Fairmount Hotel

I spent 1.5 hours on the phone with Booking.com while they sorted out another hotel, and they were great, covering the price difference. While I waited outside, four or five other guests turned up just as confused and frustrated as I was. There was a small outdoor area with benches, where I ended up waiting. The outside looked okay. I’d planned a nice bank holiday weekend in Bournemouth. After a five-hour journey and a 32-minute uphill walk from the station with luggage, I reached Fairmount Hotel and found it completely closed. No call, no email, nothing, just an A4 notice on the door saying it was shut because of a “piping issue.” I’d already paid and had no warning. What if someone had arrived at midnight? Would they have to stand outside in the dark and cold for hours? I normally support small, independent hotels, but this disregard for paying customers is unacceptable. If you’re thinking of booking, call the day before and again that morning to make sure they’re actually open. It’s now 2.5 months later and I still haven’t received the refund. They should be ashamed. I can see they’re taking new bookings from February 2026. Seriously?

I’m still waiting for my refund. I turned up to find the hotel shut, and the notice on the door said to call Booking.com. The place is still closed, and nobody answers the phone or messages. Then I got a parking charge notice for leaving my car in their car park for 20 minutes while trying to check in at a closed hotel. You couldn’t make it up. Don’t go here.

I went with a group of eight friends and we’d paid in full, expecting a good stay. Instead, we were treated disrespectfully and left upset and uncomfortable. The owner spoke to us very rudely and unprofessionally. They also took £50 from my account and promised to refund it within four working days. It’s now been over ten days and nothing has come through. I’ve tried to contact them several times, but they’re ignoring my calls. Poor service and a broken refund promise. I’d advise others to be cautious about booking here.

We stayed one night and were glad it was only one. The hotel is cheap, but it’s clear why. The sheets were stained, the beds uncomfortable, and the room hadn’t been cleaned properly. We even found an empty drinks bottle under the bed. The car park felt dodgy. My friend’s car was broken into and things were stolen. When we spoke to the hotel manager, we found out the only CCTV camera they had for the car park was blocked by another car. We won’t return. Bournemouth has plenty of nicer hotels, so pay extra and stay somewhere else.