They told me on the phone it had been returned, but it never arrived. No shame or apology, nothing. Don’t pay the deposit or it won’t come back. The sink was completely blocked the whole time too. Awful place, run by awful people who steal your money and lie to you. They deserve no stars. They’re thieves.

The room my boss booked for me was apparently a test of my mental toughness as well as a way to save money. Thanks, but I’d have preferred a bonus. I don’t want to sound harsh, honestly, but this just isn’t normal. The bed was basically a bare mattress with a duvet thrown over it. My pillow had some pretty suspicious yellow stains. The smell was damp, with a strong dose of late Soviet Union nostalgia. Very authentic, if you’re into that sort of historical immersion. There was no hot water at all, so I had a cold shower. Refreshing, sure, but I came to rest, not train for the Arctic Games. I don’t usually write reviews, but I couldn’t stay quiet this time. Wouldn’t recommend. If you care about sleep, sanity and hygiene, go somewhere else.

Cheap, and in a good location. Almost everything else was a problem, haha. The room was very damp with a strong mouldy smell, so I had to buy an air freshener myself. The linen had been washed, but still had lots of stains and marks. The bed cushions were disgusting, and the glasses and cups in the room were filthy too. At check-in, reception charged me more than the usual deposit amount. She said she’d contact me ASAP to return the extra money, but never did. I had to ask at checkout, and the worker didn’t know anything about it. The refund is being processed now.