The Ullswater House

It was the cheapest place we found, and for one night it wasn’t awful, but I wouldn’t stay longer. The room was a good size, though cold and under the stairs, so I heard everything, including the 7am bell that woke me. There were only two towels for three people, and the stained towels weren’t great. The shower head wouldn’t stay in its holder, so we had to hold it while washing. It’s about ten minutes from the town centre. Street parking is free if you can find a space, or costs £10 overnight.

I was meant to stay three nights but checked out the next morning. The room was filthy and freezing, the bed was horribly uncomfortable, and the bathroom was awful, with mould everywhere, a shower door that wouldn’t close properly so water ran onto the floor, and no sink plug. The lift looked like it was from the 1920s, with a pull-across grille, and didn’t feel safe, so I took the stairs down. How are places like this allowed to operate? Surely there should be a regulator. They still had the audacity to charge me. They should have paid me to stay. I strongly recommend avoiding it at all costs.

The new owners were thoughtful throughout our stay. They replaced the TV remote the day after we reported it, gave us extra towels without being asked, let us check out at 11 instead of 10, and let us sit in the lounge until our 3:30pm taxi after we returned from the zipline at Bournemouth Pier around 2:30pm. They live on site and, only about two months into owning the place when we visited, were clearly working hard to improve it with care. We felt safe and welcome, slept well, and got the clean, quiet place to rest that we needed. We stayed as a family in a large room at Ullswater Hotel, a short walk from Bournemouth’s West Cliff zig-zag path. The old building shows its age: bathroom locks, windows, carpets and furniture need attention. There’s no air conditioning and only one main ceiling light, though that was fine for us. Breakfast wasn’t available during our visit, but the breakfast room is bright and spacious. A shared kitchen has an oven, microwave, kettle and fridge, and there’s a large lounge with comfy sofas, space for kids and board games. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, including the other guests we met. It’s a budget-friendly, straightforward place close to the beach, run by kind people who care. It isn’t luxurious, but it has heart. We wish the new owners well as they keep improving things.

The staff made our stay wonderful. They were professional, polite and helpful with every question, and reserved a parking space for me because of my disability. The clean rooms had everything we needed, and there were family-size rooms that worked well for children. The beach and restaurants are very close. Breakfast was a gorgeous buffet with plenty for everyone: a full fry-up, cereals, fruit juice and bottomless tea. The restaurant was clean and spacious, with seating that didn’t feel cramped. We were extremely pleased with everything and absolutely loved the place. Thank you! 🙂🙂