Best Western Wessex Royale Hotel Dorchester

Staff here are very polite and welcoming, a credit to the company. I was put in a small room in the courtyard which was very clean with all the things you'd expect as well as hot chocolate and biscuits. Downside of that room location is you are right next to a car park, so was noisy and did not get the best sleep. Didn't have any food so can't comment on that.

Fab stay in a lovely hotel. Staff friendly and helpful. Breakfast very tasty with plenty of choice. Everyone greeted us and it provided a nice atmosphere. We would recommend and return! Well situated in Dorchester around pubs and restaurants.

Spent 2 days on a short break. Comfortable room, nicely fitted bathroom but shower water pressure fairly poor Good breakfast with plenty of choices, decent bar in the evening. Friendly staff with plenty of advice for local activities & restaurants

I wasn't entirely sure what to expext as Best Western can be hit and miss, but I had a nice comfortable stay. The room was spacious and clean with a comfortable bed. The bathroom was small but functional. The only downside to the room was the single glazing, which wasn't very effective at reducing the traffic noise from the High Street. The staff were all friendly, polite and engaging. There is a good range of cold and hot food available at breakfast (my eggs Benedict was very tasty). There is also a small bar area with comfortable seating.

I know you read this a lot in reviews and I usually ignore it too, but in this case the staff both in reception and the restaurant really were cheerful and happy to help. (I stay in hotels about 60 nights a year and I don't usually bother to leave a review comment but in this case I have made the effort to high-light the really good staff they have.)

Two visits within a year. This hotel is ideally situated in the centre of Dorchester. Staff were excellent, friendly, informative and very welcoming, they are real asset to the business. Hotel itself is clean and tidy and comfortable. Breakfast is good and again staff are excellent.

Staff in hotel very helpful, showed me where fire exit was closest to my room, made sure my key worked on my door. Hotel was very clean and charming. Room had all the amenities needed, iron, plenty of choice of hot drinks, bottles of water. Bathroom was well stocked, shower cap, body lotion, plenty of towels which were soft and fluffy.

A great stay in this "old school" hotel. Very comfortable and great facilities. The breakfast choice was fantastic and was a fast efficient service. The location was excellent and there was parking on site. By far the best feature was the friendly helpful staff who could not do enough for us. A special thanks to Cary, she would be an asset to any organization We will defiantly return!.

Excellent rooms and very clean. Friendly staff. Great breakfast choices. I was pleasantly surprised at one of the housekeepers offering to help with the bags on vacating the bedroom. Well done Best Western for a very pleasant few days, we will definitely stay again.

We recently spent a weekend in this lovely quiet hotel. The lady on reception (sorry didn't get her name) was so welcoming and made us feel very special, she was very knowledgeable about the area and recommended places close by to eat, The room was lovely, with everything you need. The breakfast was outstanding, I had the best eggs Benedict ever. The hotel is old and quirky with a small car park, but is very central for Dorchester. It was the staff that made it for us, every member we met were so friendly and kind. Thank you.

Myself and my boyfriend booked, not really knowing what to expect other than the reviews were really good and the pictures looked lovely. It was a great stay. It felt luxurious, and the staff were friendly and lovely!

We just love coming to this hotel. It has everything you could want. Dorchester itself is an attractive town and connections to Weymouth, Lyme Regis and Sherborne are easy by bus. The bedrooms are super comfortable – good beds and top quality bedding. The bathrooms have heated towel rails which means that the temperature is always right. The breakfast is plentiful, fresh and delicious. Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon a special treat. What distinguishes this hotel from many others are the staff: they are so courteous, friendly, welcoming and helpful.

Stunning room, amazing staff. The most fantastic customer care and service I have encountered in a long time! This is a truly brilliant hotel. The location is great, the decor is lovely, but the staff make it really stand out. Such am amazing weekend away! We will be back as soon as we can!

Very welcoming hotel in a great location, walking distance of everything of interest. Lovely decor and a very clean, stylish room with comfortable beds and modern bathroom. The hotel has a really lovely feel to it and the public areas are really pleasant. The staff on reception were very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. Would definitely stay again if I was in the area.

Car park is tiny and first come first served which the hotel does advertise. The single room in the attic is extremely small for the price. The mattress was rock hard. I was woken at 5.30am by the fire alarm on night 1 and woken by the night porter talking loudly on night 2. It would courteous to be mindful of other guests if staff know the walls are thin. The very kind receptionist and cleaner found a duvet in an attempt to soften the mattress but was of little benefit. Generally a bad experience with hardly any sleep. I found myself wishing I'd booked the premier inn, it might be characterless but at least I'd have slept!

Everything a good hotel should be. Well located. Car park. Warm welcome. All the staff were cheery and pleasnt. This is a beautiful Georgian building that has been modernised with care and respect to make an elegant and comfortable hotel. Large comfortable lounge with bar, beautiful restaurant/breakfast room. Peace, quite and elgance! Bedroom was big, clean and comfortable with a nice firm bed for a good night. Curtains and blinds to enxure dark for an undisturbed sleep. Nice bathroom with pristine towels. Lovely breakfast, I had the full English with perfectly cooked local produce. Lovely coffee freshy made. Basically everything was perfect. Next time we shall be staying longer.

Stayed for 2 nights in a standard twin room, which was very comfortable and surprisingly spacious. Tea, coffee, biscuits, bottled water in room. Very c!Dan and modern room. Staff were very helpful and friendly. If you decide to stay here you must have the breakfast, it was wonderful. Unlike some hotels where If you aren't down at the start of service there's nothing left here they keep replenishing. Choice of cooked breakfast which were delicious. Bar/lounge area very comfortable. No evening meals are served but local restaurants are very close and very good. Hotel is in a good location to use as a base and go sightseeing. We went to Weymouth, Isle of Portland, swanage a d Old Harry Rocks at Studland.

A really nice hotel full of character and charm. We loved everything about it. The staff were really friendly. The breakfast, service and food were excellent. The room was very comfortable with everything needed for a pleasant stay. The location was perfect, right on the beautiful high street.

Following my husband's admission to Dorset County Hospital I needed somewhere to stay. This hotel is the closest to the hospital. Having called them at 00.30am Sunday morning, the wonderful Graham said they did have a room for me. He waited by the door to let me in and carried out the check in process. Having explained the situation and that I did not know how long I would be staying he asked if I had eaten. I hadn't nit since my husband's collapse. He very kindly offered me some sandwiches that were in the fridge, such a lovely gesture, thank you Graham you truly are a lovely man. The following morning the lovely Caroline was on reception when I went to book another night. Graham had let her know the situation, she was also so kind and caring, offering me some pastries for breakfast and generally making me feel like she cared. When I went out and came back Caroline always asked how things were and did I need anything. Thank you so much Graham and Caroline, you are a credit to Best Western you took the edge off a very stressful situation for me.

Really like this hotel. It's the 8th time I've stayed here. Excellent friendly and efficient staff service. Room was immaculately clean and welcoming. Had a great night sleep on a comfortable bed. Breakfast was freshly cooked and superb.

Probably the best bed in a hotel in ages! Checked in late and not issue, friendly and helpful staff, even got a tour of the cellars! Really good Thai restaurant next door. Parking up the road no problem and the location is great for a walking tour of Dorchester itself. Breakfast was also amongst the best in recent times. Will definitely return.

Have too say this is one of the best hotels I have stayed in, real friendly and easy check in, I was in a room in the attic but was really nice, Rob the night manager was so helpful, I will be returning.

I spent two days in Dorchester. This hotel is in central Dorchester and perfectly located for a sight-seing stay there. And there is a lot to see! The hotel ticked all the usual boxes. For me, the most important factor in any stay at a hotel is the efficiency and friendliness of the staff - and they were all very efficient and particularly friendly. I am a most highly satisfied customer.

I highly recommend this Hotel. Made to feel very welcome. Remembered me from my last visit. Room immaculate. All members of staff polite and helpful. Will certainly visit again. Handy location to lots of places of Information interest.

What a lovely hotel, the location was perfect, all the staff were very friendly and helpful, the whole place was clean and had lots of character. Can not fault the Royale Wessex Hotel, and will definitely go back.

Booked this on the fly using Tesco clubcard vouchers. Very comfortable one night stay, had the Morgan Yeatmen suite, kingsize bed with separate lounge, enjoyed a good breakfast, friendly staff in a great location, free parking. Would recommend.

staff were awesome, so friendly and welcoming. communal areas are beautiful, rooms are well equipped, beds comfortable, great location. floorboards very creaky meaning we were awake early due to people in room above, not enough parking. overall a very nice stay and would return.

One night business stay, what a great hotel, in the centre (well top of the high st) very clean, well presented, friendly staff, on site parking (limited spaces) , other wise on street parking or large car park about 100 metres or so away, room was excellent clean and fresh, great shower and large bed, breakfast cooked fresh , didn't dine there this time i have in the past, i walked into town, fancied something different good selection of fine foods and place all within walking distance , will be hopefully back sometime soon

A lovely hotel situated on Dorchester's High Street. We stayed here with friends to attend a birthday party. The staff were warm and friendly. The breakfast was lovely with lots of choice. The room was small but well appointed. There was limited parking but overall we had a great stay.

Room was brilliant, amenities are amazing. an over haul awesome hotel. very reasonably priced too. The staff are very helpful. The breakfast was ample. Ideally located in the centre of Dorchester. I couldn't ask for any more

Really enjoyed our stay. Warm , welcoming and helpful staff. Very friendly. Lovely room really comfortable. Great breakfast lot of choice and very tasty. Lovely lounge to sit in great to pass the time while having a coffee.

We stayed here as it was close to Dorset hospital where my mum was. The staff there are absolutely wonderful, very friendly and could not help us enough. Hotel is lovely and very clean. We stayed in the family which is very comfortable. Decoration is fab and shower is excellent. Thanks so much !

We are a same sex couple and on arrival receptionist asks "are you aware that's a double bed?" Understand why may want to check but if not something you would asked a mixed gender pair you shouldn't asked a same sex pair. Could be perceived as discrimination. Put in a room what can assumed is a converted out building. Which don't mind as may be quieter. However turned out to not be a good experience and not what would expect in a hotel like this. Was not warned of step down into room and no sign. Very dangerous. TV reception was awful unless twisted the aerial. Yes weather bad but not as if every house has the issue when it's like that in the area. Safety light in room meant constant bright green light and meant woke up in night at times. Yes a room may need to have, but it's like having a night light on all night. In the morning had a shower and then wasn't enough hot water for partner to have one. Been explained immersion heater for water so probably ran out and would have to wait 20 mins to refill but that is not acceptable in a hotel like this and didn't have time to wait. Have been told could have said something and offered another room but when most of this is very late at night or early morning for a one night stay that really isn't suitable. Left feedback and manager replied with the reasons above such as weather and the immersion heater. Wasn't even saying will look to sort and matter of fact how it is. Seemed to gloss over or ignore the possible discrimination altogether and not yet replied about that. We are not one to complain much, but with so many issues didn't have much choice. Not what would expect from a best Western hotel. Definitely avoid those outside rooms if you do stay!

A lovely hotel at the top end of the high street Comfortable rooms. Welcoming staff and a brilliant breakfast Bar service in the evening No evening menu available but there are loads of local restaurants available within a few yards of the hotel

Old fashioned hotel, but comfortable. The staff are excellent could not have been more friendly and helpful. The only drawback is the shortage of parking space, but there is a good bus service. I fully recommend this hotel.

We would like to thank everyone who works at the Wessex Royal Hotel, from the people on Reception right down to the people who clean the rooms, always asking if we had everything, if we didn't we just had to ask, and they were there in a flash. for a lovely stay, everyone was so welcoming, there was a young lad who waited on us for breakfast, he'll go far.....he was so Polite. Don't get us wrong everyone was Polite. We will certainly come back again. Thankyou Mandy & Phil

We stayed in the four poster suite and it was a very comfortable bed and the room had all the amenities that you would ever need in a room and the bathroom was well equipped with a shower & a whirlpool bath highly recommended couldn't find a fault with the room.

This Best Western is housed in an old building but it has been tastefully modernised without losing its character. Our room was situated at the back of the hotel and it was very quiet - just what we wanted. Beds were very comfortable and the room had all the basic necessities, plus some nice touches like free sparkling and still water. As readers-in-bed we appreciated the excellent bedside lights - an area where some more expensive hotels fall down. Breakfast was excellent, with a wide choice of very tasty cooked meals and plenty of fruit and cereal. When we asked for some plain yoghurt with our fruit, the lovely lady who looked after us went out and got some for us and remembered to bring it for us every day after that! There were a few laspects which could be improved, like the shower in our ensuite, but overall the staff were so charming and helpful that that more than made up for any such little niggles. They really seemed to take a pride in their hotel - and so they should. If you are looking for a quiet hotel with a lovely staff, beautifully situated in a delightful town with gorgeous countryside all round, we think the Wessex Royale won't disappoint.

Paid our usual annual visit to Dorchester and as always stayed at the Best Western Wessex Had a great time with my wife and sister (over from Australia), we all used to live in Dorset at teenagers. Long time ago now

On the 25th August 2022 we had the Wessex Royale Hotel as our wedding venue. We had both our ceremony and wedding celebrations at the hotel and we can not praise Rachael, the Events Manager, and her team enough as they were attentive, helpful and professional through the whole of the planning stages and on the day itself. We believe they went above and beyond to make our day special.

Great hotel in a very central location. The beds are very comfortable and the bathroom had recently been renovated so exceeded our expectations. Tastefully decorated and retains Georgian features. Breakfast was sublime; the full English was cooked to perfection and the pastry's were clearly freshly baked that morning. We will stay again.

Stay at this hotel every year as the staff are so welcoming and the breakfast is top class. Hotel is ideally located in high street so easily accessible to shops/museums and the beautiful park. Already looking to secure a room for 2023.

Needed an overnight stay whilst my mum was having an operation in Dorchester hospital so decided to stay here. The hotel is very close to several museums and shops. There is limited parking at the hotel but the nearest car park is a 5 minute walk away and is very reasonably priced. In fact, between 6pm and 8am it is free. The hotel is recently refurbished and looks great and very clean. Hoping to go back next month for more exploring.

We stayed at this hotel while we were visiting the nearby Bovington Tank Museum. The hotel felt like a bed-and-breakfast accommodation rather than a standard hotel. The staff, Lisa in particular, was friendly, helpful, and very accommodating. Breakfast was served at a beautifully set table by a very friendly and efficient server. The food was plentiful and delicious. The rooms were clean and comfortable, with the lovely addition of chocolates and cookies as a treat. I highly recommend this lovely establishment.

Beautiful, clean and good furnished everywhere in hotel. room was big well equipped ,lovely big breakfast, polite service What can I say ? Everything was perfect there and is 20 min drive from Weymouth beach

I've been lucky enough to stay here a few times before. Travelling on business. This time it was purely social so I took my wife. With this in mind I thought I would try a bid up from my standard double room to a suite. To my delight I was successful and upon arrival I was shown to the Morgan Yeatman Suite. Being physically taken to the room rather than directions is a nice touch which is offered to all guests. Inside was a beautiful double aspect room with a separate lounge area and modern full bathroom suite. New carpets have recently been fitted throughout the corridors and stairs. Many of the rooms have been refurbished/updated. Positive signs of ongoing investment. The bar area is warm and welcoming. Breakfast was cooked to order and to a very high standard. The location is perfect for Dorchester and it's high street. Highly recommend and I look forward to another visit in the future.

My wife and I stayed in Dorchester at the Best Western Wessex Royale and it exceeded our expectations. We had a lovely room, close to shopping and downtown, and everything was more than satisfactory. Breakfast was excellent both the continental and cooked. Staff were very friendly. Internet worked very well. No air conditioning but windows opened and w had a fan and that was enough to sleep comfortably. We definitely will stay there again. It is extremely convenient in terms of its location in the centre of the town. Almost everything is in walking distance.

The room was clean and the bed comfortable. Breakfast was excellent with a good choice of dishes freshly made to order. All the staff were friendly. The only disadvantage was there was no lift, but the stairs weren't steep.

Excellent hotel for a short break. As seniors we tend to use our bus passes for exploring the area, bus stop directly outside hotel. Staff are really good, rooms clean and breakfasts superb. Looking forward to our next visit.

Once a year I use my Beest Western points to give me and my husband a free night or two for our wedding anniversary. Th Wessex Royal Hotel gave us a suite which was wonderful. It was huge and really well fitted out with modern features - excellent bathroom, USB chargers in the wall, two TVs, it was perfect. We could see that the hotel is carrying out refurbishment works, and it feels really well looked after. It was a great couple of days :)

Booked here for a couple of nights. Small room crammed in high under the rafters at the rear of the hotel, made smaller by having a double bed crammed into it. £100 per night. This hotel does have some grotty aspects to it, especially the stair carpet, which is dirty and worn. The room was freshly enough painted, but by someone who doesn't know how to cut into edges or tidy their work. For example, the (adhesive?) residue smarmed over the faux-chrome fittings in the bathroom. The cheap imitation-wood flooring creaks loudly, in your own room and others. The feature I did really like was the size of the window, which goes all alongside the bed. It was sunny that weekend, and so the room felt very bright. The view across the town to the countryside was delightful. Swifts zipped about, whistling away happily--one of my favourite sounds. And, to be fair, the room was impeccably clean. The shower was a good one, always a relief. Staff on the desk were friendly and helpful.

Great hotel with very good service from the moment I arrived , whilst eating and up to departure. I've stayed in this hotel many times and always had the same great service. Perfect location for the town so easy to have a walk around.

I highly recommend this hotel. The breakfast here is delicious! Lots of variety and the service is impeccable. Housekeeping is excellent. Concierge was lovely, helpful and welcoming. We were helped with carrying our luggage, advice on where to go and what to do. The staff were so welcoming and kind. The bathroom was clean and modern. Great WiFi and lovely tea/hot drinks/water bottles and biscuits in our room. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay!

Visiting Dorchester for work, hotel well positioned in town. Room a little small, fluffy towels. Nice lounge area with newspapers. Good choice for breakfast fesh fruit and freshly cooked hot menu Delightful helpful staff.

Very friendly staff who could't try any harder to be helpful. Clean accommodation and perfectly located. The breakfast is expensive but worth every penny as it's fresh and very tasty. Good Thia restaurant near by. Comfy bed. Car parking is tight.

Clean and tidy but no bath. Breakfast was very expensive. Car parking obviously an issue. Bedrooms at the front very overlooked, it means curtains had to be closed at all times. Good site in the town. Indian restaurant opposite is excellent.

This is a lovely hotel. I have been here for two nights for a work meeting and they could not have been more welcoming. All the staff are cheerful and chatty. Rooms are clean and comfortable and the eggs Royale, for breakfast, can not be beaten. Highly recommend

Thank you all for a lovely stay. The staff were so welcoming and wanted to help as much as they could. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Food was tasty and plated stylish, breakfast cooked so well and just best I have tasted in a while. They were happy for us to work in their lounge and checked if we needed anything like drink regularly. Thank you again. And see you in a couple of weeks.

We stayed for one night here. We were warmly welcomed by the receptionist and shown to our room. It looked as if it had been newly refurbished as it had USB ports wired in and the bathroom looked brand new. The breakfast was also good. Decent coffee which so many hotels don't provide plus a nice comprehensive buffet and full English. There was also a vegan option. There is no evening restaurant but there are plenty in Dorchester itself. The main town is only a few minutes walk away. Some have mentioned the car park being small but it looked fine to me. Only 6 or 7 places granted but easy enough to access. All in all, an extremely pleasant stay. I would return.

The hotel is an historic building in a perfect position in the centre of Dorchester and is ideally situated for shopping and sightseeing trips to the surrounding area. No restaurant for evening meals, but breakfast is excellent, and the staff are really friendly and helpful. We had a lovely room, with the only slight disappointment being that the main road, which it faced onto, had traffic along it all night. But we were so tired from our days out that it was only a minor convenience early in the morning, before the alarm was due to go off. We will certainly stay again

Although I booked a single room I was given a small double which was a quiet pleasant room. Hotel staff were really friendly and I was glad to leave my backpack in the hotel after checking out so I could visit Dorchester unencumbered. The hotel is in a great location for museums, restaurants, shops, walk to the railway stations, plaza cinema round the corner, everything is there!

Very friendly staff and convenient for town centre and restaurants. Car park is too small really but I managed to park every time. Otherwise it is a public car park several hundred yards away. I was on the third floor which meant negotiating steep stairs with doors at the top. Awkward with a suitcase. Bed was not really comfortable and the floor sloped so the bed did too! That could easily have been remedied. If you don't mind these things and like quaint old buildings with creaking floors boards every time you get out of bed or when the guest in the next room moves about you will have a great stay. I would probably return because of the great location.

From the time we checked in until we left the staff were very helpful and friendly. The rooms were very clean and had all we needed with comfy beds, a good shower, plenty of coffee and biscuits. The hotel restaurant was closed at present but the lounge area was pleasant for a drink after returning from a meal out. Car park only has about 10 spaces but we didn't have a problem and found a space each day

A gem of a hotel. A very special experience in a lovely hotel. The rooms are comfortable and well furnished. The breakfast is exceptionally good – top ingredients carefully cooked and presented. The staff work as a closely knit team which creates a lovely atmosphere.

The staff at the hotel were very efficient, friendly and helpful. the room was very small but the bed was comfortable, however the pillows were hard. The towels for the shower were too small. The breakfast was cooked to order and very good.

Would give 5 stars other than the fact the hotel bar doesn't serve food in the evening. Lots of restaurants nearby though, but when I am staying over for work personally I don't like having to eat out, it's check in grab a bite, watch TV and then bed. That's my only criticism, comfy bed, well appointed room, great breakfast and good value right in the heart of Dorchester.

Comfortable hotel, friendly staff and great breakfast. Car park is small but there is plenty of parking available a short walk from the hotel. Good shopping centre a few minutes away with great restaurants

We stayed here for one night in January 2022. We chose it simply because it was close to where we needed to be the next day. The hotel itself is clean and comfortable, but what made our stay was the hospitality of Jon. We arrived late - he made us feel very welcome and not at all a bother. It highlighted to me that the people make hospitality - particularly in these bizarre times. Huge thanks to Jon and the rest of the team behind the scenes. Although this looks like a chain hotel it feels like a family run one.

The reception team are exceptionally welcoming, congenial and professional. They always went above and beyond to ensure that I was comfortable from the moment of my arrival, throughout until I checked out. On my departure, I had not realised that I had left an item in my room, the kind team member on reception personally returned it to me. Thank-you so much to all of the team at Wessex Royal for their attention to detail and always achieving a very high standard of service during my stay, I was very impressed and grateful. My room was beautifully maintained and well appointed. The service at breakfast was outstanding, the staff were very professional and the breakfasts are very generous and impressive. I had a delicious scrambled egg & smoked salmon, and the vegan breakfast, and I really recommend them. The location of this hotel is excellent. Thank-you so much for giving me a really wonderful experience and for making my stay in Dorchester so enjoyable.

My partner and I stayed at the Wessex December 2021 for a long weekend and to visit friends. We had no problem parking at the hotel but the car park is small and I'd imagine at busy times most will have to park elsewhere. We had a large room, the bed was comfortable and the room cleaned to a very high standard. The little things like robes and slippers went down very well. Lisa in Reception was brilliant and really looked after us. Lou in the restaurant was brilliant too and even though we were a little late for breakfast one morning nothing was too much trouble for her or any of the other staff. On that note, the breakfast was very nice. All in all, a great stay and no hesitation in recommending the Wessex. We'll be back next year!

I think the hotel had been refurbished since our last visit a few years ago. Really friendly staff. Lovely big room with all amenities you would need. Bed was very large and very comfortable. Only stayed one night but will definitely use again when we are in the area. Yes, the car park at hotel was small but they do warn you about that - that's the problem with a hotel in the middle of town! Breakfast was plentiful and staff very chatty and friendly. Can definitely recommend.

Been a number of years since i last stayed here and the place is much better than i remember. Room and service were great. Parking is a little tight but there is some. Right in the town so easy walk to the shops etc or out onto the many footpaths if you want to wander or run off the tarmac

We planned a school reunion - it was 51 years since we had been together - we needed a convenient hotel to explore Dorchester...it more than matched expectations with the sort of old world charm you don't get elsewhere.

Me and a couple of friends stayed in this hotel for the weekend. It was spotlessly clean, warm and the staff were so friendly and helpful. We would definitely stay there again, and would definitely recommend it.

I have stayed in many hotels across Europe and the U.K. Generally my experiences in the U.K. have been poor by comparison to Europe. However this was an exception and the staff made me feel welcome and valued. A lovely hotel in a beautiful old building.

A comfortable family run hotel Nice rooms and comfortable friendly ambiance Brilliant breakfast service. The Eggs Royale are fantastic Nice location at the top of the high street No evening meal service but there are lots of local restaurants

We had this hotel for 8 of us for a golf weekend in Dorset, have to say the hotel staff were truly amazing, considerate and attentive. Bar area was very pleasant for us to chill in before popping out for an evening meal in town and for a couple of drinks after Breakfast was great too Would come back and would recommend

Stayed for 2 nights between 20th and 22 September and were immediately disappointed with the room. It was smaller than we expected having seen the standard room on the website. Window did not close properly and were dirty. The tv had reception issues. The breakfast was not good either in comparison to other Best Western Hotels. While the weather was good the room was cold. Definitely not to be recommended. Not at all organised Not to be recommended. The manager was dismissive.

Spacious room excellent bathroom . Bus outside,12min walk to rail station .Close to shopping streets and restaurants Various museums particularly the Roman villa (free) and Maumbury rings. Recommend highly the ghost walk Breakfast excellent

The staff were very friendly and helpful, even carried my bag up to my room on the top floor for me. Gave me lots of recommendations to get dinner as well. Breakfast was really nice too, I had pancakes with maple syrup. They have a separate vegan menu too, which is good, GF options available.

We had 4 nights here,had the suite which was a trek from reception but we were warned!, firstly there are no lifts but there's always someone who will be able to take your luggage, parking space availability is nil so we parked at top of town long stay car park for£4 a day, cheaper than Gravesend, home, at £5,rooms were clean and well presented as was the hotel in general, yes traffic was a little noisy at night but you're in the heart of town so to be expected, try rome where the bin men empty all thru the night,the bed was a little firm for us, room lacked a fridge which would have been handy,coffee machine, water and iron and board were very useful. Breakfast was adequate, nicely presented cooked to order and hot. My only tut's ,mostly on me as I said nothing was look at yoghurt dates as they were 2 days past best before, and laundry bags left overnight in the corridors obstructing both fire doors and fire extinguisher onto our rooms.

Had a lovely stay for 2nghts here 7th-9th Sept. The hotel was spotlessly clean and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Lovely decor and comfortable bed and a lovely vegetarian breakfast. We found our room 107 rather noisy from 5am however as we were above what we think was the kitchen and things start early with deliveries and prep for breakfast. Not their fault but if stayed again would prefer a different room. Great location and enjoyed Dorchester and surrounding area.

Car parking is very limited at this hotel 12 cars in total it is worth noting that it's best to reverse into the car park as it is quite tight to get out once all the spaces are full. Parking in the street is possible but there is a fifty pence charge for this

Visited at end of August. It was booked and paid for by my partner as a special weekend away for a milestone birthday. I appreciate we are coming out of a pandemic but if something costs £200 a night I expect a certain standard. I did pass on comments on leaving hotel but reception staffed thanked me, took my notes and staples in their feedback book for review. We have not heard anything back and the least I would have expected was some kind of formal acknowledgment. The reception staff on arrival were wonderful as was Lou who served breakfast but that is really where the good stuff ends. The room was tiny and at the entry to corridor so every other guest disturbed us with coming and goings as the wall shook every time the corridor banged. The seal round the door was poor so light flooded the room at night. The bed was small double but you couldn't have fitted anything bigger in the room and this still meant there was little room for anything else. The bathroom door didn't shut properly and whilst there is a level of intimacy between my partner and I certain things still need to be private. There was no air in the room even with the window open fully. Air movement could be achieved by a small desktop “travel” fan. Didn't bother as it was noisy. We stayed 2 nights so expected room to be cleaned after 1st night. Complimentary liquid soap was empty on arrival and not refilled, toilet rolls were not replenished (I had to steal one from downstairs bar loo). Towels were picked up, toilet and Bath were NOT cleaned. Cups were rinsed not washed. Room was not vacuumed or if it was I couldn't tell. Unfortunately for the hotel I used to work in hotels and ran housekeeping so I understand what a clean should look like. There was no food on offer other than breakfast. Not a problem. Breakfast offer I felt was average. It did not wow me, but I understand the hospitality industry is in crisis following the pandemic but if you are going to offer something make it good. Simple can be amazing. This wasn't. So in short my advice choose a premier inn… for less than half the price you get bigger cleaner room with a king size bed, toiletries in the room and a promise of a good nights sleep or your money back.

What can I say My friend and I stayed for 2 days and it was absolutely fantastic, the staff were so helpful nothing was to much trouble , I have stayed in many hotels and I can say I don't think anyone has been as helpful as the staff at this hotel, the room was lovely and clean plenty of tea and coffee Would not hesitate to recommend this hotel ,

Booked online, and was further prompted to 'check in online as per covid. I had two written prompts to specify car parking. As a third and to be sure I called the hotel prior to check into confirm booking and confirm parking was required. Arrived to park....car park full. Had to park nearly 1/4 of a Mile away. Went to reception to collect room key and enquire. Response from reception...car park full...pay and display at the other end of high St. Charming...thanks for that. No apologies or compromise, and attitude was really sharp. This was only 18:00 and had been travelling all day and missed lunch so went straight to room and called reception to arrange some roomservice... Response from reception...kitchen closed. Charming...attitude stunk Was however offered a sandwich...wish I hadn't had bothered...what I was served I wouldn't have fed to the ducks! Absolutely devoid of personal touch or basic customer training. I appreciate the hotel is only 3 star, but at £230 per night and a Best Westen, I was at least hoping for a warm smile after a long day, somewhere to park, and perhaps a bite to eat. Room was the noisiest place place you could have dreaded for...traffic noise through rotten Wood windows and sound transmission so bad I could hear the neighbouring room use the loo! Been using best Western for 25 years...but this is one to avoid, which is a shame

We arrived to find our room not very well ventilated after the previous guests (window only open a crack), and feeling unclean, with a layer of dust on everything. There were not enough towels for our party, so we asked for more. They took the one's we had, and replaced them with only one towel each and that was all we got for our 3 night stay. The towel heater was tiny and ineffective, so we had very damp, over-used towels by the time we left. Theu ran out of bottles of complimentary water and we were never offered extra tea, coffee, sugar etc. Staff were not overly helpful or friendly which was irksome. It was all irksome considering the ridiculously over-inflated price we had to pay this year. We have stayed at the Best Western Wessex in Dorchester in previous years and really enjoyed this hotel - but sadly we will not be back after this time

Great hotel in a central location everything was clean and tidy. Lovely rooms with comfy beds . A little town centre noise as to her expected , charming building with great guest bedrooms. Staff were friendly and efficient.

We visit Dorchester every year to see relatives and we don't look anywhere else to stay because this hotel suits us really well. The staff are always very welcoming, keen to make sure everything is to our liking, and both efficient and friendly. The breakfasts are very good - our daughter had pancakes three mornings running! We had lunch each day at one of the many restaurants in Dorchester, and had soup or sandwiches in the bar (very good sandwiches with freshest bread ever) and a pudding, in the evening. The family room was really comfortable and we all slept very well: the mattresses were great and the blackout curtains very effective. Shower great too and nice to see the refurbishment that has taken place. Bery good value too. All in all we hope to be returning for many years to come. Thank you to the staff for making our stay so enjoyable.

In the last fortnight my wife and I have stayed at the Wessex Royale twice.. On both occasions we were impressed with everything that we experienced. Our room was clean, spacious and airy with all the facilities one would expect of a quality hotel, clean towels, comfortable bed and plenty of coffee etc. The breakfast was superb, not just the usual mundane " full English" but a whole range of taste bud tempting alternatives to follow the selection from the buffet bar. All the staff went out of their way to make sure that our stay was enjoyable, as indeed itwas.

last minute booking for us. clean hotel in the high street. just a couple of doors away from Wetherspoons. We used that for breakfast rather than paying the very expensive £16 pp that the Best western charge. the bed was very hard and it gave me backache. and i had a latte which was awful. i think the milk had gone off. apart from that it had a lovely friendly feel small bit of free parking at the back of the hotel,. probably about 10 cars.. have to say that we enjoyed this place and it was a good position for durdle door, Weymouth and Portland. restaurant closed due to Covid. staff will make sandwiches etc

Unfortunately we had wet weather during our stay, however, the staff who our very proficient and friendly made our stay very comfortable. Our requests/ enquiries were dealt with promptly a efficiently. The courtyard was in dire need of redecoration and parking (as stated) is limited. Our room was quite small with just 2'6" beds that were unfortunately hard /very hard. The gap between was just 15". The quality of the breakfast was excellent, however. On the first morning two of our party requested fried bread which they got but then had to sacrifice the toast. At £200 per night we thought that this was particularly mean. The following morning we were served by a different member of staff who gave us both.

Well located in the centre of Dorchester, this Best Western Hotel is definitely ok for a weekend visit. The room the wife and I had was on the first floor was small and dominated by a large bed but was quite adequate for the one night we were there. Car parking is limited so if you take the car out and come back too late you might well have to park somewhere else which is what happened to us and I was fishing for coins late at night in driving rain. To be fair Alan at reception, very friendly and helpful, had told us this might happen so it wasn't that much of a problem. The breakfast was OK, had the full English (continental and vegan options were also available) and the service was excellent and Covid safe.

Had a small issue with my room which was easily resolved by the very helpful Cary (quite late at night too). All other staff I dealt with were also polite and helpful. Breakfast is good too. Hotel was well situated with many restaurants and pubs within walking distance.

Had a good stay for two nights. Reception staff very helpful and accommodating. We had booked a superior room but discovered such rooms are at the front of the hotel at the roadside but we'd specifically requested a quite room. We managed to change rooms to a quieter room at the rear albeit not ‘superior'. Room was adequate. Breakfast was perfectly reasonable with a good choice, and staff were again helpful. The hotel advises before arrival that they have a very small car park at the rear, which is correct. It's also very awkward to park if you have any vehicle that's isn't a mini! But we still managed to park during our stay. This is a reasonable hotel with good staff.

I had a very comfortable stay, and the hotel was ideal as a base for the conference activities. The room had everything for the traveller's needs, the bed was well aired and soft to recline in, the breakfast plentiful and tasty, and there was lots of hot water. Staff are pleasant and unfailingly attentive to guest enquiries.

We have used this hotel for our Club meetings for several years now and look forward to going back there next month after covid restrictions are lifted. The staff are incredibly helpful, friendly and adaptable to our needs. If you need a venue for your meetings, I highly recommend it.

Beautiful hotel which was a perfect base for exploring the Jurassic Coast. Had a slight issue with our shower and reception changed our room immediately with a fantastic upgrade. Staff were super friendly and COVID regulations made us feel safe foe our entire stay.

The three flights of stairs we had to haul our luggage up wearing face masks made this an exercise filled experience. As the hotel is in an old building, it has all the charms associated with age, including a bedroom floor which wasn't quite flat and which had an appreciable slope down towards the bathroom. This made for some fun and games. The hotel is clean, freshly decorated, and the staff very welcoming. The car parking at the rear of the hotel is very limited, but there is a large and inexpensive car park quite literally 2 minutes walk away, which is free from 6pm to 8am. Recommended!

No parking available, and to be fair they say it's limited. No lift, ‘but then you were aware of that' said the chippy receptionist. No I wasn't - and I've checked their emails. The double room was really a single in the attic with a double bed shoe-horned into it. It was meant to be relaxing treat but frankly a Premier Inn hotel would have been more comfortable and more convenient. Clean enough and well serviced room but so it should be at the price.

The lady on the reception was absolutely lovely she was very cheerful and made us feel very welcome. She explained everything very clear snd took us to our rooms. The whole hotel is lovely and clean snd modern. The bedroom was spotless and such comfy beds and beautiful shower. We will definitely be returning Thanks Andrea Leader and family xx

The Wessex Royal has beautiful rooms with lovely facilities and very kind staff. The hotel is very well situated and we had an excellent stay. All our needs were well catered for and everyone was so friendly and caring. The beds are very comfy and I highly recommend the four poster room for beautiful facilities.

We had a four day stay at the end of May. The hotel staff were friendly, helpful and went the extra mile to make us feel safe during the current pandemic. The breakfast was delicious and made with locally sourced produce. The option to eat breakfast in the lounge area rather than the restaurant added extra peace of mind. The hotel has been redecorated and refitted during lock down and was well presented. Rooms were comfortable and clean. We will return.

Stayed at the wessex royal in late May. It was really stay in good clean room with a very comfy bed , the staff were friendly & efficient the breakfast was top notch with loads of choice .Locally there was plenty of things to do with good food choices it also a great base to explore Dorset & the local area.

Lovely stay at Wessex royal Dorchester , room was really good ,bed was comfy, staff are friendly & efficient, breakfast was excellent with loads of options,the hotel is an idea base for exploring Dorset .there also plenty of things to do near by

A very comfortable hotel with nice rooms Staff very helpful and welcoming Fantastic breakfast. Don't miss the Eggs Royale which are fantastic Hotel has a small car park which often fills up early. There is a town car park within 400 M Highly recommend

We stayed for 3 nights in a family room. All the staff we very friendly and welcoming. The room was clean and comfortable - the hotel had stopped normal room servicing due to Covid but you could request anything you needed (e.g. clean towels, clean cups and extra coffee/tea etc). We managed to park in the hotel car park each day - it is quite small and required a few 7 point turns to get in and out but it was not a problem. The hotel is an older building which means the floors are a bit uneven and do creak but this did not disturb us too much. Plenty of hot water and a good shower. Breakfast was great - we had continental on two days and enjoyed a good selection of fruit, yogurt, cereals, toast and pastries. Good cafetière coffee and they even made a jug of hot chocolate for my son. The cooked breakfast on our third day was delicious, good portions and again they were happy to let us ‘bespoke' our order. The staff were so pleasant despite being busy and we felt very well looked after.

Very good breakfast and options. We had the suite which we recommend, spacious and quiet. Parking get there early afternoon. Ideally placed in the town centre with plenty of restaurants and shopping nearby.

Perfect location. Quiet but on the high street. Very friendly and efficient staff. Very clean room and bathroom. Has small car park for 10 or so vehicles but parking available nearby. Interesting town and highly recommended.

We do love a Bestwestern Hotel and this place is FANTASTIC. Location is good to It's within a 10min walk from Dorchester south station or just under £5 in a taxi. There's plenty of shops, eateries and a lovely river walk. Unfortunately the Roman house was closed, which is also within walking distance, due to works being carried out in the grounds but we shall be returning as we thoroughly enjoyed it. Staff are great, Rachel, Linda, Steve, and Graham to name a few and they all certainly have super customer service skills. This Hotel has won awards for Breakfast and I'm sure that will continue as they're faultless. Everything is cooked just they way you want it, and the service is fab. We also took the train to Weymouth for the day abd had chips in the beach. We LOVED IT!!!!

On a impromptu cycling trip at present staying where every I end up my phone had died so when I arrived in dorchester early evening I headed to the first hotal I saw.the staff were extremely friendly and welcoming advising on places to eat the hotal does not offer evening meals the hotal is very clean and covid secure the bar and lounge area cosy and welcoming.my room while not the best room I have stayed in for the price a littal dated was more then adquit and tea coffee bottles water and hair dryer supiled the bathroom was more up to date then the bedroom lovely shower cubicle shower gel shampoo supiled in a wall dispenser unfortelly I coudnt open it but that probably me breakfast was included in the room rate and I coudnt fault it good selection on menu attentive staff all and all this hotal is what you would expect from the name and is right in the centre off dorchester

As our plans for a summer break had been curtailed by COVID, we opted for a week in Dorset instead so I could “go back to my roots” We stayed just after the hotel had reopened after the enforced closure, between the 13 and 17 July, and opted for the “suite” as it was a reasonable rate. Overall a very pleasant stay, and we loved the suite which was just right for our needs. My only suggestions would be that a door or screen between the bedroom and separate sitting area would be useful, especially if someone was to use the sofa bed in that space. Also, maybe a fold up table or something so guests could dine in that space as well? Bed was extremely comfortable too. Given the warm temperatures we did have the windows open overnight so be warned, the room faces a road outside and we were woken up early most mornings by a road sweeper going past. Not the hotels fault at all but just one to be aware of. Because of COVID, the hotel wasn't doing proper breakfast during our stay and we had to collect a breakfast bag from reception each morning. This was fine but it was a bit of a pain to have to go down and collect it every day, would have been a nice touch if it could have been delivered / left outside the door - especially given we were paying for a premium room. Yes car parking is a struggle but we were lucky and managed to find a space each evening, although most times we were back at the hotel by around 5pm, it probably would have been more difficult later on. We really enjoyed our stay and will return in future, it's clear the staff were doing all they good under challenging times.

Looking at the previous review it was almost like reading the review I hadn't yet written but my comments are very similar. The hotel is set in the heart of Dorchester and is clearly an old building but that did not reflect inside. One thing that did show up straight away was the car parking. There is a very small car park and not suitable for as many cars as they try and get in. You also get blocked in. Can't the hotel strike a deal with the offices across the road to use their spaces in the evening and weekends? Inside the decor is good and well furnished. Covid-19 has been well thought out with an excellent one way system. Reception was very efficient and informative. My room was facing the main road and was noisy in the morning and evening. Rush hour and then boy racers later on. I would recommend asking for a room not facing the road. It was well appointed but during my three night stay nothing was changed. The coffee was not topped upand no towels changed. Perhaps this is Covid precautions? Apart from that gripe the room was spacious and comfortable. In the morning breakfast was truly superb and the staff were excellent. In fact let's stress this point. All the staff I came across were excellent and a credit to the hotel. Then we had to pay which was very expensive. I seem to remember looking at this hotel just before lockdown when the room was at 20% VAT. Surprisingly it was the same price now that the VAT is 5%. £170 plus VAT is a lot of money when you don't even get a guaranteed car parking space. So I would love to stay in this hotel again for the staff, the breakfast, the room (at the back next time - is there a back?) and the furnishing but couldn't because of the price and the lack of car parking.

Recently stayed at the Wessex royal whilst visiting family in the Dorchester area. Reception area spotlessly clean, all COVID19 guidelines adhered to. Receptionist friendly and helpful. Room was a twin room, bathroom has been refurbished so really nice and clean, room adequate size. Negative points: -my room was facing Dorchester high street and I found it quite noisy, especially as it was a warm evening and I had to keep my windows open. -bedside cabinet was broken: one of the legs had come off and it was “propped” onto a block of wood to keep it stable. -one of the two beds was really uncomfortable, could feel the springs. An ok hotel in a lovely town, but the price is excessive (£200) for what you get.

Booked for the three nights , offer for pay for two and get the third free. Not very busy , but dealt with the restrictions of COVID very well. Plenty of sanitiser stations, and one way system around. Good breakfast, no evening meal as restaurant was closed around 18 months ago. Traffic was o e on the problems,even though we had a room at the back the speed of cars was quite fast. Parking is limited, but hotel happy to refund you the cost of parking at the top of town car park. Staff vey happy to help and very cheerful.

We stayed a couple of weeks ago just after the hotel reopened for four nights. The staff where most friendly and helpful and we had a double room that was at the rear of the hotel on the first floor. The car parking was fine at the hotel and if there was no space the hotel payed for you to park in a nearby car park three minutes walk and refunded you the money. It was very warm so we had to sleep with the windows open and to be honest it was a little noisy. The hotel is full of character being such an old established coaching inn Our bathroom was perfect,I suspect recently refurbished the room a little dated but clean and ample for our requirements There was plenty of hand sanitizer stations around the hotel and social distancing worked well although a little busy at breakfast with all available tables taken. Well done all the staff we were made to feel very welcome in the difficult circumstances we all face.

Good location within dorchester and a good arrangement for free parking ( you pay for a local pay and display and are refunded). Room was at front of the hotel and very noisy ( traffic and people) throughout the night - we were unable to sleep even within ear plugs. Room was very dated - the beds were uncomfortable and very creaky when you turned - mattresses seemed past it! There were damp stains on the ceiling. Bathroom was clean - with a good shower. Did notice that there were lapses in covid-19 safety measures - ie no alcohol gel in pumps or upstairs, no staff wearing gloves, masks or visors for serving, cleaning etc. Unfortunately staff on the front desk were not forthcoming or particularly helpful. Sadly would not recommend.

Got a last minute booking for one night. Booked a superior room. When we arrived Lisa was very friendly and welcoming, she was only staff member in and was doing a wonderful job. Our room was very spacious with a big bed but we noticed a leak in the ceiling, we were immediately moved to another room which was so nice. Big sleigh bed with a sofa and massive tv. Beautiful bathroom. Nice coffee maker. Room was at the back of the hotel, still had road noise but it wasn't too bad. Had a drink in the lounge which was very nice. One way system through the downstairs and hand sanitiser stations all over the place.

I am not one to moan normally but I would heavily suggest you avoid this hotel. Here is why: - They state free parking and email you in advance, asking for your number plate. They have 6 spaces so the chance of you getting one are slim. - The rooms are outdated and aren't clean. The amount of dust I found in 30 seconds was incredible. - Want to be woken up with the cleaners routine and the squeaky floorboards outside the room? Well you're in luck!! I was lucky to learn the cleaning routine of the 3 rooms which were on the list. Talk about dream wake up calls. - Understaffed, one lady was doing it all by herself sunday night so expect to wait if you want a pint at the bar as she does it all. Yes its a budget hotel, I know its going to be average as thats what i'm paying but the reviews make the hotel something its not. Would I come back again? Absolutely not.

The positives are it's got efficient and caring staff. It's got a nice breakfast room and a good quality breakfast chef. Also, a small car park and they'll refund you if you use the Main Street car park. Room was clean and comfortable. The downside is the relentless traffic speeding past the hotel. Lots of emergency service vehicles and local racers. But, that's not the hotel's fault. The point is, if you're roadside you'll need to keep the windows closed due to relentless noise from cars and nearly pubs. Even though I scored it average, I would still stay here again.

I've stayed in this hotel on a monthly basis. The staff are so flexible and accommodating. The rooms are really nice and staff always make sure they give me my room preference. I always look forward to staying at this hotel due to the staff's friendly dispositions. It's in a great location in the centre of Dorchester. The only downside is the car park as if it is full I find it hard to manevour, however the staff are always willing to give me a helping hand. I look forward to returning after it reopens (it's currently closed due to covid 19)

We stayed just as the Coronavirus pandemic was about to start. The hotel was already emptier with fewer staff. But the staff that were there were helpful and friendly. The hotel itself is a little unprepossessing on the outside but warm and comfortable inside We had a deluxe room at a special winter rate and it was excellent. Good sized room, well equipped, with a very comfortable bed. Excellent breakfast. The hotel is well situated with a short walk into town - note that the car park entrance is at the back of the hotel and quite narrow.

Excellent service from both Lisa and Lou. I've spent a fair bit of time here for business and have been well looked after through out. If you want budget , go to premier inn. If you want quality? Come here. Couldn't recommended highly enough.

The staff working the evening of 17/03 were absolutely incredible. What kind and amazing human beings, who were very attentive, caring and compassionate. I could not fault the team in anyway. What a wonderful service that went above and beyond the job description.

Would give it 4 1/2 stars if I could. We stayed in the family room for 1 night. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Our room was cosy, clean and great for a family stay. The hotel building is old so creaky floors make for a bit of a pain when you can hear the room above you walking about, but I'm sure the room below us felt worse with my 3 year olds heavy foootedness! The road noise was surprisingly fine. The breakfast was SO GOOD. really tasty and good choices. The half point I knocked off was for 2 minor things, would have preferred a lock on our bathroom door and the step outside the bathroom is a bit of a hazard with it being carpeted the same as the rest of the room. My son tripped up on it pretty much every time. That's all! Highly recommended otherwise!

Both myself, brother and father had to take sporadic visits to Dorchester in order to visit my mum, who was sadly taken critically ill whilst on a weekend break, she is now on the mend. This has been going on for 3 weeks and the staff at this hotel have been wonderful to us. Warm, accommodating and they have made a difficult time much more comfortable. The main hotel and rooms are quirky with character being an old coach house, always clean and well looked after, with modern bathroom suites and the food and drinks are good for the budget. It feels more like an independently ran hotel than a chain with its personal style of attention the staff give, always going the extra mile. We cannot thank you all enough and would certainly recommend this to anyone coming here for a short break, work stopover or longer visit to Dorchester.

Had to stay in Dorchester for a few days and stayed my last night at the Wessex Royal hotel. I wish I had found it earlier and spent my entire stay there! Lovely staff, gorgeous room and fantastic value for money! A*

Such good value. Staff are polite and helpful. Rooms are clean. The hotel is in a good position in Dorchester. Breakfast is excellent such a shame they don't do evening meals. I had an extremely pleasant stay. Thank you

I went with my husband as a lite get away from London, and we both thoroughly enjoyed! Hotel staff are great & very friendly. They have a cosy log fire in the lobby and are 10mins walking to restaurants x

I agree with a lot of the positive reviews - good location, friendly helpful staff, nice breakfasts. But, on our 2 night stay we did have some issues: Parking is problematic - only around 6 cars fit in the car park so other parking (reimbursable) must be found. Our first room (executive) was above a local gym and the throbbing music noise from below was unbearable. Fortunately, on our return from eating out, the kind receptionist upgraded us to a suite which was quieter but, oddly in our view, was not such a nice room. (Smaller main bedroom, less lighting options, smaller bed. We both found the bed too hard and slept poorly - hard beds are very common in hotels! And finally, the bathroom was quite chilly, even with the towel rail heater on. This makes the hotel sound bad but in reality it is just a quirky period property with no double glazing and the other features of such hotels. We did not dine in the hotel. I have nonetheless given four stars.

In a few words I can sum this up. The hotel staff were excellent, smiling and helpful throughout. The food at breakfast was delicious and plentiful. Rooms were comfortable, clean and great value. The hotel was undergoing some external work so scaffolding was in place, this made it hard to spot when arriving and obviously impacted the appearance, however this is understandable. Highly recommended place to stay.

Steve and his whole team were welcoming and friendly; couldn't do enough; was a long term guest and everything was always spot on. The breakfast was made to order and always excellent with very good variety, catering for vegetarians too. All rooms were full of character especially the suites - well worth having! Lovely toiletries and gorgeous chocolates - and bottled water. Even got a newspaper. Great location with superb restaurants seconds away. Close to town centre. A huge thanks to Steve & staff, Best Wishes, Mahesh. P.S. apologies for the delay as had trouble providing this review - better late than never!

I stayed for one night at this hotel but even on this short stay i was greeted at reception like a long lost relative. The hotel had a great comfortable feeling. The room was great plenty of room clean and comfortable. Breakfast was also great with lots of choice and very friendly staff.

We had a 2 night stay here after our wedding, and couldn't have chosen better. We booked one of the suites which was comfortable and spacious. There was a decent variety to chose from for breakfast, and portion sizes were decent. Staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, even leaving a couple of dropped wedding cards outside our door! Would thoroughly recommend!

I visited here last night and had a very enjoyable stay. There's a warm welcome from staff upon arrival which includes being shown to your room (nice touch). The lounge bar area is very comfortable. My room showed clear signs of investment and was immaculately clean. The bed was comfortable and I had a quiet nights sleep. Breakfast was fantastic with a wide choice. Recommended.

Georgian period building with classic features in a well centred location. Quiet despite it being on a busy main road. Limited parking but will reimburse you the cost of alternative local parking. Lots of vegan/ gluten free options at breakfast. Lovely choice of items. Friendly helpful staff especially the waitressing staff in the morning. Would highly recommend.

Cosy and friendly hotel ..lovely staff couldnt do to much for you. made us feel very welcome.,In an ideal position in town .although the hotel doesnt have a restaurant in the evening you can bring in a take awayand sit in the lounge.whilst having a drink.There is however a great selection of bars and restaurants on the door step

A comfortable hotel in the county town of Dorset Nice ambiace with longstanding local staff team Fantastic Breakfast - Dont miss the eggs royale Great location at the top of the town of Dorchester Reccomended place to stay

Checked in for our family reunion, and instant friendly welcome, showed to our room by Caroline who was very bubbly and lovely. Old building with squeaky floors and slanted floors. We found this so lovely. Had a fab night out and was greeted by night porter who was equally charming. Breakfast was served at 7 TIL 9.30 and couldn't of asked for better breakfast. Served efficiently and had all that you could ask for, The lady on breakfast Rachel was brilliant, nothing too much trouble and had fab knowledge of the area and great things to do on a grim day. Will definitely return. Keep up the good work.

This hotel was an excellent base for walking in Dorset. There are fine walks nearby inland, such as the Cerne Abbas Giant and also coastal walks, with the Isle of Portland and Swanage, as well as the South West Coast Path. There are plenty of good restaurants and pubs within 10 minutes walk of this centrally placed hotel.

On arrival reception staff were very helpful. This is our 2nd stay at this Hotel. Room had tea/coffee facilities with both still and sparkling water. This was replenished every day. The room was very clean with a very comfortable bed. We were disappointed that the Restaurant was closed in the evenings however do understand reasons behind this. Breakfast had a various menu both hot and cold including vegan choices. Would stay again if in the area.

Managed to park the car on the car park with ease. Room lovely and clean. Due to the torrential rain on the Friday the rain had leaked through the window and down the walls. Management kindly arranged for us to be moved to another room which was an upgrade, it was lovely, like a bridal suite. Large bathroom, large tv in the main bedroom, sofa bed and telly in the adjoining room. Breakfast is lovely, staff attentive and service is always prompt. To say the management bent over backwards for us is an understatement! This is why we come back every year and as usual, am looking for 2020 dates now ! Steve and his staff are a great bunch of people - see you in 2020!

Upon arrival the hotel the whole place made an unkempt impression. We were led to our room which was in the courtyard. Initially we were quite happy with this and it all looked quiet and peaceful. Just over an hour later we were surprised with very loud music. It turned out the we were put in a room adjacent to a sports school where the were conducting Zumba lessons. This went on till around 21:30 and started again at 06:30 in the morning. we duly checked out.

The room was spacious and clean. The beds are the reason I am giving this 3 stars instead of 4, it was an uncomfortable night's sleep. Bed was like sleeping on a board, and it was too small to accommodate two average sized adults comfortably. The room was also super hot, though we did appreciate the fan that was provided, maybe windows could be left open and fans left on in between guests on hot summer days? Other than the sleep quality, this was a good basic hotel. Parking is on the street and was a bit tricky to land a spot.

We only stayed one night in this hotel. A very nice, clean hotel room. Delicious breakfast. Very friendly staff. The beds are not so comfortable but we noticed that it is everywhere in england. I guess that's English comfort. We would come again.

The bedroom was very nice and clean, the receptionist was really helpful and courteous. The check in and check out were very easy. The breakfast was outstanding, with great quality food, good service.

Very helpful staff which helped to make the stay so enjoyable. Had the Templeman room due to us booking last minute, which was a good size with a sofa, two windows overlooking the rear street that was not busy, very clean room, looked newly refurbished, bed was very comfortable, good shower lots of hot water. The front of the hotel was on the main street that seemed busy in day and quiet at night. We were usually able to park in the hotel car park at the back but helps if you are okay at reversing out through the arch, otherwise on the street or in nearby car park. Cooked breakfast including salmon, some cereals and a couple of fruit choices or cakes, if you don't like your coffee strong they will brings some hot milk. We had a lovely stay.

We stayed at this hotel on the reccommendation from the staff of the Tank museum at Bovington. Im glad we did, its location was central, the hotel was bright, clean welcoming and the staff were exceptional.

The room was very comfortable. It was very hot, but a fan had been left on for us. The staff were exceptional, friendly and helpful. Good choice of breakfasts. Car parking spaces were limited but there is a car park 2 minutes walk away. The hotel reimbursed the cost of the car park. Lots to do in the area.

A big thankyou to Steve the Manager for making our trip special on our return to the Wessex Royale. Thank you also for the delicious chocolates left in our room. Hope to see you again before too long!

Lovely stay in a warm welcoming beautifully decorated Hoel, where the small thoughtful touches made all the difference. Everyone put themselves out to make sure that we were happy and comfortable and had everything we need and my earrings which I had inadvertently left on a table in the hall were returned to me in an envelope extremely quickly! Thank you!

Great position for both walking around Dorchester and to shops and restaurants, and driving out to other attractions. Very central. Clean, comfortable and modern for such an old building.. Nice décor throughout and welcoming bar, lounge and dining room. Quiet where we were. Staff were very welcoming, friendly and obliging and dealt promptly with a couple of queries. Comfy beds. Lovely breakfast. Just a couple of minor down-sides. The courtyard car park is small and the spaces are quite difficult to get into as they are at an angle and not a lot of room to manoeuvre. Not for the faint hearted driver when full, but there is a car park nevertheless. We were in Courtyard Room 3 which was very nice but, because the bathroom was small (but did have a nice walk-in shower), the sink was extremely/too small and it was very easy to bang your head on the glass shelf above if you bent forward to clean your teeth for example !! Otherwise, would highly recommend and will certainly stay again if we return to Dorchester. Thank you for a nice stay.

You arrive and find the car park will fit a very few small cars. Staff wise it seems you are totally dependent on one person working at the hotel. There are no lifts, despite having the so called best room in the hotel you walk miles up and down stairs in a long corridor to get there. The room had no WIFi which the staff almost failed to understand the fundamental nature of its requirement in this day and age. On departure there was a big song and dance as the hotel had not completed a simple process to get the money off Hotels.com. Fortunately Hotels .com customer service was good and they sorted the issues out with the hotel. Sadly this latter event gave an appreciation of how many versions of the truth they were willing to try!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A MISERABLE DISASTER

I've just returned from a 1 night stay, and I can't speak highly enough about this hotel. In a great location, with free parking at the back, spotlessly clean with professional and friendly staff. The light and airy front lobby area has comfy sofas, free newspapers, and interesting old photos of Dorchester on the walls. Although on a solo trip, I had a double room in the courtyard and it was beautifully appointed, with generous tea, coffees etc and 2 bottles of water. The room was spotlessly clean with a nicely appointed ensuite with soap, shower cap, sewing kit, and nail files, plus 4 fluffy towels on the warm towel rail. The hairdryer was powerful and there was an iron and board should you need them. There is some outdoor seating, primarily for smokers, but it was a warm evening so I took my book and a glass of wine and sat reading before my TV programmes started. Overall it was a comfortable stay, a good sleep and I would definitely stay here again should I visit Dorchester. I can't comment on the breakfast as I'd just come out of hospital and couldn't risk eating but the dining room looked inviting.

We really enjoyed our two nights here. The room was just right. Breakfast in the attractive dining room was very good. The best part however was the wonderful staff. The were all very friendly and helpful. Thank you.

The hotel doesnt look its best from the outside...but inside it has been done to a very high standard. I mean the floor in our room went up hill but that was part of the charm. Brekkie was awesome. Stayed 3 nights. Loads of places to eat...especially italian! Little shopping area and the sun inn is a short walk away but well worth it for the sunday roast!

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Wessex Royal Hotel and would recommend it. All staff that I met during my stay we very helpful and friendly. I was staying there because I was going to a wedding and specifically chose the Wessex Royal because of it's location between the Registry Office and the Wedding Reception. Obviously, I also chose it because of previous reviews and photo's of the hotel. It did not disappoint! The room was excellent with everything you could need for an overnight stay. There was plenty of tea, coffee and hot chocolate with a couple of bottles of water. I particularly loved the massive oak beam that ran from one side of the bedroom to the other. It was very clean. The breakfast was also excellent and set me up beautifully for my long drive home.

Poachers Inn had an antiquated booking system and had double booked. Thank God they did as this place was a joy to stay in. Nearer to the wedding venue plus the staff were an absolute delight. Beautifully decorated. Our room although at the front, people may experience road noise but this was not a problem for us. Lovely spacious room, totally adequate breakfast and a joy to stay here. A special mention for Linda who went above and beyond to remedy the Poachers error.

As a regular visitor I was pleased to see a marked improvement in the standards at this hotel Comfortable room and great breakfast service Nice location at the top of the town Road noise is an issue for some rooms

What a lovely hotel, centrally situated. Very helpful and friendly staff. Courtyard room large and clean. Fantastic freshly cooked breakfast with yogurts, fruit, cereals etc., available too. Would definitely stay again if we were in the area.

The hotel was in the center of town. Although the hotel had limited parking, the staff were excellent at giving you options. Tthe staff are a credit to their employer. We were a big family and it did not matter as we were looked after very well. Will go back again

Staff were lovely and helpful, hotel offered free parking and is in a great location! It appears like the hotel has been modernised and redecorated...apart from the room we were in (room 101) The bed was really uncomfortable, it was 2 beds pushed together rather than a large double which was what we'd booked, the room wasn't particularly clean, it was grubby and in need of a thorough hoovering. Things were broken and on the second night after the cleaner had been they hadn't replenished the toilet roll or made the bed properly, sounds petty but these are surely just the basics when you've paid over £100 a night...

Had a very comfortable, clean room and a TV that In could log onto my Prime TV subscription which was great. The receptionist / manager on the day I checked in went out of her way to make me feel at ease and that everything was just right.

Five nights, April 10-14, 2019 stay. From the check in with Lisa until the check out with Alan Bailey we were very impressed with the cleanliness, friendly staff especially Lou and Jordan who took care of us extremely well each morning in the breakfast room. The housekeeping staff were also excellent, we returned daily from hikes, walks, touring, and day trips to find our room spotless. Would recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Dorchester for whatever reason!

The receptionist was friendly and accommodating, and offered, (without prompting), an alternative room to the one we booked, so my wife need not walk up stairs. We received nothing but helpfulness and good nature from all the staff. The Hotel is comfortable, and well decorated. In a converted 18th Century building, you might expect some signs of wear and shabbiness, but this lovely Hotel looked as if it had been decorated to a high standard the day before our visit. There is a very small free car park at the rear of the Hotel, which I do not think is mentioned on the Website. The only drawback from the point of view of some guests, I suppose, is that the rooms, the car park, and other public rooms are small. As you would expect in a hundreds of years old building in the centre of a historic town. It is a luxury Hotel in miniature. My wife and I would highly recommend it, and use it again if we re-visit Dorset.

I was booked in here by my employer for a single night and overall had a good experience. Initially I found car parking to be an annoyance as I had to park in a public car park a short walk away (luckily free overnight until 0800). Had a friendly welcome and shown to my room which was clean and functional. A few areas of TLC needed in places such as the bathroom. Bed was comfy, duvet very heavy though!! Walls are paper thin and meant being disturbed at each end of my sleep. Breakfast was tasty and quick to be served. I would stay again if booked, but I note multiple ‘big chain' hotels are now in the area which may offer a better sleeping environment.

We stayed here for one night and received exceptional care from the team for a late arrival who volunterily suggested to implement a room change due to road works outside!, breakfast was served by a great team of enthusiastic young people who couldn't help enough and a speedy check out delivered efficiently- What more could you ask for! Will hopefully be back!

Spent weekend visiting places we used to visit many years ago. Weather was good and hotel well placed for eating out, with some very good places within easy walking. Always a joy to vsit Dorset and it's county town. Plenty to see within easy driving distance

lovely building, clean and inviting. Staff are friendly, polite and helpful. Bedrooms have everything you need and are very clean. Breakfast caters for everyone from cereal to full english and inbetween. Thorought recommend

Really nice hotel with friendly staff. Even walked to my room with the offer of having my bags carried. My room was comfortable and warm and had a nice bathroom. Breakfast was delicious and plentyful. There is a small carpark at the back and luckily I was able to get a space.

My husband and I spent 2 very relaxing nights here. We loved our room and the staff were so friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble. Our room was spotless and the bed very comfortable the breakfast was delicious. Would definitely go back again.

Overnight stay for business and would stay here again. Would probably ask for room away from the front as road can be noisy in the morning and I don't like using earplugs, but minor issue. Staff are great, very friendly. Hotel itself is centrally located, 10 mins walk from Dorchester South station (London train) with plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby. Room was a good size, bed comfy, wi-fi worked well. Had a good breakfast with slightly overcooked poached egg on eggs benedict but didn't spoil it. Would recommend.

The hotel was great value, clean and well located. The staff were friendly and efficient and the lady who served breakfast was a star. The breakfast was excellent. We had a standard room which was bigger than some premium rooms I've stayed in.

The hotel was clean, well presented, in a good location and the staff were friendly and helpful. Unfortunately I can only give one star because I didn't sleep for a single minute during the night of my stay. The walls of my room (17) were paper thin, and I could hear literally everything that other guests did during the night (it's never great when you can hear other guests snoring/having a bath/using the toilet/making any single movement). The radiator gurgled every few minutes throughout the night, and I could hear members of staff and other guests speaking loudly outside my room throughout the night (1 a.m, 2 a.m, 3 a.m.....). My room was so open to noise that it honestly felt as though they were in my room with me. The room was also next to an interior hallway door that was regularly used throughout the night, the force of which made my room door shake violently, giving the impression that someone was about to burst in. That's a truly bizarre feeling to have in a hotel. As someone who travels for work, a lot a good night's sleep (or even a just few hours sleep) is basically the only requirement, and unfortunately one that this hotel couldn't provide. Having paid 70-odd pounds to basically sit in a noisy dark room for a night, I would give this zero stars if possible. Never again.

Outside appearance does not do this hotel justice .A warm welcoming clean and presented to a high standard hotel Don't let no restaurant put you off as there is lots of local places nearby which were recommended to us .The rooms were of a high standard and ALL the staff were very pleasant and helpful .lovely fire in lounge to relax whilst having a drink in the evening. Only down side is very small car park park but a public one is only a couple of minutes away. Thank you for a lovely stay.

The staff were very accommodating from the early check in, the late night drinks request and the take out sausage sandwich for my hungover other half . The room was a good size, clean and had lovely little touches like chocolates and extra nice smellies. The breakfast had a lot of options with fresh and tasty pastries and fruit. I had a fab fry up. It was also a perfect location for the wedding we attended at the Corn Exchange. Loved it, will go back. The only downside is that the parking options were not made clearer on the website. Plenty of options close by but we got a bit lost. Turn right at the top roundabout (hotel is left)and just there, still walking distance to the hotel and only £4 all day.

We stayed here a few month back and really enjoyed our time. The building is old and beautiful. the location is great, we walked there from the west train station and also walked to the south station. (bags in tow). The Town is so cute! We were able to catch a bus just across the street that brought us to Weymouth for a visit and there are buses to Bridport also. We rented a car nearby for a day and visited Bridport. It's lovey there. The TV show Broadchurch is filmed there. Anyway the staff at the hotel is friendly and eager to help in any way they can. We also had breakfast at the hotel and it was excellent! We will return the first chance we get.

No restaurant :( But bar area was nice and the staff are friendly and very helpful. We visited as a couple and the hotel was good for us. The hotel is in the centre of the town so everything was just a short walk away. Car parking is restricted with only about 1/2 dozen places.

This is a beautiful hotel. Don't let the outside fool you, inside has been refurbished beautifully. The lounge area is stunning and so relaxing. I travel a lot and this is probably the best hotel I have stayed in and so important to have somewhere to relax other than your room when you are away. Like being in a friend's house. It is a shame they don't do evening meals, but it is in a perfect central location so no real hassle. Well appointed rooms. Clean, cosy and comfortable. And big thumbs up to the tea and coffee tray being well stocked with the rare, but important bonus of having a very good milk to tea/coffee ratio. Other hotels should take note! Finally, and most importantly the staff are fabulous. Very friendly and helpful and kind. Big asset. Thanks for a lovely stay.

The location is excellent for shopping, right in the centre. Rooms are good, very warm and comfortable. Breakfast was good, order it when you check in, it is cheaper. Very disappointed they have stopped doing evening meals. I can understand why if it is not being supported. It should have been pointed out ast the time of booking.

I visited here last week. I'm surprised it's not been promoted to a 4 star establishment. There is clear sign of investment and all areas of the hotel are immaculate and welcoming. Staff are friendly and offer very good customer service. The lounge bar area is very comfortable and relaxing. Breakfast was to a high standard. The hotels central location makes it an ideal choice for both business and pleasure. Excellent.

A lovely hotel full of character. Our room was clean, the bed was very comfortable and we had everything we needed; tea/coffee, biscuits, water, hair dryer. The bathroom was fine too with a lovely hot shower.The breakfast was excellent with a lot of choice and the staff were all friendly and helpful.However, as is to be expected in an old hotel, the walls were quite thin and we experienced a lot of noise from the room next door. Maybe something could be done to reduce the volume on the television.

I stayed here on a Friday night having found myself in Dorchester for a friends party. I had a single room up on the third floor (in the attic) which while small, with a sloped roof was very clean and comfortable. My one complaint was that there was about a 1/2 inch gap under the door (which I blocked with towels). It wasn't an issue as the hotel was quiet, but it's something that the hotel should address. The room had a TV and tea and coffee making facilities. The bathroom was spotless with a toilet, basin and shower. The hotel itself had clearly been refurbished recently and was very clean, comfortable and cosy, especially the bar area/lounge. The reception and bar staff were all very pleasant and polite. I didn't have breakfast so can't comment on that. There is car parking out the back, but only about 10 spaces. There was room when I stayed (given it was Novemeber I assume), but suspect it'll be a difficult to get a space normally. Anyway, the hotel was excellent value and I'd definitely stay again if in Dorchester.

A very good experience, everything was top quality, food, room and staff attitude. I have travelled a lot around the country over the last month, staying in both national chain hotels and privately owned with no complaints about any, but this was by far the best absolutely superb.

This was our first visit to the hotel and to Dorchester and we will return. Dorchester is an interesting town in a lovely setting, with a range of shops, a weekly market, and a variety of places to eat and drink. The bus to Weymouth, which is well worth a visit, stops just outside the hotel, and there are also buses to Lyme Regis and other places of interest. The walk from the station takes about 15 minutes. We stayed in a standard double, which was very clean, well lit and well furnished, and the bed was very comfortable. Tea, coffee, bottled water and biscuits were provided every day, and the complimentary newspaper was a welcome addition. There was an efficient shower over the bath, with a heated towel rail, good quality towels, and shower gel/shampoo. We were in room at the rear of the hotel, which suited us. Rooms at the front might be noisy. The breakfast menu was varied and we enjoyed everything we tried during our three day stay. All of the staff we encountered at reception, in the bar, and at breakfast were friendly and efficient. We didn't meet the member of staff who cleaned our room but she did a great job.

Hotel is in a good location in the centre of the town. Rooms could do with a refurbishment as are a little dated public areas are fine. WiFi works well. Downside is hotel has recently closed its restaurant so you have to go out for a meal - not too far to walk. Breakfast all cooked from fresh.

Stayed for a weekend for a wedding. Rooms were lovely and clean. Comfortable bed. Food was delicious. Especially breakfast. Lovely welcoming staff. Recommend highly. Ps. George was a very good host. Keep up the good work. :) :)

Stopped here last week with my family, we had a family room and the room was very spacious and the bathroom was a good size too. Very helpful receptionist when we arrived but the only downfall we had was that our room was facing the road and we got woken up by a noisy road sweeper at 6am. But apart from that would stay again.

An large, atmospheric, Georgian hotel in a great location on the main street. Many of the rooms are in the two storey 20th century rear addition. Our room, in the extension, was clean and very comfortable, but felt a little small for a grand hotel. Nice full English breakfast and good common areas. Wi-fi was promised throughout, but there was no coverage at all in the rear section. There's a very handy car park at the rear, but it's first come, first served and only holds 9 vehicles. Pay and display parking is available outside and is free overnight.

This hotel was perfect for a business weekend, I even felt like I was on holiday! Caroline at reception was an absolute gem, truly one of a kind! Lisa also very friendly and always up for a chat! These were the only two receptionists I met but I'm sure they all conform to the standards set. Jordan behind the bar was brilliant, great character and was always interested in asking about your day! All in all a great stay and would seriously recommend.

Hotel has recently had a makeover of its front room and bar which is an improvement Rooms comfortable but if facing road can be noisy WiFi is sub functional for a hotel of this class Breakfast a real highlight

Great location and breakfast was lovely. (Only meal we ate at the hotel). Staff were pleasant and attentive. I felt there was some room for improvement on cleanliness. There was a fair bit of dust and cobwebs in places, around the windows and corners but bathroom and bedding looked crisp and clean.

Comfy bar, and hotel seems to have been recently refurbished. Medium sized town centre hotel with a good feel to it. The excellent staff were busy all the time, sometimes multitasking from reception to the bar. Car park only 8 cars but long stay public car park nearby is fine. Buy a £4 ticket for 24 hours and the hotel refund so no problem. The restaurant menu I would describe as unexciting. But reading the reviews it was not always like this and chefs come and go. The restaurant itself is quite pleasant. Anyway, plenty of other options yards away - Wetherspoons for cheap breakfast, up market Indian opposite, Thai next door with lots of plastic flowers, and chain options like PizzaExpress about ten mins walk at the Brewery complex. Dorchester is a central location for lots of interesting things. And if you are interested in town planning go look at Poundbury, a mile away - Prince Charles' development

The staff were amazing. The chef at this hotel cooked beautiful food. Portion sizes were excellent and each course was beautifully presented! A varied and appealing menu. The staff looked after the group really well and were very accommodating. We had a private room to ourselves which was perfect for our family get together. Nothing was too much trouble! I highly recommend this place!

Excellent hotel. Room very clean and well equipped ie blinds and curtains, desk fan, bottled water, hot chocolate, box truffles. Location good, near to places to eat. Breakfast really good, best yoghurt ever, hot food cooked to order. Staff very welcoming. Would certainly recommend this as a place to stay.

My partner and I booked in for 2 nights bed and breakfast in a double room. We were looking forward to our break until we got to the reception to book in .A Receptionist with a very annoying atitude told told us they only had one room available and it was a twin room. I did complain but was told that was the only room available. We were then told we had to pay extra for our breakfast and do we want to book the breakfast for the 2 days. I said I understood that it was included and the lady at reception just said no very rudely. I then said to the lady ok if that was the only room , there is not a lot I could do as it was a bank holiday and everywhere else would be booked. I then asked her to book us in their restaurant for our evening meal. Her answer was they haven't had a chef for weeks who would work at weekends, but if we wanted to get a takeaway we could eat it at one of the tables in the restaurant. My reply was we were not told this when booking and it was disgusting. The lady just smiled and said well its been like that for ages. We were then shown to our room and she went back to the reception. As we had had a long drive and I was quite tired I decided to have a lay down, as now we would have to drive again to find somewhere to eat. The bed was so uncomfortable I went to get up and one side of the bed almost collapsed. I went to the reception to tell the same lady and her reply was no one else has ever complained about the state of the mattress. In our conversation she repeated this 4 times. I then got quite annoyed and said I will not pay for a room I can not sleep in. Her reply was she would give us someone else's room who had not yet booked in, and when they come to book in they can have your original room. I really feel sorry for the other people as I don't think they will get any sleep as well as no food. I would never come to this hotel again , it is disgraceful.

I stayed here Fri-Monday. Room was excellent, staff were exceptional so much so I asked to speak to the CEO. I was actually given his mobile number which he answered immediately when I rang him from the train station. I can actually see where all the grace, courtesy and excellent customer service cones from within the family as he went on to tell me about his aunt. If every hotel was run with this excellence what a happy bunnies we would all be. Nothing was too much trouble for them. 5? Thank you to everyone who looked after me

Excellent hotel and service, panicked a bit when realised there was no lift but the wonderful man at check in took our two cases and carried them up stairs for us. Lovely room (Superior) very oldy worldly even a fire place in the room and the creaky floorboards added to the charm, will certainly think about re-visiting

Just back home from our annual stay at this hotel. As always, no negatives to write about the hotel. Pleasant staff, Steve the Manager is a great guy, has time to listen to you. We look forward to coming here for our stay and I am already getting dates together to book up for 2019. Ten out of ten.

We stayed here for two nights, in a very comfortable room, bright, airy and clean. All you could ask for really. Nice comfortable lounge/bar area with deep sofas and a small but definitely not intrusive tv at one end too. The breakfast choice certainly suited 3 out of our party, but with no natural yoghurt available, or a wider more plentiful selection of cut up fresh fruit, the birthday girl herself didn't actually partake of the breakfast on our second day. The choices however suited the rest of us, and all the waiting staff were really sweet, and helpful, and the food was hot and tasty when arrived. There seemed to be a shortage of staff on the Sunday afternoon, as there was no availability of even a sandwich to purchase, and the restaurant was not open on either night of our stay so we cannot comment on the quality of the meals other than the breakfast. Would definitely stay here again if we were looking to stay in the area. Car parking is at a premium in their small car park, but from 6 pm on the Saturday night to 8 am on the Monday morning, parking is free out the front of the hotel.

From the moment we checked in you are made to feel welcome. The rooms were comfortable/well decorated /bright and had all you could want provided. The only disappointment for me was the lack of cut up fruit/natural yoghurt and sugar free cereals. If you don't eat breads or a cooked breakfast the table was sadly lacking. Well situated with professional helpful staff who only want to make your stay the best it could be. Would recommend.

I was in town for business and needed a reasonably-priced bed for the night. It's a lovely old building and the staff team is really friendly. I was in a single room at the very top (not a problem for me, but no lift) which was small but had everything I needed...bar air conditioning in the midst of the heatwave! Breakfast was tasty with good ingredients. Would definitely stay there again, though perhaps in a larger room.

Business trip in this area and needed a room. The reception, bar and dinning room are small but very nice and reasonable modern so great marks there. The room was also a great surprise with plenty of space and a good sized on suite bathroom. I do have a couple of points I'd ask the management to consider: Scrap the 90's plugged in alarm clock with red numbers as in 2018 this just looks cheap and too bright for sleeping. Please get a longer hose for the shower, the head can go higher but the hose is too short for the 6 ft plus person. And sparking water is not for everyone. A bottle of still instead of sparking would have been great. Very minor points and maybe I'm being picky but also easy to fix. That said I was very impressed.

I don't get to stay in this hotel that often but I wish I did. The age of the building really shines through with every wall and corridor just slightly curved or off-square because it is so old, but only in a very good way! Full of character. I also have to give a name check to Caroline on reception as well who rushed around and sorted me out with food and parking when I arrived late at night, she was great.

We came here as wedding guests. The food was fantastic. The service was impeccable. The whole day was magical. We really enjoyed everything. The drinks were reasonably priced too. we didn't stay here but wouldn't hesitate to.

We stopped here for a night on spec. Reception staff were very welcoming, helped us with luggage to our room (no elevators as the hotel is in a listed building). Room was a good size, quite quiet (at the back of the hotel), small but decent bathroom. The only reason I haven't given this '4 stars' is that the breakfast was something of a let down. Rubbery scrambled eggs that were close to inedible.

Excellant staff. Great rooms. Staff were amazing and so helpful. Chef came out and sujected a dish that wasnt on menu and he cooked especially for us. Will our waiter was great. Difinately worth a visit.

My wife and I stayed here for 1 night, I don't think I've stayed in a hotel where the staff are more accommodating and friendly. We had a lovely room which was clean and well presented. It was a little warm when we stayed but the staff had opened the windows and set up a fan before our arrival. I would have no hesitation in recommending or staying here again.

No impressed at all. We've just stayed here for 4 nights(27/06/18). The decor is nice, being contemporary but in an old building which is a combination we liked. I feel we should have been advised on booking that a wedding was taking place, and when we were told this only on arrival we were also assured the loud music would finish at 11.30 which of course it didn't. Our room was tidy and clean but of all the odd things, we had the frequent noise of other rooms waste water passing down pipework inside the wall just by our headboard! The supplies in our room were not checked, ie soap dispenser ran out whilst we were there but was not restocked. The parking is also a bit of a nightmare here.There are nowhere near enough spaces in the courtyard car park and you will easily find yourself blocked in by others who can't take a proper space.The pay and display alternative is not in sight from the hotel and is further away than we were told. Breakfast Sunday morning wasn't pleasant at all. There was no fresh fruit put out as per the menu and when I asked the waitress for some, I was told 'we don't have any as the delivery is 12pm' ??!! A subsequent enquiry with a waiter produced the fresh fruit, the waitress it seemed just couldnt be bothered, which showed in her manner. Then the waiter brought out our cooked order immediately after finding the fruit, which of course we had no chance to eat! We later, at the same breakfast, heard the waiter speak in such a condescending manner to a couple who came down for breakfast but hadn't pre booked. Errors with orders and service were common at breakfast and also things on the menu not being available. Perhaps unsurprisingly we decided we wouldn't eat there in the evenings after our first days experience as Dorchester has plenty of choice for good restaurants and bars anyway. Some of the other staff were excellent however but it really was a bit of a lottery - I was made to feel awkward for asking for a table to be cleared of many old empty glasses when there were 4 staff behind a bar serving only 1 person, this was the same young man who I've mentioned above with the condescending manner! Add to this an outside seating/smoking area that was badly neglected regarding cleanliness(filthy tables and always old glasses and bottles left there) and it really does tell you that some of the staff let this hotel down badly. The outside smoking area was the only outside seating we found. Sometimes arriving back at the hotel and parking the car you would find staff smoking,standing next to the rear entrance door, which I find really unpleasant. Other staff worth mentioning are the lady who was on reception when we arrived Saturday, who was always friendly and helpful, the young girl who's first day as a waitress was on Monday morning and was the best of all the waiting staff and lastly the general manager, who dealt with our checkout on Wednesday morning and even though it was the first time we had seen him he didn't even bother to ask us if we had enjoyed our stay!! We have been to many best western hotels(platinum reward members) and they are usually our first choice if our destination has one, but this hotel was one or our least enjoyable experiences and I wouldn't recommend or go back to it.

stayed for 1 night, given rooms in courtyard (carpark) Apparently building was a coaching inn originally. Hotel is well located close to museums and 1 block from wetherspoons. Found staff friendly and helpful. Rooms are nice , no air con but fan provided. all usual amenities provided, plus rather nice hot choc in with coffee and teas. Parking limited

The receptionist male is a discredit to the hotel. Rude and obnoxious. Even simple requests were not answered. I understand it may be difficult for you to recruit appropriate staff, but rudeness is one.

I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. The hotel is beautiful. I know some people have commented on the lack of a lift, but it is a listed building and a lift is not possible - to be honest, it would spoil the hotel. I am DEFINITELY going to stay there again if I am lucky enough to be in that part of the world. Surprised it is only 3 star. I would give it 5.

Everything on the whole was very good during my stay. Room was comfortable with all amenities. Staff were very helpful and friendly. Restaurant was okay if you are a meat eater, not so good for vegetarians. I stayed 3 nights and had to have the same veggie meal twice. I went out the 3rd night.

We stayed here for two nights on our way back from Cornwall. The hotel is delightful and warrants more than a 3 star rating. The staff were so friendly and helpful, and although we had arrived a little too early for check-in, they looked after our luggage whilst we went for a stroll into Dorchester. The hotel is quaint, with lots of different levels, which just added to the charm for us, and when we returned from our walk, our luggage was taken to our room. My husband had booked a superior room, which was larger than average and had complimentary water (still and sparkling) ,tea/coffee and biscuits, hairdryer, and also an iron and ironing board (may of their customers are corporate clients, so this is quite useful !!). There was also a huge bed and really good quality bedding and pillows, and the towels in the en-suite were soft and fluffy. Plenty of complimentary toiletries here too. The hotel has a nice comfortable lounge, with very" boutique" furnishings, and wi-fi is free throughout. Whilst there was a dining room serving breakfast and lunch, the receptionist told us that they no longer did evening meals, but gave us a list of places within the vicinity that had been recommended by their customers.( We can heartily recommend the Rajpoot, Indian Restaurant just over the road from the hotel !!) Breakfast was superb; freshly cooked to order (with properly made toast-not one of those awful machines that lots of hotels install so that guests can make their own !). If there is a slight downside to the Wessex Royale, then it has to be the parking. Luckily, we managed on both evenings of our stay to park within the small courtyard that is just at the rear of the hotel; otherwise you can park on the road at the front of the hotel for free between six at night and eight o clock in the morning ;but remember to put a ticket on after that (and you only get an hours parking here). All in all, a very pleasant stay.

With kind and caring staff to welcome you after a long drive and beautiful rooms that are both stylish and very clean you melt in to the tranquillity of Dorchester and a good hotel pit stop. Beds and bathrooms beyond adequate. Breakfast a very good choice indeed and peaceful surroundings in which to enjoy. Location is top with museums, great restaurants and views this is brilliant place to pull up for a few nights. Many thanks to all the lovely staff M & T

We attended a wedding here and stayed the night ,was shown to room, really large and comfy bed, mineral water, tea, coffee and biscuits, bit noisy outside window in morning, breakfast was a little over cooked, service was superb throughout, meal at wedding was really nice, Buffet at wedding was of a good standard , would recommend this hotel,

Right in the middle of town, very limited parking. Stairs to negotiate. Walked right out into the city centre. Pleasant staff. Dining room nice and food excellent, staff very helpful and efficient. Would stay again

We had a very pleasant stay at this hotel, its location is ideal for visiting Dorchester and the surrounding area, within easy walking for the railway station. Room was comfortable, excellent shower. The restaurant area for breakfast was good and an excellent choice

Short one night trip in this hotel whilst in the area on work, greeted by a friendly and extremely helpful lady in reception (wish I got her name, one of the best hotel staff members I have come across in years!!) who was rushing from position to position as she was in on her own, but still took the time to personally walk everyone to their room. Reception, halls and room was of a great standard, I wonder if the hotel has had some recent investment? The catch 22 mentioned in the title comes in regards to room selection, I had a top floor room which was well away from any quiet areas but with a distinct lack of AC became very hot during a 20oc sunny day with only a small desk fan to help (which it didn't). Room floors and surrounding corridors was very creaky and no doubt very disturbing from any room below. Ate at the restaurant for breakfast only, good quality and choice of food. Not sure why this is a 3 star hotel! Would expect it to be at least a 4

A lovely hotel right in the middle of Dorchester. The room was large, the bed was really comfy, the food was good, the car park was rubbish, the staff were really lovely, I can highly recommend it. Excellent stay.

Stayed several nights here, though we ate breakfast down the street, and lunch and brew at Wetherspoons 100 feet away. Hotel was full most nights, so lucky to have a room. No refrigerator in our room, but cold enough to store white wine next to the window.

Stayed at the Royal Wessex for a weekend exploring Dorset. We decided to splash out and book one of the suites which was a lovely room with four poster bed and separate sitting room. The room was well provisioned with tea making facilities, biscuits, bottled water and unusual for most hotels, a decent iron and ironing board. We dined in one night, the restaurant is very nice but we did think the menu was a bit limited. If you want to eat out the there is a very good Thai restaurant next door and a host of eateries around Brewery Square. The choices for breakfast were excellent ranging from a full English to Eggs Benedict. If you intend stopping in Dorchester, this would be a very good choice. Free parking at the rear of the hotel.

After a not so good experience on my previous visit, I am please to say that this visit was fantastic Very comfortable and quiet room (at the back) Staff really helpful WiFi was working Very satisfied with the trip

Currently staying in the hotel, and am not impressed so far! I booked it because I have a meeting in Dorchester tomorrow, and I was looking forward to stress free parking and being able to walk to my meeting in the morning. When you tap on the P icon on their website, it says 'free on site parking'. I also put a note in my reservation, that said specifically, 'car parking requested and appreciated.' I arrived around 7:30pm after a 6 hour drive, ready to do a bit more work in preparation for my meeting tomorrow, so I'm a bit exhausted, get to the car park, it is absolutely rammed, with people parking people in. I ring the front desk to ask what the deal is, is there any other parking, the receptionist says the website says there is limited parking, (which is not true on all parts of the website) and I have to pay for parking down the road. She starts asking weird questions like 'am I facing up or down the street,' I am not from here, I do not know! I start driving all around to avoid having to drag my bags down the road in the rain, and get parking in the back on the street. She admitted that they should have picked up on my request for parking and told me the situation, but she did not offer to pay for parking, or anything else. So I'm very wet from walking around in the rain looking at various parking meters, and ask for clarification about parking out back. But she doesn't know anything about that, stares me down, and I eventually go back to my room in stunned silence over the past 1.5 hours of driving around the hotel and walking around in the rain. I stay in a lot of hotels, about 2-3 per week. A good hotel notices that you are there for business, you are tired, and even if you are a bit upset from several hours at work or in a car, tries to make you feel at home and at ease. After driving up at 7.30pm, getting a very snippy receptionist who 'doesn't know what I want her to do about it', I feel anything but, and will not be happy to have to get back up at 7 to feed the meter. I then ring for the wifi password, as there is no service in the hotel, and she tells me the password, snaps that it is on my room key card and hangs up on me with no goodbye. So, all in all, very unhelpful staff, crappy parking, and misleading website. Clean enough room, a bit dusty and dated. Who knows, hopefully they will turn it around by the end of my stay.

My husband and I stayed here for three nights. We had room 101. Large bed, spacious room. This room does look out onto a busy road but traffic noise isn't too bad. We had breakfast included and there was a good choice of breakfast, a full English, kippers, salmon and scrambled eggs or pancakes. Pancakes were very nice. Staff very friendly and helpful. Has a very nice lounge/bar area for a drink. Located within easy walking distance to pubs, shops and restaurants. Would definitely recommend staying at this hotel.

Another stay at the Wessex Royale. This time for pleasure rather than business. Paid a visit just a few hundred yards down the road to the Dippy the Dinosaur Exhibition. Even closer is the Tutankhamen Exhibition. There is so much to do in Dorchester these days. The addition of nearby Brewery Square and Poundbury has boosted the prosperity of the town. This hotel shows excellent signs of investment which makes each stay even more enjoyable. The refurbished entrance lounge bar area is one example. It is beautiful, warm and relaxing. The hotel is immaculate throughout with modern bathroom fittings and fixtures. Rooms have a good selection of satellite TV stations. We were personally shown to our room which was a nice touch. Staff were all very friendly and efficient in particular the lady who manages breakfast. Despite its very central location the rooms are to the rear which makes for a peaceful nights sleep. I highly recommend this hotel which delivers far more than its current 3 star rating.

Stayed at the Wessex Royale Dorchester for the first time through a recommendation. Very friendly helpful staff, excellent cleanliness throughout, real homely feel, very comfortable room. The breakfast was freshly cooked and was thoroughly enjoyable. All for an extremely affordable cost. Would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this hotel and would have rated it much higher than the three stars it currently holds.

Stayed for one night having not been in the area for a couple of years - hotel has been very nicely redecorated, and still offers very friendly welcoming service. Comfortable bed in a nice room, good breakfast, great value for money

Stayed here to visit Dippy, and so a great location to the Dorset County Museum. Also close to 2 bus-stops in either direction to Weymouth, or Bridport, Lyme Regis or Axminster. Limited parking on site, maybe 6-10 places, need to contact hotel for alternative locations. Friendly and helpful staff.

Popped in after visiting Dippy as they had an offer on (kids eat free) for lunch. Appears to have been recently refurbished and is a very pleasant space. I wasn't expecting a lot to be honest, but the lunch menu had plenty of choices and when the food arrived it was one of the best meals I've had for ages. Brilliant value for money and friendly service. Highly recommended.

stayed one night, The staff were very friendly and helpful from the moment we checked in. Room was very clean and tidy thanks obviously to the hardworking housekeeping staff. WIFI was excellent. Although the room was on the front we experienced very little traffic noise.

When first arrived, found us Rm 4 next to courtyard parking. Then days later, approaching snow, found us the same room and parking though full. Rapid service (eve, front desk clerk delivered) within 2 minutes. Witherspoon's and Costa nearby for modest fare and great brews, both bean & hop varieties. Free newspaper of choice.

My husband and I visited here for an evening meal. We had 3 coarses and found them all lovely. There was enough on the plate and the chefs presentation of them was excellent. Our waiter, Callum, was very pleasant and not intrusive.

Very attractive hotel in centre of Dorchester (A Market town) Fits in well with centre of town - Although expensive worth every penny for that special night / day Hotel service very high standered ( The saying a customer is king treat them like one) is certainly instilled in staff Well done The Royal

We liked the hotel and area and extended our stay, nothing was too much trouble and the staff friendly.Sam gave us good dining advice and was very personable. The four poster bed and room with spa bath were very comfortable and spacious,the decor was tasteful and in fitting for a historic hotel , fab.Thank you for a lovely relaxing stay, we definitely would return.

We stayed here while visiting relatives last week. We had a tastefully furnished family room on the 2nd floor which was very spacious and had everything we needed including armchairs and a small table as well as a writing desk. Very pleasant bathroom with great shower over the bath, huge bed which was so comfortable with warm but very light duvet, plentiful tea tray with biscuits and water too. Our daughter had a full size, very comfy bed. Good food - we ate in twice, as well as breakfast. As always at BW, lovely, helpful staff. The location, friendly staff, beautifully light duvets all mean a return visit in the not too distant future.

We stayed here for 2 nights this weekend. When we checked in the staff member was quite cold and unfriendly, especially as we told them we were celebrating a special birthday. Our room was like walking into a cupboard in the corner - door opened outwards and wasn't normal width. The room was run down with cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and the bathroom was very dated. You literally walked up a ramp into the bathroom the floor was that uneven. THERE IS NO CAR PARKING - despite what the site says there are only spaces for about 8 cars and not once all weekend was this available. So be prepared to pay for parking nearby in town. If I had known this before booking I would have gone elsewhere. To make it worse when we checked out I spent 10 minutes arguing with them that I had already paid - I had confirmation emails and showed them my online banking. In the end they agreed to it, but they clearly didn't have good admin systems. There is free WiFi. Not a great experience and I wouldn't go back.

My husband and I stayed here last weekend for 1 night, room 109. Everything was clean and comfortable, the staff were helpful and friendly and even though it is a large hotel on the high street in Dorchester, it had the feeling of a smaller more intimate hotel,which was lovely. Although the car park is small we had no trouble parking but there is a big car just a couple of minutes walk away if theirs was full. We didn't eat there as had a table booked somewhere else, our reason for being on Dorchester, but the menu looked lovely and the restaurant looked busy as we were going out Saturday night, so the food must be good. We don't live too far from Dorchester so will be coming back to sample the cuisine ?? Our room faced the high street but we were not disturbed by traffic or people going past. It was quite big too and lovely and clean and the bed was very comfortable. Would definitely recommend if you need somewhere to stay on a visit

We stayed for 2 nights at the hotel, we have never been to Dorchester before but the staff were excellent and suggested a Italian restaurant for us and even phoned them to make our reservation. The room was clean and warm with plenty of supplies for the bathroom and drinks. All the staff from the reception, dining room and night porter were very friendly and helpful. A credit to the hotel.

Stayed here very last minute with my other half as we were staying late in town. We had a lovely stay! On arrival the receptionist was so friendly and helpful! The room was really fab, very clean, comfy bed and would definitely like to stay again.

Stopped only one night in this grade 2 listed building, lovely and quaint with uneven flooring and lots of twists and turns to find your rooms. The bedroom and bathroom were immaculately clean. The staff were very efficient and polite. Breakfast was very good. Would recommend to anyone who wants to stop in the area.

Lovely hotel very clean rooms the Lady on reception was excellent the food was delicious nothing was too much trouble only problem was the mattress in our room was rock hard well done staff keep up the hard work

The good: Hotel was beautiful. The staff could not have been more helpful. The lady at reception conducted me to my room personally and explained the heating. Room was lovely, bed very comfortable and the complimentary water and newspaper were very welcome. The bad. The car park is a little cramped. The room was a bit cold and despite having the heater on all night, didn't warm up all that much. Possibly due to it being an old building with old windows. The worst of the bad happened at dinner. The menu was rather meat-centric. However I chose to eat there and had fish which was very nice. For pudding I requested lemon posset. When it arrived, I was on social media with my cousin who was posting photos of his meal in Edinburgh. The lemon posset looked lovely so I took a photo to post to my cousing - 1st photo in the attached series. I then moved the shortbread to one side to get to the posset and was shocked to see that instead of a light fluffy texture, I had been served a dish that was dried up and cracked and appeared to have been left out for hours (second photo in series). What was worse was the fact that the garnish of red sauce, strawberries and shortbread had clearly been arranged, with copious amounts of icing sugar, to conceal the inedible state of the pudding. I complained to the waitress who was very helpful and took it right back to the restaurant. She returned to say the chef was very apologetic, and these lemon possets were from yesterday, but the new batch he had made today weren't quite set. I said I would like to have one of the fresh ones even if it was not quite ready. Returning from the kitchen, she said that the chef said they were just completely liquid and really not ready to eat. I cannot help but question that the existence of the new batch of lemon possets. These dishes do not last 24 hours so they should have been disposed of and a new batch made with enough time to set. Failing that, it should have been removed from the menu. The waitress offered me something else, so I chose a cheesecake which was very nice. I was not charged for the pudding. Several things are disappointing about this experience: 1. The chef should not serve old food that is not fit to eat. 2. The chef should not attempt to disguise food that is not fit to eat in order to con the customer into eating it and not realising just how unpalatable it is. 3. The final straw was when I returned to my room and realised that the 'shortbread' that on the menu was listed as accompanying the lemon posset and which had been used to attempt to disguise the dried out cracks was in fact the same as the biscuits provided in the room to go with the tea or coffee. I have not given a low rating because it was a pleasure to stay in the hotel and the staff were top rate. However I would be reluctant to risk eating there again which is a shame.

Room was a little compact with very dated furniture and carpet. Bathroom and breakfast was exceptional. Communal areas are stunning and service is okay. Can't be a little rushed and busy at the bar. Parking is an issue during festive seasons.

Stayed here for one night whilst in the area for a wedding in room 108. The room itself was a decent size but the bed was small. I think it was a small double rather than a full sized double bed. We probably would have booked somewhere else if we had known this as it was an uncomfortable night's sleep for both myself and my fiancé. We were also kept awake by the light in the corridor shining into the room through the cracks in the door. Breakfast was cooked to order, which was really nice.

Our group of around 20 attended the Wessex Royale for a charity event in their function room, it was a quiz and on arrival they had laid out paper on each table and pencils for us which was completely unexpected and showed that they had put thought into our visit. We were there for a good few hours and all ordered drink, and most of us ordered food from the bar which has a separate access for the function room so you don't have to queue up with everyone else, and they were just friendly, professional and courteous throughout. Would recommend their services to anyone.

I stayed here a year ago. At that time there were some refurbishments on-going. It was pleasing to return again and see the outcome of the changes. The initial appearance and feel for the hotel is transformed by a high quality entrance. This offers a very comfortable lounge area, with a beautiful fireplace and bar. Carpets appear to have been renewed throughout. I believe that all rooms have now completed their modernisation programmes. The Reception process is very professional and guests are shown to their rooms (a nice touch). My room had a high spec bathroom/shower. Breakfast was excellent and I noted a couple of awards proudly on display. Overall this was great value for money. Impressive.

Cheerful greeting from lady on reception. Very clean and comfortable room. Good nights sleep in comfortable bed. The whole ambiance of the hotel was very good. One minor grouse the shower gel dispenser ran out just before the end of my shower . Overall a great place to stay.

We stayed here before and it was good all round. This time we was not so happy, we booked a ground floor room due to my partner having a disability on arrival we were told we was on the 3rd floor!! Managed to get a room on the 1st floor eventually still a struggle with no lifts. The room we found to be dirty dusty and cold, the bathroom window would not shut properly so there was a draught from the very cold weather outside. The trays with the 3 sachets of coffee and milk cartons was thick of dirt and dust. All the lamps and cabinets had layers of dust on. On going back down to reception to complain, we asked for extra milk to be put in the room we found a jug of milk uncovered on the tray... We felt let down on the stay we had. On checking out and after complaining and making sure it was understood we were not happy and wanting the manager to contact us due to being told he was not in that day, we have now waited 3 days and not heard anything from him. The receptionist wrote everything down that we complained about and was sincere that she was sorry we were not happy. It's a shame the manager couldn't be bothered to listen to his clients or take time to communicate to us. We shall not be returning and wouldn't recommend this hotel for the money we paid it was not worth the visit.

My wife and I stayed at this hotel for two nights. This was a great choice of hotel for us. Although an old building everywhere inside was in a good state of repair. Quiet, comfortable room with a nice bathroom and very confortable bed. We slept like angels. Hotel staff were friendly and efficient, especially John. A good quality breakfast and the cooked option was piping hot. The car park at the rear of the hotel has capacity for 11 (or was it 17?) vehicles and as we arrived later than most the car park was full. But there is a public car park 100 metres up the road, free after 8pm, so it cost us £2.60 to park there until 11am the next day. A minor inconvenience which didn't spoil our stay. A charming old hotel,

We attended a regimental dinner night at the Wessex Royal. We have been going here for about 5 years but I felt particularly disappointed this year. The hotel has had a make over and I like the work that has been done. However we went in in advance to ask that our friend had a different vegetarian meal to what they usually get(risotto), when we sat down for dinner I was embarrassed that they tried to give my friend the same starter as everyone else, the salmon. I explained that she was vegetarian and they went off to make a different starter. Surely this should have been prepared.the vegetarian main was a success and enjoyed by my friend. However we were very disappointed in the starter, main and desert. It did not impress and the lemon posset was a runny mess. We also felt that the service could have been better. We had our starter and then they brought out the bread rolls! Very strange! Overall not the best experience. There is definitely room for improvement

Our second visit. The first time we were put up on the second or possibly third floor and we asked to be moved. This time, when we booked we asked for a room nearer reception. We were on the first floor but at the farthest end as far from reception as it was possible to get. When I queried this there was some sort of explanation about rooms being booked but the hotel was by no means full. The food is nicely cooked but breakfast takes ages to arrive. It is all very well cooking to order but surly managing a few orders at once should be possible ... I have been there and done that so do know how! At the moment we are not sure if we will return. It is a lovely building in a perfect position but for a business trip isn't quite right.

This hotel is located on the main high street, but only a short walk to the café area of Old Brewery Square. Its rooms are in the main house or the former stables so that are not corporate as you would find in a modern hotel. The rooms are very comfortable and well appointed. Always go with the breakfast deal as it is extremely good. It does have an on site restaurant and the chef is accommodating if you want to mix and match his menu. Warning the car park entered from the rear is very small and has limited space, you may have to park in the road overnight for which there is a charge.

Had to come to Dorchester on business and chose this hotel due to the good price. And I will say, I am happy that I did. As my family came with , I took a family room. It was lovely and spacious and clean. The only down side is the family rooms are on the second floor. We had breakfast and there is a good selection to choose from. Well worth the stay.

I had a room in the new section of this hotel - the walls were very thin and the corridor very noisy - poor nights sleep as a result - Kept awake other guests until after 0100 and woken at 0600. WiFi problems continue for this establishment despite a new server - There is no access to WiFi in the cross link corridor rooms.

We only stayed the one night but our room had everything we could have wanted. Wifi was free. Staff very helpful. My partner had a full English breakfast which he enjoyed. I prefer lots of fruit and cereal which was fine. My only complaint would be that the choice of fruit was poor.

Got married here so wanted to return again for anniversary dinner. My husband had 6 oz steak and chips then Eton mess cheesecake served in a killer jar. He enjoyed it but eating a posh meal out of a preserving jar not attractive and detracted from the desert. Eating out should be about enhancing dining experience not diminishing it. Shame to spoil a good desert with 'trendy' presentation. Stick to classics for posh meals . I had cheese and chutney sandwich , salad and crisps then gooey, warm chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream, superb. Refreshing to be allowed to choose a sand which for dinner. I am vegetarian and not keen on white pastry or pasta or white rice so delicious whole meal sandwich was lovely and good value. Service was ok but we had to amble about to try and attract some attention before we could get a drink and be shown to restaurant. Nice ambience, pleasant evening. Bar man doubled up as waiter, very pleasant but could use some bar tending skills regarding knowledge of drinks etc. Husband asked for draught beer and nearly ended up with draught larger. He had Doom Bar , bottled, very nice. Overall I recommend this. £5 for really nice sandwich, salad and crisps served in evening, is excellent. So pleased I could order just what I really wanted for dinner.

Fantastic...clean room and very posh,comfy beds we had a superior double.. and even though it is on the high street not too much noise from the traffic,hotel bar was lovely and staff couldn't be more helpful.Parking is limited but overall have no complaints at all...breakfast was yummy!!!The hotel is warm throughout and even though there was a wedding taking place,not noisy or overcrowded.

Have stayed here before and really enjoyed it - the rooms, staff and restaurant made a lovely stay. Recommended it to relatives from abroad meeting up for a family event. This time it was less satisfactory, and the rooms seem more expensive. The receptionist was very nice and helpful, also the night porter. Our room was 'superior' but unlike in previous visits, it was small and cramped, and the decor although clean and tidy was quite dated, especially in the bathroom which was really cramped, the over-bath shower especially - cue bruises on elbow from badly placed soap dish. There was no kettle with the tea-making tray. One was brought up straight away, but I later saw another guest taking a kettle into his room, which he had had to go and get. Our relatives had nicer rooms, thankfully - larger with good bathrooms. The real disappointment came with dinner. Had two good evening meals in the past, a lovely experience. This time, our group was handed menus with quite boring choices, much like pub food really (a shame as had had similar pub meal elsewhere for lunch). The service was incredibly slow, though only a few tables occupied, and the lone waitress seemed as though she could not be bothered. We asked for water for example, and she brought three glasses (prebooked table set for five). When the remaining two people joined us shortly afterwards, we had to ask for glasses for them. An initial enquiry about pre-dinner drinks before the food was not repeated, so the meal was 'dry' apart from water, no wine or other drinks offered. There was no sense of occasion. It felt very lacklustre. The service was slow and disinterested, with virtually nil eye contact. The meals were mostly only so-so, but the sea bass was so overcooked it was sent back, and not replaced for over 15 minutes - how long does it take to cook sea bass fillets? By then the rest of us had finished our main course. The new plate was just put there, no explanation or comment. The whole meal took nearly two hours. In answer to another review, the manager writes that diners are asked if their meals are satisfactory but nobody asked us. On leaving saw a 'specials' board that was not obvious (behind where we came in), which we were not told about, but had some really interesting nice dishes on it. We could have had a much better dinner. When asked why, the waitress did not explain why she had not bothered to tell us about it. This was the first time in 15 years we had all been together, and the occasion should have been so much better. Breakfast also disappointing. Cannot imagine how they won 'awards' for it. A small self-service counter had packets of Kelloggs etc. but no proper muesli. Some slices of pineapple and melon had clearly been prepared hours earlier as looked dried up. Very little other fruit choices. There was no natural yoghurt, only the sugared kind which two of us could not eat.(they had 'run out'). The cooked breakfast was only alright, the baked beans barely lukewarm and too unappetising to eat. Having waited ages for the ordered toast, I actually had to get up and open the kitchen door to ask for it. The same waitress as previous night was just standing around in there apparently with nothing to do, having disappeared from the breakfast room ages before. Toast came out quite charred. The tea was weak (one teabag in a whole 2/3 person pot). On checkout I queried the 'superior' room designation and mentioned the above problems with dinner and breakfast. I was told the manager might contact me by email, but as yet (four days later) have heard nothing, even though I have since also queried the room on the hotel's website enquiry form. Sadly something seems to have changed and it was not the same good experience as before. Really sorry as it was quite special before.

Just an overnight stop on the way to the West Country, but just delightful. A real, traditional hotel with professional caring staff - especially the lovely lady on the Reception (and the bar, and the restaurant!) who took real interest in our needs, gave us a lovely room on the first floor, and was a credit to the establishment. Well done. It's a traditional building, so parking on-site is a bit tight, but no problem - there's plenty of meter parking outside @ just 50p overnight - and a big public car park round the corner. Thoroughly recommended.

Stayed here for business. Had a very small but very clean bedroom. The hotel is well located in the centre and near the hospital. The restaurant doesn't look like much but the evening meal we had was good. The service was incredibly slow, given how empty the place was, but not a huge problem.

Stayed here on business last week. Service was very good with the female receptionist very friendly (apparently she was new). The Check In experience was very friendly and all information was given well. She was welcoming and showed me to my room. Dinner in the restaurant was excellent. I had the scallops, pork belly and posset. With two beers, it came to about £30 which I thought was very reasonable a hotel of this standard. The room was large and homely. Complimentary newspaper was a nice touch. The bed was very comfortable and I slept well. The bathroom was modern and clean. Managed to get a car parking spot even though I arrived at 20:30, so no issues there.

I booked this hotel because it was adjacent to my destination. However, it exceeded my expectations. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Without being asked the receptionist gave me a double room on floor 1 as all the single rooms were on floor 3. The room itself was spotlessly clean and comfortably furnished. The wifi was superfast as advertised. Breakfast was excellent. If I am again in Dorchester I would have no hesitation in booking this hotel again.

Welcoming staff. Clean room. Great Breakfasts. Nothing negative to write hence that's why we keep coming back - and yes, we have already booked next year's stay. There's a lovely park around the back that is well kept, its clean, has a section for those keep fit enthusiasts who want to work out in pleasant surroundings.

Stayed a week here for a business trip and was delighted. My "room" was more a flat. Huge! Was offered assistance with my bags there is no lift and was shown around. Breakfast is a lovely relaxed affair with friendly waitresses and many options. Parking is abysmal BUT the "top of the town" carpark is very cheap at £1 for an overnight stay and only 100yd walk. Will definately return when next in the area.

We were staying for a wedding. We had a suite which was clean, comfortable spacious. No extra frills but very good for 3 star. Staff friendly and efficient, offering to carry luggage, ordering taxi etc. A couple of niggles, two tv's and neither was working......explanation " We have a problem with them that we can't fix." Offered and requested newspaper...it didn't arrive......explanation " If it wasn't outside your door, then the van didn't deliver it." Re tv.....is there not a spare tv in the whole hotel? Re newspaper.....go to the shop? Was it ordered? No one had a newspaper outside their door, so don't offer in the first place! We had lunch, dinner and breakfast all very good. Elderly mother booked in to room 300-- lovely room but three steep flights of stairs so beware! Would stay but recommend with a couple of caveats....... Very limited parking.

We received a lovely warm friendly welcome from Lisa on reception when we arrived at the hotel, she showed us to our room, and told us the history of the building. Our room was clean, and had everything we could of needed. We ate in the restaurant, and the plaice and pork belly were excellent. The only thing that may affect some travellers is that there is no lift, as the building is a grade 2 listed building.

No lift so rang in advance of arrival requiring ground floor room - given to someone else when I arrived. Price quoted at booking (by a third party) had changed. Evening meal was poor, one meal had to be sent back and belly pork should be soft. Breakfast the next morning was well below average, especially for the price. Informed Reception that breakfast would NOT be required the next day and that I would not expect to be charged for this - assured that this would be taken care of straight away ....... guess what? Car park very cramped. One member of staff was very helpful but seemed to have to spend most of her time ;firefighting'

Really lovely Grade 2 listed building. So uneven squeaky floors but really done up well. Nice decor. Great room with En suite which was clean as was the room. Really friendly staff.. Lisa met us and was super helpful and informative. Showed us to our room personally, offered the free newspaper. When we came back that evening Graham, the Night Porter who also served in the bar. Regaled us with local history & stories. We'd definitely go back again.

The staff were friendly, the breakfast was good. Coffee...debatable. Clean enough, not spotless. Room, terrible. Bed was uncomfortable and not level, walls soo thin your could hear all the detail of neighbouring room. Plumbing was very noisy. Told receptionist our problem, they couldn't move us as fully booked, but would get maintenance to look at it. When we returned for 2nd night, bed was still very much uncomfortable and not level. I also told receptionist on the following morning we were disappointed, all she could say was, it was a shame and there were no other complaints....... If you're staying in room 301, take a lilo and some earplugs.

We were welcomed to the hotel by Caroline who was very friendly and helpful so the stay got off to a good start. The public rooms are nice enough but the hotel is let down by poor organisation. Our room was small but an adequate size for a short stay, however the bed had definitely seen better days. The mattress was very uncomfortable and made for a poor nights sleep. We had dinner a couple of times in the hotel and the food was no more than ok. Breakfasts were a disaster, food constantly ran out and staff did not seem to notice. On two mornings we asked for croissants which had run out and were told there would be a 15 minute wait while chef cooked some more! My husband had the full English breakfast a couple of times which was less than inspiring. On one morning he had the eggs benedict which consisted of two rock hard poached eggs on toasted muffins with a splodge of a greasy sauce on the side.

Arriving unexpectedly on a weekday evening because we needed a break on our drive from Sussex to Devon, we were warmly greeted by a very helpful lady who helped us to find a room in our budget which suited our needs perfectly. Room 212 was on the quiet side of the hotel and housed a 4 poster (very high climb to the top of the mattress!) and enough room to relax in easy chairs and enjoy a cuppa or watch TV. There was a good sized bathroom with both a walk in shower and a jacuzzi bath. THe small box of 6 violet and Rose cream chocolates was a nice touch. Breakfast was good with a wide choice. The staff were kindly and good natured even though they had some misfortune with some sort of staffing crisis and every resident it seemed wanting breakfast at the same time! We shall certainly remember this place for future breaks in any similar journeys

Do not stay here if you want a good nights sleep and good customer service. Stayed here with my partner for a long weekend. Booked in advance. The room itself was lovely however first night was completely ruined by loud music coming from the bar area. When we checked in there was a brief mention of a birthday party in the bar later. However no mention that loud party music would be playing until nearly MIDNIGHT! We were not informed at any time prior to arriving that a party was booked. A courtesy email would have been nice, and would certainly have swayed us booking here. Not wanting to be a party pooper we waited till 11pm before heading downstairs to find someone to ask what time the music was stopping. After waiting at reception for 15 minutes ringing the bell and the phone and still no reply, I was forced to go up to the barman at the party to ask for a receptionist. He was blunt and rude. After simply asking him if there was anyone at reception I can speak to about what time it goes on to, all the response I got was "Yeah me. I've said to them that the music will stop at 11:30". When asked if there was a manager I could speak to in the morning about this issue, I received a shockingly rude reply of "No, you'll be lucky to find a manager to talk to". As it turned out the music continued until 11:45pm, so the barman also lied. Considering we were paying over £150 a night for a hotel room we currently couldn't sleep in we were appalled at the lack of customer service. Like I said the room itself was lovely, if not a bit dusty. However this lack of customer service and rudeness has ruined the rest of our weekend.

Our large group of walkers were well looked after when we visited for dinner in a private dining room. The quality of the food was very good, though some of the dishes took a long time to appear. The menu offered good choice and was reasonable value too.

Room very small and was warm as I was in the roof. Floor 3 and no lift (It's a good job I'm relatively fit). A fan was provided which helped with the heat a bit. Room door was on the latch (open) when I arrived. Soap dispenser empty in shower so called reception and they sent one up after 10 mins. Receptionist came and just handed me the soap with no offer to fit it into the wall bracket or an apology. Didn't eat dinner here or breakfast as it's not served until 7 and I needed an early start. Old building with creaky floors. Good location for town centre but car park only holds up to 10 cars. WiFi ok.

The hotel is centrally located at the top of Dorchester's historic high street. The staff were invariably friendly and breakfast was cooked to order. The standard double room was rather on the cramped side but had a nice bathroom. The bed was the smallest double that we have ever seen and *very* creaky: you end up waking up every time you turn over. Time to update the beds and mattresses to provide a reasonable level of sleep comfort! The free parking at the back of the hotel is very limited: there's room for perhaps ten cars in all. However, there is a large and very reasonably priced pay-and-display car park across the road. We ended up parking there on all but the first night of our four-night stay.

I was very pleasantly surprised by our stay here from the minute we arrived. On booking in the receptionist was friendly and when I enquired about parking she checked the car park for us which is limited in size and was full, but also informed us that where we were parked would have no charge until 8am Monday morning, as we had arrived on a Saturday evening this was great. The receptionist then escorted us to our room and checked that our room cards had activated. As it was so hot they had set up a fan in our room so that it would be cool when we arrived, which was very much appreciated. The room was large with a seating area, a good sized television and all the little extras you could want, even a little sewing kit as well as toiletries. When my husband was carrying in our luggage, the chef was on a break and offered to help carry the bags up. Although he could manage them himself we felt just the offer was showing the staff's commitment to going the extra mile for their customers. The bed was extremely comfortable and the room spotlessly clean.

Great food and nice rooms. Old hotel but many rooms refurbished. Do not let the fact that the hotel is a listed building make you think that when its hot the rooms are also. They have upgraded to the quietest air-conditions of any I have experienced. The bathroom was spotless and with free paper , Wi-fi and parking we were very pleased we had chosen this hotel. Word of warning if you want a car park place get there early as they are limited. The front of house staff were very helpful, full marks to there training. Would certainly stay there again The only down side is the creaking floor ,but what can you expect from a 200 year old Hotel

Myself and my partner have just got back from an overnight stay (time away before baby no 2 arrives) at the Wessex Royal and we are both really pleased we choose this hotel. Located just a 10 minute walk from the train station it is really easy to find. When we arrived, the lady on reception (Linda I believe) was busy checking in another couple but acknowledged us straightaway and told us she wouldn't be long. We waited in the bar/ lobby area which was lovely and clean and had plenty of comfy seating and complimentary newspapers, TV and information about the area to look at whilst we waited. Upon check in, Linda greeted us warmly and asked about our plans whilst we visited etc which was nice. She also noted that I was quite heavily pregnant and advised that the room we had been assigned was on the 3rd floor might be a struggle for me as there was no lift and the room would be quite warm. She then tried her best to find us a more suitable room (which seemed to be no trouble for her) which she did on the second floor. Once we were all checked in she showed us to our room (which was a nice personable touch) and made sure that we were familiar with all of the facilities on the way (breakfast,dining rooms and times), and in the room- such as the fan, TV, telephone etc. The room itself was lovely, spotlessly clean and had everything we needed. As it was a family room, everything was made up (as it should be) for 3 people - even though we didn't need it in this case. Breakfast the next day was really nice. There was plenty of continental options to help ourselves with, as well as juices, teas and coffees and a nice variety of hot breakfast to choose from which we weren't kept waiting long for once ordered. All in all we were really impressed with this hotel (having both worked in the hotel industry for quite a few years, we do have certain expectations when visiting other hotels). The only slight let down was the receptionist on check out. Although she was on the phone when we came to check out, when she became available she didn't greet us with a hello, or even really look at us, she just said 'that's all fine' and basically waved us on our way without asking how our stay was etc. she wasn't particularly rude or unpleasant, but a little more acknowledgement would have been nice considering it was quiet at the time of check out. The only other mention is the night porter, who was friendly and accommodating in the evening when serving us drinks, and when we asked for extra milk and coffee the next morning. If you want a simple but pleasant hotel for a short stay in a nice town, I would really recommend staying here.

A nice pleasant hotel, friendly staff. I had the honeymoon suite which was really nice. Lovely and clean and comfortable four poster bed. Jacuzzi in room. What more could I want. Dinner was nice too. There's a choice of eating in the restaurant or in the main area. Breakfast lovely too and accommodating. The waitress made me feel at home and offered me something suitable to meet my diet. Smoked salmon was delicious. Nice little village too to walk around. Car park around the back of the hotel, which can get a bit full sometimes, but plenty of parking elsewhere if required.

We stayed here for two nights in a Courtyard Room. We were very pleasantly surprised how lovely it was after some of the negative comments we read on Trip Adviser. The best part of this hotel is the staff. Everyone we came into contact with was friendly, helpful and seemed genuinely happy to be working there. They were all local too which was a bonus when asking for recommendations. The room was spacious and clean and although in the Courtyard there was no late night noise from the car park or other guests. The bed was very comfortable and the tea, coffee and biscuits were good quality. A complimentary newspaper delivered to the room was a bonus. We hadn't booked breakfast but decided to try it on our first morning as it was raining and it was delicious. Excellent value for money (£11.95) with a great choice and cooked to order. The pancakes were especially good. We also had breakfast here the next morning as we had enjoyed it so much. The only negative was the small car park but that is not something they really have any control over as there is no room to extend it. This hotel is in a central location for restaurants in Dorchester and there are many great places to visit nearby.

Very comfortable stay - Fantastic room (112) with a four poster bed, very quiet and relaxing. Breakfast service very efficient, and fantastic quality. Only criticism is the very slow wi-fi internet connection.

My wife and I love to visit Dorchester and had stayed at this hotel before. However since our last visit many things have changed. Firstly the room charge had risen considerably, but the service had diminished by equal measure. First the good points, the rooms were clean and comfortable if somewhat overpriced. The waiting staff were cheerful and welcoming Now where they were lacking, the bar was left unattended for long periods of time we observed guests fed up with waiting move to a nearby pub for a drink. The food was substandard, tough steaks not cooked as ordered and slow cooked pork belly that should have been melt in the mouth so over cooked it had dried out. We were there to celebrate our 51st Anniversary and had invited our friends who lived nearby out of the six of us only two enjoyed their meal. Worst of all a gentleman who seemed to be the owner/manager appeared to be totally disinterested in the guests and only acknowledged our presence when we spoke to him. A real disappointment all round. Bobc 1944

A warm welcome and comfortable room awaited us. We ate in the restaurant on both evenings of our stay as the food was so good. A wide choice and it was nice to chat to the chef James and chat about the menu and compliment him on the food. I especially liked the beetroot, goats curd cheese and caramelised pecan nut starter with which was delicious. The cooked breakfast was also a treat. The staff we met were all friendly and helpful and we'd definitely stay again for a short break.

Stayed 2 nights here in a superior room. Very comfy bed, plenty of space and a good bathroom (shower over bath not separate). It was a bit warm and the window wouldn't open (presumably for safety reasons as it was at floor level). Breakfast was not bad. The buffet part was a bit limited but there were several choices for cooked breakfast. The staff were all excellent - friendly, welcoming, efficient and helpful. This applied to all the staff we had contact with so Receptionists, breakfast staff, bar staff. We would stay again if in the area.

This hotel was very comfortable . We enjoyed one of the most delicious dinners of our 2 week trip to the U.K. Very well located Room lovely. Nice public areas. We would definitely goose to stay here again if we are in Dorset All rooms are well equipped Staff very helpful with recommendations etc

On arrival we were greeted by very friendly staff. Parking is limited but the local car park is free after 6pm until 8am. The room was very clean and well appointed. We would recommend this hotel for any occasion.

Stayed in Morgan Yeatman Suite good choice, lovely size room with small separate sitting area. Quiet and well appointed. Heating regulated in each room rather than the whole hotel which makes controlling heating very easy especially in the recent chilly weather. Cooked breakfast good and choice of cereals but prepared fresh fruit choice limited. Young waiting staff at breakfast pleasant but need training in service lots of wasted journeys and not keeping up with guests needs if receptionist did not help would have been chaos. Need an experience hand in charge. This said we enjoyed our stay.

Being positive the hotel has comfortable rooms, friendly staff and a good location. However the restaurant evening menu is disappointing and has been better in the past The hotel car park is very small and it can be difficult to get an average car in and out. You can make on Princes St for 50p or free on the High West St (18:00 - 08:00) if you are lucky.

Had arranged for an informal business meeting at the Wessex Royal yesterday. Hotel looks pretty average from the outside, parking was a little hectic but we managed to find a space just outside which was pay and display. Once inside, the comfortable lounge area was quite welcoming. We hadn't booked a meeting room but was able to sit in the lounge, order refreshments and chat with our customers in a fairly professional manner without being overheard. Bar staff weren't particularly welcoming. The gent that took the order for our pots of tea was pretty grumpy looking, didn't engage in any kind of conversation, which was a bit disappointing. The duty manager was very chatty and pleasant though. A little disorganised when it came to paying the bill (waited at the bar forever and then was ushered to reception, and then back to the bar. Could have been better). Overall, ok. Convenient meeting place. Bathrooms were very clean (couldn't not visit, as this is always my deciding factor when visiting anywhere! Lol....definitely an 8/10!)....other than that, ok. Would visit again.

Never again. If you're a return customer you've been warned. We used to visit on the regular, but now we won't ever been visiting again. What's happened to this place!! Utter chaos round reception too. Over heard people next to us saying they weren't happy with the place either.

An interesting place. Overall a bit pricey for what you get. The rooms are ok but small and not the best quality although very clean. All in all the general feel is not quite there. The staff try hard but for example the evening porter wasn't sure how to work the bar. The corridors were noisy as the floors creaked badly. The room to room noise was not good. Everyone working there works hard but it just misses the mark for the money. Tight car park and limited spaces so you won't get in for sure and it's on a first come first served basis. Nicely positioned to see the town centre.

Lovely stay for the two of us! Excellent bedroom with a huge comfy super king bed! They even gave us free bottler water and Dorchester chocolates. Great staff and nice bar area. Beautiful building and great atmosphere! Will be coming back!

Stayed one night had a really good room overlooking the small car park. You can walk all over town from hotel so very central. Lovely old building with lots of character. Breakfast was quite chaotic with dirty tables in restaurant so we sat in the lounge area. Everyone that was in there ended up with the wrong breakfast. Service very slow we asked for more toast and they forgot that. Twice went for orange juice and the jug was empty. When somebody told reception that it was chaotic was told it was because they only had one chef no excuse service should have been better.

This hotel has a great central town location. Everything from bars, restaurants and shops are within close walking distance. It's easy to find on a Main Street. The building has an interesting character inside. It feels warm and welcoming with exceptionally friendly and attentive staff. Being given your room key and personally being taken to your room is a nice touch from yesteryear. The carpets and decor are to a high standard throughout. Bed linen and towels feel far more expensive than the norm. The shower room was modern, to a high spec and very invigorating. All in all a great town hotel which I certainly recommend.

I had a lovely room with a wonderful roomy double person power shower and a well lit bathroom. Tasteful decor, larger than normal Tv. Bottled water in room, one still, one mineral. Breakfast was great, with smoked salmon scrambled eggs eggs benedict on menu as well as usual choices. Good central position for shopping in Dorchester... only downside I can think of is that it has a tiny car park but I managed to park there 3 out of the 4 nights. Staff very helpful and posted my phone charger which I had forgotten very quickly to me.

Really friendly and accommodating staff who go that extra mile to please. The rooms are a bit creaky, but perfectly adequate and the breakfast is freshly cooked. Not much car parking, but the central location is great.

My husband and I just spent a lovely weekend in this hotel We chose to ignore some negative reviews We always decide beforehand if the negative complaints would put us off and we decided none would We immediately found a parking space in the rear of the hotel tho we noted there was ample parking literally a few feet away We were shown to our room by a lovely manager / deputy who was very friendly and welcoming We had booked the four poster suite room and we loved it It was a little dated but so comfy and cozy We loved the separate lounge area as it made the room very spacious Would have liked a fridge and bath robes as it was considered the honeymoon suite but overall it was incredible value and we wouldn't hesitate to stay here again The location was perfect right in the town Our room was quiet as at the back but imagine the front rooms could be noisier but that's the compromise when you stay in a central town location And we would always pack ear plugs anyway Only minor gripe was that at breakfast my husband was excited to see Eggs royale on the menu His favourite Slightly disappointed there were no muffins available Not a major problem for us the granary toast alternative was fine The second day however we noted there were still no muffins available ! We did feel seeing as eggs royale / Benedict/florentine all offered do classically come on a muffin a quick trip to the local m&s minutes away could have prevented this But as I say only a minor gripe We loved it here and are already planning another trip

Very friendly staff and allowed us to check in early to be able to dump bags before the wedding. Really good breakfast with lots of variety ... needed!! Had a really good size room and excellent bathroom with lovely bath too. Excellent position for a night out and in walk distance to many bars and restaurants. Would stay here agin.

I stayed here one night on business. As we approached reception the welcome was very friendly. The staff went out of there way to be helpful, my companion wanted a room at the back because of the traffic, this was organised with no fuss.The room was very comfortable, it was not a big room but there was sufficient space. My room was at the front and it is noisy with traffic especially in the morning. I received tea / coffee cookies, water and truffles complementary.The bathroom was small but lovely it looked like it had just been refurbished. The toiletries were also complementary. The bed was comfortable but the pillows were not the best. We had a bar meal which was very good and the priced were very good. The desert was superb.breakfast was very good and they do cater for glutton free. I would return.

The Hotel is in the centre of town with very nice rooms an excellent restaurant and helpful pleasant staff. We had a Four Poster Bed in our room which was a first for us. There was plenty of room for us even had two television sets. We enjoyed it immensely and would go again. We were able to explore Dorchester easily from the hotel.

Positive's, breakfast excellent, cooked perfectly to order, bar food good, reception helpful. Negative's holes in bed sheet and towel, corrected when reported. Smell of cigarette smoke on first floor landing. Room noise level high, do not expect to sleep beyond 06.30, no double glazing to keep out noise. Car park very small and tight spaces. Workmen in the hotel during our stay, we were not warned of this.

Having stayed at quite a few Best Western hotels, I thought it would be a safe bet as I had to book a room at the last minute. The only good things about the hotel were its central position and the friendly staff. The bad is that the rooms facing the high street are very noisy. The mattress on the bed was old and uncomfortable. The walls are paper thin and you could hear every sound from the next room including the domestic the couple were having. The bathroom of the next door room is right next to the bed of room 301 and the vomiting the next morning was heard clearly through the wall. I was hoping the breakfast would be good, unfortunately not. The breakfast room was full , so we had to sit in the bar area, I ordered Eggs Florentine, the restaurant was very understaffed, so the breakfast took sometime to arrive,it was served on what looked like small stale bread rolls, the eggs were hard boiled and a teaspoon of Hollandaise sauce. It was inedible. Its such a shame as the hotel has character and it could be so much better if the room layout had been given more thought

Beautifully refurbished hotel in a great location with modern facilities and friendly welcoming staff. Nothing was too much trouble. The food is superb. Would definitely recommend others to stay here and dine in the restaurant.

Overall very good, bathroom was nice and clean, bed was comfy. Service was very good. One slight issue is the car park is small with only about 8 spaces, it is tight if you have a large vehicle... Food in the bar was nice and tasty with nice pleasant service. Well worth a visit. Road side rooms can be a little noisy but it soon dies down after dark.

Booked a weekend. Nice hotel but given a sloping ceiling room. Bent double to get around one side of bed. Reception staff somewhat distant. Busy on a wedding and other guests forgotten. One of the most unfriendly places I've stayed. Food excellent and waiter brilliant. Spoiled my stay. Contacted best Western but no reply. Contacted hotel and half hearted reply. Won't stay here again.

We spent 1 night at the hotel. The room was fine, clean and comfortable. The breakfast enjoyable and served by pleasant staff. I can recommend this hotel and we will use it again as we will be coming to Dorchester monthly for a while.

Stayed for 2 nights over weekend - a good base for Dorchester and staff friendly and welcoming, but unfortunately the room seemed to be done to the minimum standard. The cleaning was not up to scratch - when we arrived there were used tissues down beside one of the beds, bathroom was a little scummy, room was dusty and the cups and saucers were dirty. I'd also expected some toiletries in the bathroom, but the shower only had an empty shower gel holder. Neither the rooms nor the hotel have a safe deposit box either, which I thought was odd. At over £100 for a Saturday night we were not impressed! I also phoned up the day before to check that they had a car park and spoke to a lovely man who gave me directions - although he didn't mention how small the car park was (only about 8 cars can fit), and so we had to use on-street parking which is pay & display Mon-Sat 8am-6pm.

We stayed at the Wessex royale hotel for two nights with my brother and sister and family. We were very lucky that we managed to get a parking space in the back of the hotel,there are only limited spaces. On arrival we were greeted by two lovely ladies at the front desk. My brother had already checked in. Room 100. We were given room 200 as asked for a twin. One of the ladies showed us to our room and let us view it 1st,which I thought was a nice touch. Although it looked abit old fashion it was clean,tidy and had little extras like bottled water,cotton buds,sewing kit,soap,shower cap and more. My sister had room 102. Both my siblings had complaints about their room but I have to say I didn't,which is really unusual for me. The beds were comfy. The room was warm,quiet and apart from my husband snoring im sure I would have had a nice sleep. We went down for breakfast at 8.30. If u are expecting a lie in,don't,breakfast ends at 9am during the week. There were a lovely assortment of things for breakfast including yoghurt,melon,pineapple,cereal,croissant and a hot menu. I ordered mushrooms,toms,beans and scrambled egg. It looked lovely when it arrived but I have to say although it tasted nice it was only luke warm. I do like hot food but unfortunately it wasn't. The 2nd morning was the same too,Luke warm and my sisters bacon was so hard she couldn't cut it. We also had toast. The girls that served breakfast were lovely and couldn't do enough for you. I really enjoyed my stay at the Wessex and we will definitely be going back.

En route to a later destination my wife and I decided to stop over for the weekend and use Dorchester as a base for some sightseeing. Well, the weekend visit has persuaded us that we must return as Dorchester has got so much to offer and the Wessex Royale must be the hotel to stay. On arrival we were made to feel welcome. Our room was comfortable and extremely clean with the bathroom cosy but well appointed. It seems that the bathroom had recently undergone refurbishment. The room was air conditioned and the bed comfortable which together gave us the best nights sleep that we have had for quite some time. Sightseeing meant that our evening meals were taken outside of the hotel but the breakfasts were quite well dome with the usual choices of cereal, fruit, continental and full English (with veggie option). Parking is a problem with spaces limited to around 9 but there is public parking front and rear. This is the consequence of historic towns I am afraid. The staff will do their best to accommodate you though. As I say, it is good enough to warrant a later stay for a full weeks exploration of Dorchester and the immediate area.

The hotel was easy to find but parking is a major problem. Almost everything about the hotel was excellent. My only caveat was the food and drink. Drinks are London prices, the food was excellent but the evening meal was almost nouvelle cuisine, poor quality beef at a high price. This seemed to be the norm as most people ate out. That said, everything else was excellent.

Stayed for one night last weekend. Stayed in a superior room. Was a large room, with a bathroom with shower over bath. The hotel is situated on a busy main road and as our room was facing the road there was a lot of traffic noise. Having the window open at night wasn't an option, which was a shame as the room didn't have air con. The TV reception wasn't all that great, but having said that the hotel is right in town centre so plenty to do apart from watch TV. Large bed which was very comfortable and welcoming staff who showed you to your room was a nice touch. Would stay here again although would request a room away from the main road.

Book in was smooth and friendly following a pre-warned late check in at 2300hrs. The hotel has been recently refurbed to a high standard. Plus points: very friendly staff. Lovely room. Negatives: only on-street parking available, admittedly free overnight but payable from 0800 hrs and no lift despite being 3 floors. Many stairs!

Went for celebratory dinner . Waited 10 mins to be offered a drink or menu. Eventually shown through to restaurant. Waitress gave us restaurant menu and asked if we also would like bar menu. We said we would but it did not arrive. We asked again and were given one. I ordered cheese board. The cheeses were past their best and smelt of ammonia and were runny. One cheese I ordered had been replaced with another without telling me. My husband had steak and chips and said that was ok. We were not impressed with the slow service or the food. When I explained I could not eat the cheese and was not happy that a completely different one had been substituted without telling me they did not charge me for the cheese- which I thought was fair. The card reader was not working so we paid by cash. We had had our wedding there the year before and were very happy with the food then, hence our return on our first wedding anniversary.

Top rate Hotel in a great location, shopping, museums , a Roman Town House, Railway Station and great pubs all within a 10 min walk. 15 mins walk to Railway Station, a return ticket to Weymouth for less than a days car park.

Friendly and very helpful lady on reception-Sun 11.9.16. Lovely room and bathroom but very creaky floorboards! Excellent location for main street for dinner. We only stayed one evening as we couldn't get that evening in our preferred hotel-Premier Inn but would have been happy to stay here all week if it had been a bit cheaper- compare to Prem Inn.

My room was well laid out the bed was comfortable and the bathroom modern. Unfortunately the room was on the ground floor right next to a very busy can park. Thus I could not leave my window open on a hot day because of fumes, noise and possible theft. There are other rooms but I did not see them. Breakfast was fine although the service was uneven. Lunch was fine. The receptionist was very good, but she is leaving. My room was next to a storage room so there was a whole lot of noise from people going in and out of there.

The hotel was nice although arriving late you do need to know what you are looking for. There is no sign saying Best Western so if you booked thru them you have to know this is called the Wessex Royale. Although free parking is advertised, if the carpark is full you will have to park elsewhere and be up bight and early to go and put money on the meter at 8am which is a pain. Breakfast finished at 930am which took us by surprise and we missed it.. There was no info in the room about breakfast times and no info was forthcoming at check in. Free wifi was also advertised but there did not seem to be a signal in our room . Having said this the room was comfortable enough.

Have been to this Hotel many a time over the years and we go back because we love the genuine empathy the staff have with any issues that may arise. The rooms are spotless, love the new upgrade in the bathroom, like the new key card system rather than carrying a large key fob around with us! Big thanks to Andrea on Reception and the General Manager Steve oh and Lofty for a smashing repair job on my new car. We have only just come back from our stay at the Wessex Royale and have already reserved a room for August 2017. Again, if you want a hotel where the staff genuinely are there to help and be a listening ear, visit The Wessex Royale, we as a family can guarantee you wont be disappointed.

Sat Nav got us here and we found the small car park full in the afternoon. Local parking is cheap or free as is overnight street parking. Also large car park nearby. However, late afternoon we got into the hotel car park. No lift and we were third floor ... 45 stairs but Steve, the manager happily offered to take our bags up to our single rooms. Mine had a velux window but no problem. Ample storage for case, great bathroom recently refurbished, t.v., hairdryer, tea/coffee and great free Wifi (brilliant for a light sleeper World Radio listener). Bed very comfortable. Back of hotel very quiet... Breakfast very good with happy, helpful waiter. Restaurant has great reviews but there are several other venues close by. We did have lunch in the lounge bar which was good and a nice place to sit. If you have disability needs, the hotel has a couple of ground floor rooms so best to phone direct and they will go out of their way to accommodate - Steve told us that they are hoping to extend this facility. Checking out was smooth and the manager helpful. Would definitely recommend for those not put off by stairs. This is a very good Great Best Western with a very proactive manager..

Stayed overnight with friend in adjacent single rooms on top floor. Great ....... as long as you're fit enough to climb the stairs!! This is an interesting listed building so a lift has not been allowed! The hotel is conveniently situated at the top end of Dorchester High street. Parking could be an issue: there's limited spaces at the back but a nearby car park. Quaint rooms under sloping ceiling, very nicely decorated with lovely bathroom/shower unit. Good choice of breakfast & food offered throughout the day. Very friendly, helpful staff. Would recommend staying here. (NOTE - anyone else interested in visiting the Court where the Tollpuddle Martyrs were tried...... it's only open on unspecified certain days ?? )

Although this is a cracking venue, I put an 'average' on this review for verily, it was just very average. OK, we were on a high for personal reasons & nothing could dampen our spirits, but nobody picked up on how euphoric we were & why would they? We think they should have. You think they needed to ask? This establishment is very lovely but very ordinary. So why would I even bother to write a review then? Well, simply because we both have worked in this environment at a very decent level. We felt that at every step, the staff we dealt with were, although polite & kind, not really trained properly. This excludes the wonderful receptionist when we checked out the very next morning, I have to record. Ordering a large gin & tonic in the evening was a chore & the same person was at breakfast & that waitress... not politically correct but she was female... again struggled with the simple task (to us!) of at least letting us start our cereals before asking what we required for the main course. Pedantic? Not a bit of it as we hadn't even poured milk on the said dish. As it happened, the kippers we eventually had were world class & to cry for. Gosh... really don't want to be negative but where was a manager, in a tie, confident, ready to push staff & reassure guests? Of course, one doesn't have to these days but if they don't really care, as the place was full due to a local festival, then why should their staff? Thank you to the beautiful, charming morning receptionist. You made our special night worth the money & look around you girl... you are needed somewhere special!

Had a really nice stay here, It was as good as expected, breakfast excellent, cheese board divine! But really really could do with some local beer in the bar. Parking available but tight, but that is clear before we went. Our room was clean and cosy, overlooking the car park / courtyard so nice and quiet. Staff friendly and efficient.

Lovely last-minute stay here. Room was spacious, clean and comfortable. Nice and quiet too. Staff at the hotel all extra-friendly and informative. Nice location to be able to explore deepest darkest Dorset.

The Wessex Royale is a very comfortable hotel with a good restaurant. We had a very nice meal on our first evening but were very disappointed with the bar which is hardly a bar at all and has no local ales. Our room was excellent and we slept very well apart from the last night when "someone" below us in the bar area seemed to be dragging furniture around at 4am. No-one at reception knew anything - perhaps there is a very noisy ghost??!! Car parking is very bad but there is a pay and display carpark nearby where you can purchase tickets to park for 24hr at a time. Staff were great. Breakfast was freshly cooked to order which in my opinion is much nicer than the dried out breakfast buffet you often encounter these days!!

We had lovely big, room with four poster bed and comfy settee.En suite was spacious. Bar food was great value and tasty. Staff were efficient and helpful. The room did overlook a street so it was a bit noisy but that's what you get with a hotel in the middle of town. The downsides were that the car park was small and it's first come first served. Having said that, we were able to get a place each time we needed one during our 3 night stay. I would have found it tricky to get out of too but my husband managed fine. Some better bed side lamps would have been nice too. I like to read in bed, but the ones in our room were more for ornament.

In summary: We'd booked in for 3 nights and were allocated room 108. The hotel is good - clean, comfortable friendly and helpful staff and the food is a "must try it" experience. It was the best food we had in Dorchester during our stay. The only issue we had is room 108 is the smallest hotel double room (and the smallest bathroom) I've ever experienced. I would have readily given a 5 star rating for this hotel if it wasn't for the room. I'd happily stay again if I was allocated a normal sized room. First impressions: Reception was highly professional and we were made to feel welcome from the first minute. Good to see a smiling happy face! We'd arrived early but this wasn't a problem. Parking is an issue with only 8 or 9 spaces. However there is a public car park very very close to the hotel which we had to use one night (free 6pm - 8am, £4 for all day parking but if you park after 6pm £2.60 will see you through to 11am) After reading some reports on TripAdvisor I did check the shower but there really wasn't a problem with it. Room 108 really isn't a double room imo. Its too small to have two chairs in it so not a place you can relax in. Food: Dinner was very, very good and would highly recommend eating here. We had soused mackerel with rhubarb, liver parfait with duck slices, Lamb rump with lambs liver peas and broad beans (absolutely delicious!) and wild mushroom agnolotti. Breakfast was also a good experience. A choice of 4 dishes + the usual cereal fruit Coissant etc. The full English is cooked to order and again is of high quality and taste. General: I was going to complain about lack of staff around during the day when we had to walk around looking for someone to serve us a drink but I had not noticed there is a bell apparently at the side of the bar to ring for service. I need to pay more attention :-) I did discuss my review with the receptionist on leaving. Again a very professional person. Full credit to all the staff who helped make the stay enjoyable.

Room was ok,with nice comfortable bed,sink in the bathroom a bit small though. Staff was professional and fair,even if not too smiley. Good breakfast (pancakes highly recommended). Wi-Fi properly working.

Having driven from St Austell on a holiday Saturday we decided to stop early to find a place for the night. We were lucky to get the last room, not the cheapest, but beggars can't be choosers. The room was sufficient but a bit over furnished, leaving not much space to move around. The bed was comfortable. Parking in their car park was tight having to move cars to get out. Breakfast was a disaster because the waiter or chef lost our order, when an enquiry was made and our breakfast delivered over half an hour was lost.