Mayfair Hotel

The reception staff were lovely, and the hotel is nice, with big double beds in the twin/family room. It’s within easy walking distance of town if you don’t mind the hill. The only real downside was the heat. The room was so hot and stuffy that we couldn’t sleep, and we were sweaty messes when getting ready to go out. There was an AC unit or fan, but it didn’t help and we were uncomfortable. I think proper AC would be a big benefit for the hotel. Overall, a lovely place. Thank you.

It’s a small hotel right in the center of Bournemouth, with restaurants nearby and two bus stops beside it. The beach is 10-15 minutes away in either direction. Check-in was easy, the interior was nicely decorated, and the staff were friendly and ready to help. My single room was very clean and had tea and coffee machines. It stayed refreshing despite the summer heat, though the cloudy days may have helped. The bathroom was good, with no noticeable faults. A small fridge in the room would be a nice addition.

I paid £80 for a strange little room that looked like something out of The Shining, and I won’t stay here again. I’d booked it to go to a friend’s birthday party and wanted one friend to come up for a couple of hours so we could get ready together. I’ve never had trouble inviting someone round elsewhere, but a staff member said guests weren’t allowed up, even after I explained my friend wasn’t staying. I’d have booked somewhere else if I’d known. At checkout I raised it with another staff member, who said guests are allowed, so they apparently don’t know their own rules. He was also rude and said, “it’s not a big deal,” as if he were the one paying £80.

The bar barely functioned. Most drink taps were out of order, they didn’t have basics like straws, and the place smelled musty. It felt like a neglected lounge, not a proper bar. There were only two men working across the hotel and bar. They were polite, but seemed unbothered when we reported problems, including a faulty radiator. We’d booked two double rooms at the last minute and asked for them next to each other, but were first given rooms far apart. It took about an hour after we raised it to get keys to adjacent rooms. The rooms were tiny, dated and poorly maintained. We wiped the sticky floor with a towel, which came up filthy. Cleanliness seemed to be an issue throughout: dirty bedding was sitting on a table in the bar area, which is completely unacceptable. The hotel felt neglected and unclean. Definitely wouldn’t recommend unless there are major improvements.