The Casterbridge

After two nights, we left feeling like old friends. Noorani, the owner, is lovely and knows a lot about the town. We booked directly and got a quiet room at the back, with a huge, very comfortable bed. Breakfast was excellent, and nothing was too much trouble. It’s a charming hotel in a great central Dorchester location.

Dorchester is a fantastic place to visit, but the accommodation let our stay down. The room wasn’t very clean, with hair and dirt or scum in the bathroom. When I told the owner, she was quite rude instead of sorting it out. The room was uncomfortably hot at night. We felt so uncomfortable that we skipped breakfast and couldn’t wait to leave.

I don’t usually leave reviews, but this was a shocking stay. The host and cleanliness were both poor, and it was nowhere near worth the money. Please avoid staying here and pick somewhere else.

The food was such a highlight that we ended up paying extra for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. It was really good, and since the chef seemed to be around all day, we could eat when it suited us after spending most of our time out exploring. We hadn't included meals in the booking, so the offer of tea, coffee and lunch when we arrived was a lovely surprise. The Casterbridge Hotel has an old English country feel, but it was clean and uncluttered. Bright and airy in the morning, cosy and warm at night. Our four-poster bed was lovely, comfortable and very clean, and the bedroom felt up to date and nicely finished. Booking was easy, and the staff gave us a warm welcome and were helpful throughout. We couldn't fault our stay and would recommend it for a short or longer visit. Go for the food as an extra, you won't find anywhere better to eat out. We'll definitely return when we're back in beautiful Dorchester/Weymouth. Thanks to the whole team for making us comfortable 🙂