Best Western The Connaught Hotel, Bournemouth

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Price, location, rooms
Disadvantages:	Time taken to get meal

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

CONNAUGHT HOTEL - BOURNEMOUTH
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This hotel is a member of the Best Western Group and has a 3 star rating with the AA.

It was constructed in 1901 but has an older, elegant earlier Victorian appearance.

Note – that the hotel is completely no-smoking.

Some facts and figures:

88 en-suite rooms (56 in the Main Hotel and 27 in the adjacent Lodge)
Various sized conference and function rooms for meetings / events
Restaurant with an AA Rosette
2 swimming pools (one outside)
Jacuzzi, steam rooms, saunas, Gymnasium

~~ LOCATION ~~

Within 5 minutes walking distance of Bournemouth Sea Front on a relatively quiet road surrounded by other hotels.

The Connaught Hotel
West Hill Road
West Cliff
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH2 5PH

Telephone: 01202 298020
Fax: 01202 298028
E-mail: sales@theconnaught.co.uk
Web: http://www.theconnaught.co.uk/

There are 66 parking spaces available at the hotel, with a note to guests to double park if spaces are all taken (with keys left at reception in case cars have to be moved) – this suggests that the hotel lacks the optimum number of parking spaces. However, it must be said that during my visit at the start of May 2007 there was no problem at all with parking.

~~ RECEPTION ~~

Bright and airy with the usual leaflet stands.

Checking in was simple and quick by a reasonably friendly and professional member of the hotel staff.

~~BEDROOM~~

My first impression was that the room was well lit with a beautiful large French window opening onto a small balcony overlooking the outside pool and facing other nearby hotels. The room looked clean and welcoming, with a good sized bed.

All rooms are en-suite and include all of the usual facilities, mine (on the top floor) included:

Tea & Coffee making facility, including biscuits and plenty of provisions.
A small portableTV, with remote control. This was really a bit too small to be watched from the bed especially when trying to watch a football match.
Bedside tables with wall lights.
A writing desk, fitted with drawers.
Direct dial telephone.
Free standing Wardrobe.
Hairdryer.
Trouser press (does anyone actually use these things ?).
WiFi access via ‘T’ Mobile.

The en-suite facilities included:

Toilet
Sink unit
Shower over Bath (with mixer taps) – this was inadequate due to low water pressure.
Basic toiletries
Plenty of good quality towels

~~ DINING~~

The dining room is fairly spacious and well decorated.

On entering this area for Dinner I was immediately shown to a table (in fact I had a choice of tables at the time I chose to dine). The waiter was friendly and polite.

I immediately noticed that most staff in this area were quite young and spoke with foreign accents. I did not have any problems with placing my orders, but I noticed that two Gents at an adjacent table had real problems when ordering having to repeat their orders several times and then experiencing different staff coming back to their table to check the order and ask new questions.

My starter, a Goats Cheese Salad arrived in good time and was of very good quality with fresh salads.

Unfortunately I had to wait for half an hour for my main course, and during this period I was not once approached about the delay or asked if I wanted a drink – this was the one disappointing thing about dining in the hotel.

The main meal, Guinea Fowl, was well presented with a reasonable range of vegetables. Overall the dish did not make a strong impression on me, but it was certainly a cut above the average chain restaurant.

I did not eat a sweet, but as with the starter and main, there was a reasonable range on offer.

Breakfast was buffet style with the usual range of cereals, fruit, yoghurts, bread etc. Hot food was also buffet style but served by a waiter (in my mind this was not required and I would have preferred to serve myself). I ate early, pretty much as so as the restaurant opened for breakfast, and unfortunately when I went to the buffet to get my food, the eggs were not ready (I would have expected all hot food to be ready for the opening time).

Once again, the food was good, and plentiful.

~~ BAR ~~

There are 2 bars, on this occasion I did not frequent either of them, but from what I could see they served a wide range of drinks suitable for any taste.

~~ LEISURE FACILITIES ~~

I never took advantage of these, but they were clearly extensive.

~~ RATES ~~

Rates vary dependant on the time of year and the package chosen.

My final bill was £65.50 which included one nights stay in a very good room, Dinner and Breakfast. I consider this exceptionally good value for money.

~~ RECOMMENDATION ~~

I will definitely use this hotel again, despite the minor bugs (time taken to get main course at dinner, low water pressure) as it represents fantastic value for money whilst offering a very comfortable, quality experience.