Bournemouth Carlton Hotel, BW Signature Collection

Great location, Great staff, lovely food and drink. We stay here whenever we go to Bournemouth and always have fantastic service and can't wait to get back again. We come over from the Isle of Wight regularly as we have family and friends in Bournemouth and wouldn't consider staying anywhere else. We look forward to to visiting the Carlton as much as we do the family and friends we are coming to visit.

I went to the Carlton with friends for Rubyz night and dinner. We had such a giggle, brillant entertainment and the dinner was delicious. Staff really helpful and friendly. Hotel/ameneties clean and event well organised. Thankyou Rubyz and Carlton staff!

An excellent friendly and professional greeting from Sophia who was on the reception desk. The bedroom was comfortable and nicely appointed. but it would be nice to have some glasses in the bathroom and hair shampoo etc. The meal in the restaurant was excellent and nicely presented by Nikki. the bar was also well run under Chris. We hope to return in the Spring.

We booked a short 2 night break at our favourite hotel with our grandchildren aged 7 and 4 and our dog. Deal included dinner on first night and afternoon tea on second day. We had our favourite room looking out over the sea that the children loved. They had a sofa bed each and were very comfortable with lots of space in the room. We used the swimming pool which was lovely and warm. Food was good, staff were excellent and everything ran smoothly. Cant wait for our next stay :)

Lovely big spacious and warm hotel. Old fashioned type I would say. Staff were really nice and very helpful. A short walk into the shop which would have been lovely in better weather, but the hotel can't do anythnig about that :)

We stayed 2 nights B&B and had the most enjoyable stay. The staff were friendly and helpful. Our room was great, a comfortable bed and the best sea view! Breakfast had lots of choice and was very good. We look forward to our return visit next month.

This is our third visit to this hotel and again we can't complain. Reception staff are friendly espeically Joey and restaurant staff are great too! Despite it being February and not warm weather, it did not stop us from having an amazing time. Leisure facilities were available including a gym and indoor pool. A special mention to Ameila who was working in the leisure facility, she's so kind and helpful. Also Ben from the restaurant was exceptionally helpful, a hard worker and you can see he works really hard. Again, we are looking at dates to rebook. :) Only one thing, watch out for the Karen's whilst having breakfast. An old lady made a comment to my 6ft 5 partner picking up 4 tiny sachets of Nutella for his toast! There so tiny, you need atleast 2 per piece of toast. Mind your business Karen! :P

Yes it is a little bit faded, yes it could do with refreshing. But the room was a great size, food was good, location was perfect and staff were an absolute credit to the hotel. Will definitely stay here on next trip to Bournemouth.

I was a little apprehensive due to bad reviews, but didn't have to worry. The place is a little tireskd, but understandable due to the age. The room was clean, bed comfy as all beds were replaced last year, slowly things are being updated. I would suggest drinking glasses in rooms. All areas clean and nice. Bar prices reasonable. Staff very friendly, apart from a lady on reception, long blonde hair whom we dealt with at 2.30pm on the 3rd, not very helpful. Breakfast was good with many choices. All areas very good, i would imagine outside areas in the summer would be lovely. Hotel us not far from the beach, town or park. We also managed to park in the front of the hotel. Will definitely return.

Rooms on 3rd floor, sea view was gorgeous! A little tired decoratively but charming. Shower more like a dribble but even thar didnt bring the mood down. Nice and warm hotel for January and the size of hotel. Breakfast lovely, plenty of choice but eggs a little runny for us. Staff lovely, meal at cumberland hotel just up the rad was fab! Will come back to this hotel out of season, would be out of price range for a summer break. Well done all the lovely hard working staff!

The room was lovely and very large. Loads of room for us two and our two dogs. It was too warm and only on the day we left we found a portable air con unit. It did take ages for cold water to come out of the tap (a little strange) The bar and restaurant had a good choice and only occasionally did we wait for service We held my Father's celebration of life with them and the spread of food was very good with endless tea and coffee All staff were very friendly and helpful. Nicky was very attentive and helped us in every way she could she was outstanding

Visited the restaurant whilst staying at the Carlton for evening meal. Restaurant very quiet but assumed it was time of the year. Food order taken within good time and drinks brought to table by a lovely helpful waitress. We all ordered different starters but the Calamari was just dreadful, overcooked, rubber like and just inedible horrid, so sent back. Risotto resembled a consistency of soup and looked like wallpaper paste. Sea bass over cooked, burnt and ruined, a few frozen peas and burnt potatoes. Food was of very poor quality and the cook needs replacing. Shades of Brake Brothers, pre prepared freezer to fryer fare. Restaurant manageress looked as if she didn't want to be there, no interaction when we sent the dish back and just could not be bothered. It was as if they wanted the restaurant cleared of diners so that they could go home, the meal was rushed and felt sorry for the couple who come in after us as when we were leaving at 20:30 the music was turned off. Avoid at all costs.

We had booked a 2 night mini break online and the hotel we thought we were staying at was closed so we were referred to their sister hotel, the Carlton, next door. We were absolutely thrilled when we booked in to find that we had been upgraded to a room with a sea view! It was bitterly cold in January and so not the busiest time of year. The view was really lovely, especially the panoramic sunrises and sunsets and we could see the Isle of Wight as well as the Isle of Purbeck from our window. The room was cosy with comfy chairs and really comfortable king size bed. The bathroom was huge and we had everything we needed. The breakfasts were very generous and there was a wide range of choice, including fresh fruit, full English and gluten free porridge! A spa with jacuzzi, sauna, pool and gym was in the basement and included in our stay. The staff were all really lovely, helpful and attentive and tried very hard to make our stay as enjoyable as they could. It was really handy for Poole, Christchurch as well as all parts of Bournemouth - almost too much choice to have for such a short stay. In all a wonderful experience and we will be back, hopefully for longer next time!

Booked a family room, the whole place was shabby and falling apart, tried to have a bath but the water was coming out around the plug faster than I could fill it. Had to complain about noise at 10.45pm as the family room was over the events room and there was a party with loud music, no apology made just I'll have to talk to the general manager and that was after waiting 19 minutes for my can to be answered. Breakfast layout was such that there was no room for guests to move and I was constantly bumped in to. Called to confirm some aspects before my visit to be made to feel like a hindrance and given incorrect information. Generally really disappointing save for a few nice reception staff. Given the price paid and the fact this was a special celebration trip was definitely not worth the cost.

What an amazing time we had it was my friends birthday a girly night away the hotel and room was perfect . Eliseu , Alison terry and Louise were just amazing the staff at the Carlton .. we couldn't ask for a better night away .. have booked to come back at the weekend . The views from our balcony were priceless the breakfast was so tasty and so much variety thank you all for making our stay the best

Booked for my husband's birthday as a weekend away. Hotel needs a total overhaul from the threadbare carpets, peeling wallpaper, windows that either don't open or are misted with condensation, plumbing issues, musty smell throughout, dirty rooms and stained carpets. Staff ok in general but bar staff could definitely do with some customer care training to make their customers feel welcome. Lovely reception lady on the Friday evening. I am sure in its day the hotel was lovely, however in its current condition it most definitely is not 4 stars or worth the money charged.

We went for Afternoon tea. We had booked in advance to eat at 1pm. We arrived half an hour early so they knew we were there. We were the only ones there so not busy, when it got to 2 o'clock we had to ask where our food was, told be about 10mins. Food arrived, not particularly very appetising but as we had paid and not eaten since early evening we ate the sandwiches and a couple of the cakes. We then had to go and ask for the pot of tea as that hadn't arrived either. So had 1 cup of tea & left. We were offered a free drink whilst we waited for the food but this did not make up for a dreadful experience. Would not recommend.

A total hovel , overpriced , stains on carpets and walls,smelly rooms , ancient bathrooms,ripped curtains , hair in the bed ,,Yuke, bits and pieces in general state of disrepair broken windows. Do yourself a favour don't even consider it.

The ambiance and position of the hotel is very pleasing and our room looked across the coastline towards Poole. The staff were efficient and friendly which made our stay all the more enjoyable. Our room was spacious and the amenities in good order. We enjoyed our use of the pool and spa and would be happy to visit again.

Disappointing few days at this hotel. Staff need to be friendlier in all areas. Our room was difficult to find and we were in the back of beyond near the public car park. Room 102 is a great size but we had to call on maintenance for several issues. They did respond quickly but if the room had been checked over we should not have had to do it. Swimming pools outside and in were one of the reasons for booking a short break late in the season. The outside was lovely and warm but the changing rooms are very small with one changing cubicle , one shower & one toilet. The locker that I tried did not work. On the plus side we had a lovely evening meal one night & we used the bus which stopped just outside to get to Compton Acres gardens which was handy.

This is a very nice Hotel. Great location, nice staff, good food at acceptable prices. We did not pay extra for a room with sew view, but our room was very nice nonetheless. The only negative aspect, was having to pay for parking. It was not cheap.

Great experience. Seaview room with comfy bed and air conditioning much needed in hot September. Good food and service in restaurant. Super spa with great massages. Beautiful outdoor pool heated and lots of sunbeds. Staff excellent and so helpful , especially Ben. Kirra in spa and Vikram in restaurant.

Staff were lovely. On arrival got told that the rooms were full and got transfer to their sister hotel which is only across the road. I feel we should have been told this before so we were a bit disappointed. We had seen the pictures online of the main hotel so that's what we were expecting . Breakfast wasn't the best but edible.

Note: please read until the end where a tip could save £££'s in parking fees! I booked The Carlton for a 4 night midweek break for ‘Wifey' & I the first week in September. Our stipulation whilst searching was a sea view with balcony. We generally tend to start our search with the negative reviews first. After much research here on TA this hotel came up ‘the least worse of the others' of the other neighbouring cliff top seafront hotels offering to fulfil our requirements!! Upon arrival we were wary of the reported ‘peeling woodwork', ‘cracked & mouldy bathroom tiles', ‘tatty rooms', ‘thread bare carpets', ‘general decay' etc, etc, etc (the list goes in & on) of The Carlton. Yes, there is some peeling paintwork (this is a sea facing building after all!). Yes, the rooms & general decor of the hotel is antiquated (no surprise as it is Victorian- 1903). Yes, after looking we found 2 slightly crack bathroom tiles but no rust or mould. Our room not huge, more than big enough for a couple (we didn't book a suite). It was dated but clean & well furnished. The king sized bed was very comfortable with clean crisp sheets & pillow cases. The large Samsung TV had the expected range of Free-View channels. Tea & coffee making facilities were more than adequate. The carpet wasn't new but in good condition. Housekeeping attended daily & were very helpful, pleasant & polite. Best of all was the magnificent south facing view. The balcony was small but accommodated two chairs & a table, which ticked all our boxes. We didn't expect a modern hotel typical of the West End of London or an Elizabethan majestic country pile fit for a lord. We were however pleased with what we booked. Incidentally, whilst we are not particularly fussy, we're not adverse to complaining when something isn't right or acceptable. No complaints here though. EXCEPT….. & here's our only grip (but happily a solution to too!!)…. The Carlton charges residents for 24 hr parking (which seems to be the norm in Bournemouth) in the car park to the rear of the building. At £20 for 24 hrs I found this outrageous! I also found that a pre-paid pay & display on road (& directly outside of the hotel, in view from our balcony) parking ticket for 72 hrs is only £19.20! Further, which is both illogical & almost comical. Parking is absolutely FREE OF CHARGE on the front forecourt & in front of the grand main entrance! Work that out! Overall a great relaxing break. The weather was great too! Up in the 30s'!!

A lovely hotel full of character Lovely rooms and excellent staff Especially Nicky and niha tho there were many more. They work hard at being a team to make the stay very enjoyable Lovely garden and two swimming pools. Parking was no problem and amazing views.

We recently stayed here as a family of 9 and had an amazing time. The food is great, breakfast has lots of choice, we ate at the bar too in the evenings 10/10 - big portions, would recommend the salmon. The staff are all great and really friendly. Also a staff member called Ben is incredibly helpful, so kind and works really hard, always making sure guests are happy and if they need anything. Ben definitely went above and beyond, Ben helped our elderly grandmother on crutches to the car and was amazing and we believe every workplace/hotel should have a Ben :) if you go here make sure you meet Ben! Will deffo be coming back, the pool is great, lots of sun beds, an outside bar etc. Location is close to Bournemouth pier and the town, such a nice and easy walk. The carpark is right next to the hotel, easy to access. Looking at dates to book again already, thankyou :)

Very enjoyable stay, clean hotel, & the breakfast & the evening meal were great, good choices & well cooked. The hotel is situated very conveniently for town centre. Will compliment the staff - very helpful & friendly. Would definitely go again.

Had a lovely spa with my partner really got to unwind friendly staff great environment just what we needed. Parking was easy and everything was made simple for us had a great time thank you for the hospitality

We didn't actually stay here unfortunately, but had lunch and cocktails in the bar after a heavenly spa day! Food and drinks were really good and very reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend and return.

Stayed here with friends , great location! We were able to grab afternoon tea and enjoy a lovely spa day ( very impressive at this hotel !) Perfect for a girlie weekend away , we got a bit of shopping in as well as it's a very short walk to the town centre . Lovely stay overall , thanks . Will definitely be back .

Very clean and spacious room. Very nice breakfast my daughter loved the leisure facilities I mean it's so nice for a uk hotel to have a outdoor pool what more can you ask for Also all the staff were very polite and helpful I will definitely come again

Experience was very disappointing. The usual slamming doors, but this time ripped curtains, stains on the carpet, missing and discoloured grout, dripping tap for 3 nights before it got fixed for our final night, and a shower with no water pressure. Bed was comfy though which was a plus. Similar experience to the others in August, with no outside pool and the spa closed for maintenance on the only rainy day. No emails beforehand to advise this, but they were keen to send me over 6 emails asking if I wanted an upgrade to my room. Extremely busy reception, probably from all the guests complaining, so were a little too relaxed when dealing with a request for an ambulance after an accident in the carpark. Barman wasn't sure what to put in my gin and tonic which was surprising! Not once was there an apology or an offer of compensation, so all in all very disappointing for a hotel which charged over £200 per night for superior room. Dated, and tired decor - would suggest staying at the Cumberland Hotel next door as it was really stylish. Hope the Carlton can visit to get some design ideas. Also, photo's of the superior room, were not the room we stayed in. To sum it up, go somewhere else!!

Following my stay with my family last weekend I am writing this review, following the advice of a member of the reception team when I checked out on Sunday! Not one to usually take to social media platforms, this does not sit well with me, however as this seems the only way of sharing my sincere dissatisfaction in the service we received at the weekend, I will do so in this very public fashion! We booked two rooms at the hotel, 214 and 319. Both were extremely disappointing. 214 – the musty smell hit us the moment we stepped into the room. Admittedly, a lovely big room with a great view but that was it. The carpet, we assume to be the original due to its, literally, threadbare state! The bathroom was horrible with cracked tiles and black mould around the bath, not pleasant at all! As for 319, well the curtains look like they've been attacked by a vicious animal and the bathroom, well apart from the dirt, has a completely useless shower! It has a bath as an alternative but that took about half an hour to fill due to the incredible low pressure. The greatest disgust however came from the ‘spa'. Well, I use that in the loosest possible term and simply the filthiest, run down pool area I've ever witnessed! Plaster and paint crumbling off the walls, rust in the bottom of the jacuzzi – which was out of service the entirety of our stay and the changing rooms!!! Food and used sanitary towels littered the floor of the ladies changing rooms when we visited at 3pm on Saturday and were still there at 10 am the following day! When reported to a member of staff I was very cooly told that someone had left with no notice the day before, so they haven't had chance to clean, absolutely unacceptable. We had got up early on the Sunday to use the pool before checkout only to be told the chlorine levels were too high so we couldn't access it! Having chosen the hotel based on proximity to the water and the spa facilities, we feel utterly let down and believe that we are entitled to a refund for this as it simply wasn't what was advertised! I tried to report these issues on two occasions, once on the Saturday but after half an hour waiting, due to so many people waiting to speak to reception and just one receptionist on, I gave up. The next occasion was on the Sunday morning but when I suggested discussing our stay the receptionist said to ‘just email or put our review on trip advisor'! I made it clear it was negative feedback at the time. I think the pull of watching the football was just too much for them! Credit where it's due, the waiting staff in the bar and dining room were very polite and helpful, so all praise to them. Overall, a very very unhappy customer, at having spent circa £450 for two incredibly basic rooms in a dirty and most disappointing hotel.

I've never felt compelled to write a review before - good or bad but this hotel was so hideous I wanted to share our experience. The outdoor pool was closed for the duration of our stay due to "chemical imbalances" - despite us being told before our arrival it was open. It was the main reason we booked this hotel so this was hugely disappointing. The Indoor pool area was tiny and the walls rotting and the jacuzzi was out of operation. The rooms are not only dated but unclean - our bathroom had terrible limescale around the bath and black mould everywhere. Housekeeping did not once come to clean our room or change the towels. The noise at night from the room above was so loud it sounded like someone was about to fall through the ceiling. Breakfast was below average and very busy. We raised our complaint with reception and were told we could have a free breakfast along with some drinks vouchers, only to be told the next day they think they'd been too generous - you couldn't make it up! So many lovely other hotels in Bournemouth I wish we'd stayed in one of those.

Very dated decor but can be overlooked as you don't spend a lot of time in the room while on holiday. But the swimming has been out of order through our stay (4 nights), it was the main reason for booking and we weren't informed of this before our arrival.

Arrived to be told the parking was £20 per day, so £40 in total for the time of our stay and the hotel does not offer any discount for staying in the hotel car park as it's operated by an external company. The hotel is dated and in need of some serious TLC. The stairs to the room greeted us with someone abandoned boxers, which was amusing but concerning that they hadn't been cleared away by the hotel staff. In advance of the stay I contacted the hotel management to ensure the outdoor pool would be in use (as I'd read previous reviews stating it was closed in July stays). Upon arrival it was evident it was closed due to ‘chemical imbalances.' The indoor pool is nice but tiny and due to school holidays you won't get any relaxation in their due to the pool being full of kids on school holidays. Even though on Spa Breaks this is rated at 9.0 I wouldn't say this is a spa resort as you won't find much relaxation here. Really wished we had only booked the one night stay now not two and found somewhere else for a second night here.

Right on the beach at the quiet end of town. The only thing I can fault about the hotel, is that it seems a bit dated. Apart from that small thing everything else is great. Friendly staff, clean rooms. And the spa is a nice touch.

Cannot recommend enough. The hotel interiors are exquisite. Big, beautiful sunny windows, you can enjoy a coffee overlooking a stunning view of the ocean. Staff were so friendly, welcoming and helpful (they helped my mum carry bags to the car whilst I snuck off to book her another surprise spa treatment!) No faults, we will be coming back again. If you're looking to treat yourself to a comfortable, peaceful, seaside stay with on site spa and sauna this is the place for you. Thank you again!

The hotel was beautiful and soo much to offer in terms of facilities. Unfortunately few of the girls did mention that they rooms were outdated and needed a face lift . The food was amazing except for the Breakfast which was running out of dishes and had to wait

The pool area was nice but very small, we had to wait for the pool attendant to get some towels. The rest of the hotel was clean and tidy with plenty of parking. We used the spa which is worth a visit if using the hotel. Great location

We had a very large corner room with a beautiful balcony overlooking the sea. The bed was very comfortable and there was a nice selection of tea and biscuits in the room. The breakfast offering was extensive and we really enjoyed our 3 course dinner at the sister hotel in the evening. I had the Caesar salad and my partner had the fish and chips - both very delicious!

Have just returned form 3 days at the Carlton, we booked one of the executive rooms in the hope it would suit us, all of the photos online clearly show two comfortable tub chairs in the window, a window that affords you a fantastic view over the beach. we checked in at 16:00 on day one greeted by smiling happy staff to be show our room, nice and clean if a little tired, with the as advertised fantastic view of the beach and sea front, but with only one chair in the window. I asked at reception if it would be possible to get a 2nd chair so we could sit and enjoy the view and maybe a glass of wine. long story short, lots of us asking and staff offering excuses "its in the book" but very little action, 26 hours had to pass, plus I had to lose my temper it in reception before anything was done and we finally got a second chair. The bathroom in our room was again clean but old fashioned, the shower head comes out of the wall at about chest height,( I'm only 5,9) the bath was very narrow so you will end up with the shower curtain stuck to you while trying to relax in the shower. Breakfast very good ,evening meal not so much we only ate in there the first night. Both pools closed so unable to use, car park £20 a night and not what I call secure anybody can wonder in ands out. Welcome email stated £10 a night queried this with reception, received more excuses and had to pay the £20 a night. Come check out time my wife went to check us out only to find,what we can only assume were other guests meals on our bill , young lad behind the reception while being very pleasant and trying to help had obviously not had the training to do so, so again waiting for someone who could help get the bill sorted, which was done without argument. Will visit Bournemouth again one day but will stay somewhere else. Please do not reply with the standard text you use on all the other complaint here on TripAdvisor, it just goes to show how little you think of your customers.

Perfect room and service excellent staff very friendly best food ever could not do enough for you highly recommended comfortable bed lovely and clean throughout would definitely recommend this hotel and the best one along that route

Bad and good in places. The hotel is what you might expect, a tired old seaside hotel which could do with some renovation. We found a card with a QR code in the room for the room service menu which indeed gave a link to the menu, but didn't tell you how to actually order room service (there was no phone in the room). On out way out for a walk we asked at reception for a local map, they didn't have one. Most hotels can give you a map. We also asked about room service. The girl at reception rushed off to speak to catering and came back suffesting that we could o into the bar and order room service there. That rather defeats the point of room service. We complained to a manager and sure enough the next day some books with a local map apeared on the rception desk, and a man appeared at the door with a phone. It didn't work, so he went away and we never heard any more. The hotel guide, including details of how to get room service (dial 0 on the room phone) are sent by email, which arrives some time after you onnect to their WI-FI. If you don't have a smart phone or laptop, you don't get hotel guide, and you don't find out what number to call on your room phone (if you have one) for emergencies, doctors etc. Nobody offers you a paper copy. Apart from discrimination against the elderly, is this even legal? Breakfast was good, reception ordered us a taxi which turned up, the room was a good size and the bed conortable. So not all bad.

We have just had a really enjoyable 12 night BB&Evening meal stay at the Carlton which we have done for many years now and it continues to be our number 1 holiday for the year. The room was very clean and spacious and had a great sea view and balcony with table and chairs which we used many times. Yes the room needs some TLC and we believe this could happen in the near future. On reception, Kelly, Faye and colleagues were excellent, friendly and sorted out our minor issues to our full satisfaction. In the restaurant, Nicky, Bradley, Joel and their staff made our meal times a pleasure. They were professional, very friendly and gave a service for every meal second to none. The breakfast was of an excellent standard with a good choice. The evening meals were really enjoyable with a varied selection on the menu. Yes we had to duplicate some meals over the 12 nights but this was not a problem as we enjoyed every meal. Thankyou to the chef and his staff. The clean heated pools and pool side areas and comfy sun beds are the aces in the pack. When the sun is out you could be sun bathing anywhere in the world. Excellent. Our final conclusion from our stay is that senior management, management and all the staff are pulling together in the same direction to give us a really enjoyable stay. Well done and we will definitely be seeing you all again next year.

Pleasant hotel to stay. Helpfull staff, large car park, beautiful surroundings, history involved. Good restaurant food, spa to relax, close to town, 5 min walk to seaside! Would recommend to any one!!

Room was clean, although a little dated. Comfy bed though and slept really well. Felt £20 for car parking was a tad steep. Breakfast was tasty and a good selection on offer. Be aware that if you're given a wing room then some stairs will be involved which we were not told about.

Firstly the good points, lovely heated outside pool with sun loungers and tables, large bedroom (we had a superior sea view, with balcony) and really comfy bed. A friend had a room on the ground float at the back which was large but dark and gloomy , so probably worth the extra for a sea view. Not so good was the restaurant , food was below average and we left our main course. Tried to order wine from the wine list but most unavailable (including Sauvignon blanc) then when we did locate a white wine it was served warm. Overall disappointing considering the prices charged in the restaurant

Good value for money lovely clean room good variety of GF foods in restaurant. Beautiful sea view from room not far to walk into town as it's down hill got a taxi back. Staff friendly and helpful pool gym and jacuzzi and steam room. Plenty of park but unfortunately it's 10 to park

A great 2 night stay upgraded room food great needs a little bit of paint here and there but it is a fab hotel seeing as it is oldish staff were very helpful breakfast was cooked for you not pre cooked really enjoyed stay

We stayed at this hotel because we were attending an event being held there. We were sold the room at an allegedly discounted rate because of this, only to find out on the day that rooms were being sold at considerably less than we had paid. All we had were e -mails asking us if we wanted to upgrade to a suite, at extra cost. No sea view for us I'm afraid, as previous reviewers were given (it would appear on special deals). The hotel is very dated and run down. Stair carpets in communial areas worn. Our room appeared not to have been updated since the 1990's. Tatty decor with wallpaper hanging off. Furniture old and worn, with stains on the chairs. Our room appeared to be on some sort of mezzanine level which was impossible to reach via the lift without also using stairs. Not much fun when you are getting on in years and have luggage to carry. All the staff seemed very friendly and helpful but unfortunately are let down by the actual state of the building and it's ambience. The breakfast was good, so no complaints there but I have had more confortable stays at a Premier Inn and for a lot less money.

On Friday we booked to stay for 2 nights at this hotel through Secret Escapes. We booked for dinner B & B in Friday night & B & B on Saturday night. We had a wonderful time. The staff were so helpful & friendly. They couldn't do enough for us. We were given a large room with a sea view on the 2nd floor which was an added bonus. The room was lively & warm & spotlessly clean. Our dinner & breakfasts were excellent & plentiful. We used the facilities namely the jacuzzi & swimming pool, both warm & clean. We would recommend anyone to stay in this hotel for value for money, excellent customer service & the location.

Another lovely Birthday weekend in Bournemouth staying at the Carlton Hotel friendly staff nice facilities Lots of family memories from over the years, like coming home !! thanks to all the staff for another lovely stay See yiu soon The Browns

Had a lovely stay here just for a short break! Got this as a wowcher deal and was totally worth the price! Breakfast was included and had a great choice of food all was fresh and buffet was super clean! Room was very spacious and pool and sauna was very clean. Staff were super friendly! Even had dinner at the hotel restaurant which was very nice. Only downside was £20 car parking fee very pricey! 24 hours is £20 but because we arrived an hour early (11am-12pm next day) we was charged an extra £10 as it was over 24hours

Clean , tidy and very pleasant stay . Excellent , friendly and helpful staff . Excellent location and very close to the sea . Plenty of parking . Spacious rooms , a bed that delivers brilliant nights and plenty of hot water .

What a Great hotel. The staff are helpful & polite. My room was extremely comfortable with the added bonus of a Magnificent sea view, which I hadn't asked for. Breakfast was superb & plentiful. I had an early morning jacuzzi, dip & shower. All this at an unbelievable price. Well done everybody concerned. Highly recommended. Cheers. Famous Phil.

We enjoyed our stay over all , Lisa on reception was very helpful and professional. We had a mishap with stagnant water on our balcony when our dog drank it and we ended up having a late night emergency trip to the vet 25 minutes away. It was a very expensive vet visit and ruined our early night . The decor is in need of some attention, cracked floor tiles, paint peeling off in areas, the bed was very comfortable , having a bath was a bonus also. We would definitely return .

Excellent location for sea view. We had Balcony seating sea view room. Staff are very friendly, rooms are clean. Wide selection of breakfast available. Kids enjoyed Indoor pool. Perfect for family stay and walkable to Bournemouth pier.

We had an excellent Christmas stay at the Carlton Bournemouth as a family of 5, plus a Labrador. We first stayed at the hotel 28 years ago and have been back just a few times over the years. Our most recent trip was in November and we had the most beautiful refurbished suite. However, at Christmas that particularly suite was booked - I must admit I was a bit concerned that non-refurbished suites would have a negative impact on our stay - but luckily this was not the case at all. Before we arrived, Kelly was very helpful in dealing with all my queries and allocating us two lovely suites, one had a fireplace in the lounge which was ideal for decorating with our Christmas presents! Sue on reception warmly welcomed us and was extremely pleasant and helpful, she was on duty when we left and again was a pleasure to deal with. All of the restaurant/bar staff were very attentive and had great customer service skills. Particular mention to Ben, who has the most amazing customer service skills and treated all of the guests with such respect and kindness. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Also, there was a fair headed waiter with glasses who wore a jacket in the restaurant (sorry didn't catch his name). Again, he has top notch customer service skills, he went out of his way to ask guests if he could help them, and would immediately deal with any requests. The Duty Manager, Nicky, did a tremendous job making sure everything went smoothly over the Christmas period and again was very attentive to the guests and was a true professional. Nicky was very accommodating regarding our requests for our meals on Christmas Day evening and we really appreciated her reserving and decorating a table for us. Many thanks to all the staff at the Carlton - you truly understand real customer service!

We booked on the same day and in person to stay for one night on 29 December 2022, we were delighted with the stay. We have stayed many times at this hotel in the past, this was the best ever. The hotel has always had excellent facilities, the indoor pool and jacuzzi are always lovely. We had a generous sized room with a sea view, which really meant a lot. The evening meal in the restaurant was delicious. Thank you, keep up the great work! Big thanks to Fajar on Reception, very professional, efficient and kind. The bar staff were very nice, and the housekeeping team were helpful too. Big thanks all round, Shows this hotel is being very well managed.

We attended a weekend event there end of Nov 2022 and our room was very spacious and quiet. All the staff were friendly and helpful and the whole place had a good atmosphere. Would definitely recommend - it's a lovely, grand hotel.

I loved the grandeur of the building and decoration and its position by the cliff. We booked two single rooms but were upgraded to family rooms which were enormous with a superking bed and no additional beds cluttering the room. Each had a bay window with side view to the sea and another window. Cleanliness and comfort very good. Breakfast selection very good as long as you didnt arrive in the last half hour. Well staffed; all staff were friendly and courteous. Steve on reception very pleasant and professional. The slight 'faded' aspect of the hotel (cracked mirrors in hall, scuffed doorposts on bedroom doors) did not bother me. Only problems were a missing bath plug from one bathroom (remedied the second night) and a plug that leaked in the other, and a dinner deal advertised on the menu that was only available to people who had booked a meals package, but that fact was not mentioned on the menu. Fish and chips excellent, cumberland sausage ordinary.

Attended a pre-booked Christmas party with a group, and accommodation. The Hotel is presentable for an old building, the room was vast and clean, although could have done with the partial refurb of the bathroom being completed. The floor tiles were held down with panel pins, as the adhesive had obviously failed. Breakfast was nice, although I did not sample the cooked offering. As far as the Christmas Party was concerned, it was advertised as "free flowing" drinks for £72.00 PP, although we did get a 10% discount, so £64.80. Let me first just say, I don't expect a la carte meals at a Christmas Party, what was served up was adequate and hot. Now the "free flowing" drinks. On a table for eight persons, there were two bottles of Budweiser, and two of Corona (so hardly a choice of beers). Six bottles of 7UP/sprite, and six very poor-quality Spanish wines (two of each - the red was undrinkable). So hardly satisfying everyone's palate. Once we had booked and paid for the party, we received a "rules of the game" notification, which said something about taking your empty glass up for a refill. Nothing about at around 9.30 staff began to remove any unopened bottles from the table (at the request of the Manager), then any opened bottles, such as wine were also removed at 10pm. This was not only a very poor offering with very little choice, but the indignity of having bottles removed from your table (which you had paid for but given no choice as to what they were) and being told to queue up with your empty glass for a refill. Not only did this make a mockery of the advertised offering, which lacked choice, and quality, but was obviously designed to get attendees to pay for "proper" drinks at the expensive bar (£6.10 a pint - more expensive than central London). What an absolute con. I will never attend this Hotel again or any of its group Hotels or such so called parties again.

Courteous and caring staff. Nothing was too much trouble from réception to restaurant. The hotel was very clean, even though aging in some areas. Just had breakfast in the restaurant but very busy, yet the Maitre D and other waiting staff were extremely helpful and accommodating. The quality of the food was good too. The hotel is in a great position on seafront and within walking distance to town. Nice small swimming pool inside and outdoor one too, although Winter, so a bit too chilly to use! The jacuzzi was out of action. Highly recommended hotel and we'll definitely return.

Spent 4 nights with a coach party very nice rooms lovely especially for my aunt who was over the moon with her room with sea view and balcony. Thanks to sue reception for giving aunt her chips for evening meal. Breakfast was excellent made all the better by Richard our waiter went that extra mile for our comfort. Evening meals not so good cod loin overcooked. Sauces not really apertizing. Also found the bar prices very expensive. Shame really would have stayed there more in the day but found the town more competitive in price. Lovely indoor pool heated all I all would return all staff helpfull.plenty tea coffee in room. Room service if you request we didn't need it rooms clean

Checked in went to room it smelt of cigarettes especially in the bathroom complained at reception was told it was because the window was open and people were smoking outside we were on the first floor so that was highly unlikely complained again at checkout but met with a feeble apology breakfast was buffet which was just warm and there is only one pay meter for the car park which is £10 for 24 hours a bit much when you consider the hotel is not that cheap

Nice stay very clean staff good pool and spa clean and good food good bar and restaurant clean and staff very good breakfast plentiful and tasty room clean and spacious pool and spa clean planty of on site parking and not expensive all round a very nice weekend.

NOT recommended for food! I had the(dubious) pleasure of dining here on the 2nd Nov. 2022 but was totally underwhelmed by the food served. Possibly the worst fish and chips in all of BCP area! Restaurant prices for motorway quality food. My wife had a "ceaser salad" which was loads of lettuce with a few shavings of parmesan cheese and ceaser salad dressing. Avoid this place like the plague!!

Decent enough stay in terms of comfort and safety. The hotel is quite dated and the room amenities pretty basic and past it's sell by date. Was very disappointed with the parking arrangements, told one thing and charged something else, feels like I was conned in terms of the parking. Staff were pleasant enough and decent views as it overlooks the sea.

We'll, where do I start. Food is diabolical and overpriced, drinks also overpriced, cocktails from a tap and extortionately priced. Bar closes at 11pm and your ushered into the conservatory to finish up you're already purchased drinks. Restaurant last orders on a Friday evening we're at 8.30pm!! Tired decor. The hotel management clearly want to spend nothing on the refurbishment of the hotel, hike up drink prices for non branded products, serve microwaved meals. After arriving at the hotel I wasn't sure that spending £18 on sausage and mash would pay off, I thought I'd order the £8 nachos to test the chef, nachos were microwaved, soggy, the chef microwaved the sour cream and guacamole!!! I'd say give this place a wide berth. Husband paid £26 for a steak, asked for mayonnaise and was given a sachet, rest my case.

I stayed here for 4 nights while on business. Hotel looked great in photos and online reviews, but experience taught me otherwise. Firstly, it was fine for what it was and my requirements- a bed to sleep in, shower and toilet. Staff were perfectly pleasant and I was always greeted witn a smile and a hello. My room was quite dirty and hadn't been hoovered well as there was dirt on the carpet on arrival. It was in serious need of a revamp as the wallpaper was torn, pictures on the wall bleached by the sun, sealant around bath had come away and needed resealing, bath was dirty and plug evidently blocked as it filled up when having a shower. The sink tap was also very wobbly and needs to be fixed. My room was uncomfortably hot! I had both windows open, radiator and towel rail off and fan on but still found it very difficult to sleep. The radiator oitside my room was constantly on full whack but had knobs taken off and so I couldn't turn this down. My assumption is pipes were under my room. My room also wasn't serviced during my stay- which is fine as I prefer to reuse towels and make my bed- but it would have been nice to have tea and coffee replenished... and bath cleaned! There was also a cup on a windowsill on the corridor outside my room which was there all week- I didn't once see any housekeepers/ housekeeping trolleys. The pool was nice and changing rooms relatively clean. Outside pool was a welcome cold plunge at 15 degrees! The sauna was probably cooler than my room- is it broken? The gym has no AC though has a good selection of dumbbells- 12-30kg is great for a hotel gym. Also bike, treadmill and concept 2 rower- though display doesn't work. A great location right next to east cliff beach and a short walk from the town centre where there anlre a variety of restaurants and shops. There is also a Beryl scooter parking bay in the hotel carpark which is great for a quick commute! There seemed to be a few families and older people staying here- may be alright for them but not young adults. I saw a review saying they needed more staff and I agree with this. I probably wouldn't stay again but this is obviously subjective to my experience. To conclude: staff good, hotel not great.

We loved our stay in the Carlton hotel in Bournemouth. We had a family room which was lovely and very spacious with 2 single beds provided for our children. We had a meal in the restaurant which was delicious and they managed to fit us in at short notice but it's worth pre booking. The pool was lovely and the changing areas clean. The only negative feedback we have is that the hotel room and communal areas were very hot even with the windows open but a lovely hotel and we will be going back again.

My husband and I stayed for a weekend and found all the staff very friendly and helpful, a great hotel in a great location. Our room was great, clean with nice decor. Will definitely stay here again.

We had an enjoyable two-night stay at this lovely hotel. The rooms were comfortable with amazing sea views and balconies. As we had our dog with us we ate in the bar but chose from the restaurant menu which provided a wide choice and the food was good. The staff were friendly and helpful. We would definitely return.

Room 110 fantastic, huge balcony, big bathroom, with walk in shower, huge comfortable bed, spotlessly clean. Beautiful breakfast. The staff were wonderfull, nothing was to much trouble for them.Highly recommended Hotel

We had a lovely stay in the hotel whilst we attended a Masonic ladies festival weekend, room or more of a suite if you will was fantastic,! Sea view, shame all the toiletries are screwed to the wall in dispensers it a nice touch having the little bottles and bar of soap ( bathroom was abit dated in places and needed retiling in parts) staff were lovely, would definitely come back again, didn't have the chance to use the indoor pool or to book a massage as we were too busy to really relax.

On arrival, staff were welcoming and friendly. Hotel lobby looked bright and inviting. Unfortunately, housekeeping need to pay a little more attention to detail when it comes to the large amount of glass and mirrors. Almost all glass doors and mirrors were wiped with a damp cloth and not polished/dried leaving streeks and smears. shame. Evening meal was full of promise only to lack taste and the steak lacked quality and 1/3 of it was gristle. door closers were set to slam so lots of slamming doors throughout the evening. no hairdryer in room. having said all negatives, we had a lovely weekend breakfast was amazing lots of choice. Plates cold in the warmer.

Very comfortable rooms. Had everything that we needed. Would have been better if there was a plug socket next to the bed. I was unable to plug in my fan. We attended 2 functions held at the hotel, both were very enjoyable. A buffet style food on the first night was nice. Buffet breakfast had plenty of choices to suit all. And lastly a sit down set meal was really good. Shopping display windows through the hotel of hand bags and jewellery were very reasonably priced.

A beautiful hotel which was always friendly, elegant, timeless is no.more!! The elegant furniture in what was The lounge and the bar is now brash gaudy and utility looking. Not the place to unwind and relax as once it was..most of the staff are not white English. This is reflected in the menu which in the past was of an excellent standard, now is nowhere near. I failed to eat my starter and my.main course. The Ice Cream and sorbet was, l thought, a safe bet.. We have had a timeshare in the hotel since 2000 and have always eaten in the restarant. If things don't change, we will be self catering next year.

A top class hotel. We had a fabulous room with amazing sea views. All the staff we encountered were so friendly and very helpful. They also catered for all my food intolerances . We will definitely stay there again soon!!

Lovely stay nice big room staff were all very helpful breakfast was good lots of choice nice veranda to sit out on overlooking the pool. Prices at the bar I thought were quite reasonable. 25 minute walk into Bournemouth Town centre

We love this hotel as it has a super location on the sea front and is an easy walk in to Bournemouth. The hotel provides a plentiful and good breakfast selection and has an evening dinner menu if you don't want to venture out. The swimming pool is always warm and in a nice conservatory area and has a jacuzzi, gym, and relaxation area. The outdoor pool was great in the summer and was also heated. The rooms vary in size according to their location and are dated, but are always spotlessly clean.The main quality of this hotel is the calibre of the staff who are very pleasant, accomodating, and helpful.

Lovely hotel in Bournemouth ..,booked last minute for an over night stay in the Carlton, easy to park at rear of hotel, large spacious bedroom, very clean and accommodating with a balcony overlooking beautiful Seaview , .lovely Friendly and helpful staff,.very good selection of food at breakfast, would definitely stay again highly recommended a visit.

We had a lovely stay at the Carlton hotel Bournemouth it was in a very good location the staff were very friendly it was very clean and we will return again. The food was lovely the service was very good we had a sea view you which was a good surprise we had a very large room everything was very clean and tidy.

Overall nice hotel a little dated here and there could do with an upgrade. Breakfast buffet style usual fare. Only meal we ate at Carlton Hotel all self service. Didn't use any of the facilities apart from the pool ( indoor) water was around 28*c spa pool was over 40 to hot for my wife and myself outdoor pool around 18*c all sufficiently clean and tidy . Didn't like being charged extra £10 per night for car park . Think when you stay in 4* or above hotels facility should be included. Room very nice sea view 215 although first night radiator was stuck on full power , which even with air con on 16 and a room fan on it felt like a sauna. Reported to reception and was fixed and fine by second evening. Summary enjoyable stay would recommend with a few tweaks hear and there would be excellent.

After reading some bad reviews, I was slightly nervous about staying, but the hotel was amazing. Staff were very friendly. We upgraded to a suuite with sea view, which was amazing. Room was spacious and clean and had recently been uodated, so very modern.

The hotel is a little worn, but generally good. We stayed bed and breakfast with no complaints on food selection. Hotel was clean and the staff helpful. The out door heated swimming pool was clean and not crowded (Sept). A great asset for keen swimmers, a decent size. Quiet during our stay.

We had a fabulous time staying at The Carlton. Brought our dog with us for her first stay in a hotel. Staff were wonderful, room was beautiful and our whole weekend was perfect. We'll be back for another stay in December. Love this hotel - highly recommend

I really couldn't begin to explain how much we enjoyed our recent stay at the Bournemouth Carlton hotel. From the moment we arrived to the time we left we were made to feel welcome and nothing was too much trouble.

The checkin was good. The room was a classic double. It was quite small for 200 pounds a night. This did not bother us as we had a sea view which was lovely. However the carpet was stained, the wall paper was coming away from wall and showed mould. The curtains and furniture were absolutely filthy. The shower was a trickle!!! Breakfast was very nice and facilities on site good. Personally I have stayed in better hotels for less money!

The hotel has wonderful sea views and within easy walking distance of the main town All staff were very helpful. The main bar/lounge areas have been refurbished. Our bedroom was clean but furnishings dated and would benefit from replacement The hotel was quiet at night and beds comfy enabling a good nights sleep

Overall our stay was very enjoyable, the hotel was very clean but our room on the 3rd floor was very dated. Low water pressure, stained carpets. Rooms not serviced unless requested at reception before 10am therefore hospitality trays and bathroom items not replenished. We found all staff to be friendly and helpful.

Booked wheelchair friendly double room with shower for seven nights. Arrived Saturday afternoon and was given a standard double with over bath shower. On pointing out that this meant I could not shower for a week, was told the room I had booked was not available until next day. Moved rooms Sunday. Both rooms were clean but very tatty, with battered furniture and paintwork, the second being accessed via two difficult to manage doors and a barely passable bend. Monday evening, when leaving to go out to dinner automatic doors were not working. As this was only exit with wheelchair I was trapped. After complaining, we were told someone would tell us when it was fixed. They didn't. Next problem…Tuesday morning on way to breakfast we found the chair-lift (the only way to the main floor and restaurant) was broken. On enquiring we were told it needed a part and would “possibly” arrive later that day! I was told that if I liked they could take me to the main floor by the service lift from the car-park! I did not like and told the manager so! I was not going to be moved around like the rubbish. After going to the hotel next door for breakfast we decided to go home, just three nights into our seven nights booking. To be fair, the waiting staff were lovely and we were given a full refund but this is no way to treat paying customers, with disabilities or without. How this can be called a ‘Signature' hotel, I have no idea.

We spent the day at the Carlton Hotel on the Saturday of the air show and the team were great. We had lunch and drinks throughout the day and the quality of the food was excellent. I recommend the fish finger sandwich.

We stayed a couple of nights in this hotel. Very poor customer service. We arrived to check in to find a very flustered receptionist dealing with a complaint and arranging a refund. The room was ok but could have been cleaner. The bar near the pool area was clearly being run by staff that had received no training in either bar work or customer service. We heard countless customers complaining about various things. We couldn't have certain wines on the tariff by the glass, although there was a by the glass price. The tariff was incorrect, unless they really are selling 25ml of Prosecco for £29! I pointed this out but they just shrugged their shoulders. This could be a really nice hotel with a little TLC and staff training is key!!!

Booked a stay at the Carlton for a weekend On reading the review ref rat I have to say we saw none. The hotel is located on top of cliff above the beach so an ideal place for rodents but the hotel obviously manages this well. It takes five minutes to walk to the beach or town so ideal . The staff are great and nothing is too much trouble for them. The hotel manger is widely available and takes time to talk to guests . A lot of hotels you never see one ! The room was large and very clean . It's nice to see that some areas are being updated and I hope this continues. In all a great stay , great hotel.and staff .

Our room had a lovely view of the ocean and pool. The pool was very nice to swim in outside. The rooms were a bit outdated and the water pressure in the shower wasn't great. The location was perfect for walking to the beach and the Bournemouth Pier.

Great hotel for families, with plenty of space, nice outside swimming pool, kiddies pool, and indoor pool for kids. Good location for beach and Bournemouth centre with its gardens and pier. Just be prepared for the walk back up the hill from the pier or up the snake from the beach! We left the car in the carpark over our 4 night holiday and walked everywhere with our 6 and 8 year old.

The hotel is based on the cliff so the views from the balcony are absolutely stunning! 5mins walk to the town centre and just facing the beach. The suit with balcony was large and very comfortable for family with small child, all clean and tidy. Bathroom was big with both - shower and tube. Breakfast really nice, the service professional. The leasure facilities were excellent: 2 pools, sauna, jacuzzi, gym. We've had a really good time! I would definitely recommend Carlton hotel to my friends and family and thinking of coming back there next year for longer than 3 nights! Thank you for an amazing stay Carlton Team!

I would let the pictures speak for themselves but I have to write 200 words . The hotel was a complete rundown sh-t hole and very dirty. Wall paper, paint and carpet all falling apart. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.!!!

Generally a very nice hotel. It used to be one of the best hotels in Bournemouth but is in dire need of an upgrade to the rooms as well as the carpeting in the general areas. We were on a half board basis and while the dinner menu and service was very good the breakfasts were a letdown. It was self service. It should be part self service and served especially with hot food. Eggs for instance, there was only a choice of fried or scrambled. I feel a choice of poached and boiled would have helped. Also a couple of fish dishes (kippers and smoked haddock) would also hav3 been better.

This is truly a wonderful hotel. It has a dated charm and elegance about it and the staff and management surely exceed anyone's expectations. The Sea View Rooms are fantastic. We spent two nights here and enjoyed every moment making memories to treasure. The buffet Breakfast is a must do! and Dinner is definitely not to be missed. The menu is varied and mouth watering and the descriptions of the food do not give the chef enough credit. Would definitely recommend that this hotel is a worth while stay

Room was very poor. Window nailed shut. Too hot and no A/C. Obtained a fan from reception. Couldn't plug it in near bed as wall sockets are 3 pin round??? Our room was for invalid people. Breakfast was very good with plenty of choice. Inexperienced bar staff with no clue as how to serve drinks correctly. 3 times got our drinks wrong and such a long time to get served. Outdoor pool was nice apart from rats running around after pool shut at 6pm. Basic dinner menu in restaurant in the evening. Dirty bedroom windows. Never cleaned in years by the look of them.

For a so called 3 Star Hotel and the charges per night, it is a very shabby establishment showing the signs of long-term neglect. Check-in was not a good experience, a single receptionist trying to deal with multiple tasks from check-in to general hotel issues and a stream of complaints causing a wait in excess of 25 minutes. The first room we were given was in a very poor state of repair with a number of serious health and safety issues (photo documented). The duty manager agreed to move us to another room which was smaller but with less issues albeit functional. The food at Breakfast (although busy) and Dinner was plentiful and faultless, however, it did give us a grandstand view of the colony of rats residing around the garden and pool. Room cleanliness was poor, with cleaning and service by request through reception, such a regime has contributed to undesirable items under the bed from previous occupants. Staffing standards are potentially the issue, although seemingly adequate, their experience and quality does not meet what is required for what this hotel portrays itself as. And I thought Fawlty Towers was just a BBC comedy? It seems to be a blue print for this hotel!

mediocre stay, Room lovely view, breakfast good However the outdoor pool area is over run by rats in the evening around the outdoor pool and over sunbeds and a lot of guests along with myself expressed concerns but staff aware and not bothered which was the case on departure photos are available rat dropping were spotted in the indoor pool area as well as door left open we even ushered one off the steps into an open restaurant door!! in the room previous items of open food purchased a week prior to our stay was found in cupboards again asked to be removed but still there on our departure very very disappointed in what could have been a lovely stay seems like hotel is suffering with staffing/quality levels

Currently staying at the hotel. Check in starts at 4pm. Only one person handling check in and anything else that needs attention. Was finally dealt with after 20 minutes queuing. During that time a recently checked in guest came along in a total panic that she found a rat running through her room. Yes there are rats that can be spotted around the building particularly by swimming pool area. Secondly, as I write this review it's 5.45pm and my room has still not been cleaned!! After many years of visiting the Carlton Hotel. I will not be booking here again. Shame.

We paid for a family room but was given a double. No family room available but room found that could fit us in. Old room, peeling wallpaper, very old. Took over 30 mins to check in and breakfast is not available in hotel but next door. Expensive hotel but poor standards

We very much enjoyed our break at The Carlton Hotel Bournemouth. The planters and pots by the pool are very pretty and really add to the lovely space. We thought that dinner and breakfast was very good indeed and the service. We also really like what has been done inside the hotel - they have been very busy over the last few months and it looks great. William, Rebecca & family

We were fortunate to have a lovely large refurbished room with air conditioning. This was during the heatwave which was a Godsend. However my son and grandchildren had an older family room with no air-conditioning and it was unbearable. A fan was of no use. They had to come and sleep in our room. I can't imagine that any guests after them could survive in there.... I'm aware they are refurbishing and covid brought some set backs. Hopefully air-conditioning will be placed in all rooms eventually. Staff all very friendly and helpful. Breakfast needs a bit more management. Every morning I had to wait around for items to be replenished and ask. Great coffee machine. Swimming pool amazing! Kids and adults loved it. Plenty of sunbeds. Spa area and jacuzzi needs major updating, which I'm sure is being planned. Again, covid has caused delays. The entrance to the hotel from the parking area needs a ramp for wheelchairs and the elderly, I kept seeing this problem. It also needs to look more inviting and freshened up. There's a leak of water as you get to the steps. Overall a bit pricey for a 3 star, but a lovely setting and we made some good memories. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone at the Carlton, especially the lovely Gracie, Kelly and Helen. Wonderful team, lots of warm smiles, totally professional and could not do enough for you. Rooms great, pool area great, bar great, restaurant great! Just a little touch up of painting needed outside but that is the worst I could come up with. Cant wait to go back.

Stayed for a long weekend last year and decided to come back to the same place this year. Had a Superior Room which is huge with good sea view. Hotel itself has had a bit of makeover in places (bar and dining area) and looks very nice. Good pool area as well although we prefer the beach. Location is excellent with easy walk into town and down to the beach. Parking is easy as well. Staff very friendly. Nothing to complain about and will come back again next year.

Excellent service from start to finish. The hotel is beautiful. Huge rooms with plenty of space and a nice big bathroom. Very clean room too. The bed was so comfy. The pool area is brilliant for kids and both inside and outside pools. The breakfast was excellent too lots of choice, something for everyone and very fresh. I'll definitely be staying here again.

Really amazing hotel. Caring staff. Near the beach. Lovely food. Great bar right next to the pool. Big bed. Balcony. We really didn't want to go hole, so next summer we will stay another night. The weather made it feel like we were abroad. We will be back!

Wonderful night away. We only live 15 minutes away from the hotel, but as soon as we arrived, we felt like we were on holiday. The team were extremely helpful and friendly, the room had been beautifully refurbished and the sea view from the room was stunning.

I booked our stay at the Carlton at the last minute, and solely on the basis of its proximity to the sea and beach - at £650, for 4 nights. I didn't check the reviews before booking; that's on me. Obviously I now wish I had. The room we were given on arrival smelled so strongly of urine we had to immediately contact reception, who sent over a cleaner. He confirmed what we suspected: the bidet in the room had no running water, and someone - I assume a previous guest - had been using it as a toilet, hence the overpowering urine smell. The room was warm, there was minimal ventilation and what air con there was barely functioned. The room was dirty, and evidently in need of a deep clean. We pointed this out, and were moved - to a larger room with a sea view. Great, right? Except, within 5 minutes of us settling into the new room, the very heavy wardrobe door fell off its runner - and onto the forehead of my partner, who was trying to use the wardrobe at the time. (I was particularly grateful at this point that my two young kids weren't on the trip with us - the falling door would almost certainly have caused them serious injury). There was no air con at all in this room, so it was perennially baking hot and stuffy, despite the sea view/breeze (the manager's response to this - that air con wasn't advertised, and we shouldn't expect it of a 3* hotel - might have been easier to take had there been some semblance of ventilation. Instead, the room was - during a heatwave - significantly hotter than our non-air conditioned house. The towel rack in the bathroom was also set to a swelteringly high heat for the entirety of our stay, which didn't help matters). The first night, we tried to run a bath. Brown water flowed out of the taps - this, we were told later, was a result of maintenance work being carried out on a section of the hotel, maintenance work other guests had apparently been briefed on. Not us, though; we just got the brown water. The following morning, we went to the restaurant for an early lunch/brunch, ordering a burger and a wrap and two apple juices. The food took 50 minutes to arrive, and only then when we tracked down the server - who seemed, like all the non-management staff we encountered, as if she was beginning her first day on the job - and asked her if it was our order. The apple juice took a further 10 minutes to reach us. I stayed in hotels fairly regularly for work, pre-covid, both in the UK and overseas; my partner worked for 15 years in hospitality. And, hand on heart - this was some of the worst food and beverage service we've ever experienced. It's also worth noting that the problems seemed to be endemic throughout the hotel: we saw or heard other guests complaining what seemed like every time we left our room, despite the manager's suggestion that, if people really were that dissatisfied, they'd be queuing up at the front desk to complain there. (FYI: the very first thing we encountered, on checking into the hotel, was a guest complaining about the standard of the restaurant). After talking to the manager about the myriad problems / hazards we'd encountered - including the more general dirty/shabby state of the hotel - we were reimbursed for 50% of the cost of our stay. The late meal was also comped as a goodwill gesture. Given our experience, however, even a discounted stay felt wildly overpriced, not least because… The Carry On Abroad level of service delivery continued into the last days of the trip - most notably when, on arriving back from a day at the beach, we found our room open and unlocked, presumably left that way by the housekeeping staff. Since we had a laptop and other electronics in the room at the time, we were obviously very concerned by this huge lapse in security. We alerted the front desk to this immediately, but were offered only a cursory apology, and no real explanation for how or why this happened. Anyone who's ever stayed in a hotel will understand why this in particular was deeply troubling. A warning, then, to anyone planning a seaside holiday or - as in our case - a last-minute getaway: do not stay at this hotel. It's dirty (see: urine, stains), it's dangerous (see: falling wardrobe door), the service is laughably bad and housekeeping's approach to room security is apparently to disregard it altogether. Again: do not stay here. Find a Travelodge or a B&B in the area; buy a tent and pitch it on the beach. Literally anywhere else would be cleaner, safer and more convenient than this Fawlty Towers sketch masquerading as a hotel.

Just wanted to say a big “Thank You” to all the staff at the Carlton Hotel Bournemouth. Everyone works so hard to ensure that we have a most enjoyable experience, Nothing was too much trouble. Everyone was so kind to our little grand children, as well as to us. Room, Restaurant, Swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor, all excellent. And to top it all we were very lucky with the weather. We will definitely be coming back next year.

We really enjoyed our stay here. Nice hotel, lovely cliff-top position, great swimming pools and friendly, helpful staff. The breakfast is fabulous - lots of choice and good quality. We had a family room which was a good size, clean and had view of the sea. The beds were really comfortable. Short walk to beach or town centre.

A basic need of a decent shower was not met but the TV is huge and not necessary. Restaurant food was edible but not great. Wine was served warm. Breakfast offered all options and service for this facility was spot on.

Once again we had a very enjoyable 8 nights holiday at the Carlton, our 18th. Our spacious room had lovely views over the sea and Bournemouth and the balcony was excellent. It was a lovely surprise to see the changes in the bar and lounges which were done to a very high standard and look forward to seeing the other planned ideas next year. Once again Nicky in the restaurant, which we used every night, looked after us exceptionally well in a professional and very friendly way. Kerry on reception dealt with any queries quickly and efficiently. Thankyou to both of you. The breakfasts and evening meals were very enjoyable, no problems there. The pool area with new sun loungers, is second to none in Bournemouth and once again made our holiday a most enjoyable experience. Thankyou to Paul and all his staff, keep up the excellent work. See you again next year.

Many problems, bad food, room not serviced, noisy small children running around. Balcony door locked rats running around pool in evening and day time in the rockery garden. All need to be addressed before I would consider returning to this hotel. Staff over worked and lovely.

Spa great, position great especially with a Seaview room. However so lacking in everything else. The two staff covering bar and breakfast worked so hard. But impossible for them to stay on top of it. So pleased we opted for dinner out.

Had a great stay here with my husband! This hotel doesn't get the great reviews it deserves. It is in a brilliant location and good value for money. It appeared we had a complimentary upgrade to a sea view room which we was very pleased with. The breakfast is fresh with a good amount of choice. Very pleased that we stayed here and wasn't put off by the bad reviews. Thank you Carlton hotel xxx

business trip, great views from the hotel, fantastic location, lots of areas to sit and work, and staff on hand to serve drinks at all times of the day. Pool area was so clean and inviting even though did not have time to sit out in the sun. Would definately stay again as has plenty of parking also.

The rooms were not serviced, although most hotels do this now after Covid restrictions have gone. I am type 2 diabetic; I asked if I could have cheese and biscuits instead of pudding. I was told it was not available, but on the last day, I found that anothet member of our party had been having cheese and crackers every evening. We all felt that the hotel was run for the convenience of the staff instead of for the guests.

Nice location but hotel needs some serious TLC. Room was lovely but really needed a coat of paint and a bathroom door that actually closed!! Good choice of Food in the restaurant, and breakfast really good.

My parents had their wedding reception there in 1958- I suspect a lot of things had not changed much in the intervening period, which we really liked. Great location, definitely a bit shabby now, but large clean rooms and lovely poolside area. Dogs were permitted, but not much facility for them (eg, no water bowls or poo bins near exit doors). We didn't use the hotel restaurant as £15pp seemed a lot for breakfast. We used "beryl" e scooters, (parking bay right outside the hotel) to tackle the hills. Staff were a bit few and far between, but I expect they are still recovering from covid reductions.

Evita the duty Manager provided excellent customer service in a very professional and friendly manner during our 3 night stay including breakfast and dining in the restaurant both evenings. The food was delicious, very well presented, nice and hot, very enjoyable on both nights. Our compliments to the Chefs and their teams. Restaurant / lounge / bar experience - definitely exceeded our expectations. Evita and her team including the bar manager - nothing was too much trouble and we felt this had a big impact on our enjoyable stay. The room Let the hotel down, it looked, very tired and dated. The plug in the bath and the air conditioning didn't work - however the reception staff Lisa & Sue? were very helpful and resolved the issues quickly, maintenance were very efficient in repairing the plug and bringing a fan to the room. We accept things go wrong but it is how the staff deals with the issues that matter, and we felt these issues were dealt with by all concerned in a very efficient, and friendly manner.

Booked a superior Sea View room and was not disappointed. Large bed, huge shower room and lovely view. Access to outside terrace was a bonus but only two chairs and extras such as table would have been better. All staff we experienced were helpful and pleasant. Many new staff being trained for the season. Signs of much updating during our stay. All beds replaced. Ground floor repainting and new carpets so investments taking place. We only ate for breakfast in morning and that was acceptable. Talking to others about evening meals and we decided to eat out. Overall a pleasant stay and well done all staff

Very helpful staff. Breakfast was excellent and swimming pools very well kept and warm. Had a very relaxing stay with my husband and enjoyed it tremendously. We did not have an evening meal but going on the breakfast I am sure it would have been good

When we first arrived we were met at the reception by Jeorgina, who gave us a warm welcome. We booked a family room as we have two small children with us. However, when shown to our room, it was placed between staircases with no easy access for a buggy or anywhere near a lift. Unhappy with the situation we requested to be moved to a different room and Jeorgina helped us out by offering a double room which was very large and had a beautiful view of the beach. Both of us work in the hospitality industry and with small children for us hygiene is a priority. Upon checking the bathroom, we found towels were dirty and the bathroom had small hair here and there. The bath tub had a dirt stain line going round the tub which must have been there for a while. The bathroom ceiling had started to fall apart a bit by the window, the paint had come off and was left hanging. The room itself was big and spacious but the phone to contact reception was not working at all. The wallpaper in some places near large windows was coming off here and there. Overall, the room needs renovating and the cleaners need to be taught some standards. I made Jeorgina aware of the bathroom situation and she said she would clean it herself if need be as the cleaners may have finished their shift at the time. The poor woman was manning the reception with true ownership of her position and deserves a pay rise or a promotion for all the effort you could see she put in her job having to deal with everyone's problems. Next we went to dine at the bar and restaurant situated downstairs. The staff in there are brilliant and care about their customers. Massive thank you to Nicki the manager who came to check on us at all times (some places they chuck the food on the table and you won't see staff member for about an hour, not this place!), Vinny at the bar and Antoinna. All the staff were brilliant and made our night with two crying little ones so much more pleasant. Also a massive thank you to a young lady whose name we didn't catch, she works breakfast shifts in the restaurant, blonde hair in a ponytail and knows the area very well. She helped us to the swimming pool downstairs and got us toys for the children and was just amazing for looking after us, even coming downstairs to the swimming pool to see if we needed assistance. If people are wondering why I complain about the rooms and the hygiene but have left a five star review, it's because of the staff. The people here are amazing at their jobs and you can see the afford they put in to look after the needs of every guest. Do NOT let these people leave, they are what makes this place a great stay for families and couples. We will be back to stay for another vacation and hope to see all the staff members again soon. Thank you for all you hard work.

We stayed there for one night and were impressed by the hotel facilities that we could use even before check in. Nice spacious room, cocktail bar located very close to outdoor pool. Very nice food for dinner. Recommended!

Place looked tired & dated .. service was poor . Reception never answered there phone .room service never answered either . Shower cold .Had no cash change ,card only at the bar … If u stay at east cliff u have to go to the sister hotel next door for lunch / dinner. Skeleton staffing it seemed . Good food at the charlton Bw next Door. You have to pay to park ! Ridiculous bloody ridiculous! £60 for 2 nites .£30 if u pay for parking at reception..but no one mentioned this until after the fact . !! This service is not exceptable

Hotel was maybe a little tired but it is an old building. The staff were absolutely wonderful, they couldn't do enough for us. The food was good and tasty. Rooms were amazingly large and very comfortable and well stocked.

We had a lovely four night break at the Carlton and really enjoyed it. The staff are brilliant, very helpful and friendly. As many other reviews have pointed out the Hotel is looking very tired and needs someone to do a quick paint job as many areas especially round the windows have paint flaking off and the balcony wall could benefit from some paint. I was disappointed that the wash basin was in a terrible state, due possibly to limescale and a general lack of proper cleaning. I asked for housekeeping to specially clean the bathroom basin, and this request was clearly ignored, as the photo of the plug shows !. The damage around the tap was clean and I am sure that it is something that will be fixed. The breakfasts were really good, I liked the help yourself buffet and every day the food was excellent. We were however disappointed with the evening Restaurant service. Having booked a table for 7 pm, when we arrived we were told that due to a coach party they didn't serve normal guests until 8 pm. This was far later than we wish to eat, so the Lady helpfully seated us at 7-30 pm (but we were not served until 8 pm). Unfortunately the meal of Lemon & Tarragon Chicken was certainly not worth the wait. Whilst it was eatable and would have been OK for a £5-00 bar snack, it certainly wasn't worth £16-95 as a main course. Overall we had a great stay and would be very happy to return, and I am sure the next time we visit the many small criticisms will be fixed

The room and all hotel facilities were spotless. The staff were welcoming upon arrival and during our stay. The bar drinks menu was endless, bar food tasty and staff friendly. Breakfast had a good selection and staff on hand for assistance. The restaurant staff were attentive and food was delicious. Onsite spa was reasonably priced and lovely relaxing experience. The gym wasn't full at any tie which was nice not to wait for equipment. The hot tub and indoor pool was lovely and warm and very clean. The outdoor pool also looked lovely but the weather didn't permit us to use it. Just a short walk to Bournemouth beach/pier, bike hire space outside the hotel and taxi less than £5 when the weather wasn't great. If your looking for a group to go away, family or couple this hotel ticks all the boxes.

This is our first trip to the Bournemouth area and staying in this hotel. We booked a family room for my family. We're greeted by Anfal & Lisa in receptionist. They're very friendly and nice. Check-in & check-out were easy. The hotel is lovely with a spacious family room and beachfront location. The breakfast options are reasonable. Our overall experience has been very positive. For feedback, some TLC to the interior would make it even better. We're looking forward to our next chance to stay here again. God willing.

I was quite disappointed to arrive in a room that looked like something out of the late 80s. The furniture was worn with holes in the upholstery and peeling surfaces on the wood. There was an 18" tear at the foot of the duvet cover which I have no doubt would have been replaced if I had complained, but it was late by the time I went to bed. The staff were friendly and very helpful, and the breakfast was good value.

We have just returned from a 2 night stay at the BW Carlton in Bournemouth. The hotel is looking a little tired and could do with a facelift. The Reception staff and Restaurant staff are very pleasant and helpful. There is a very good sized outdoor swimming pool and an indoor pool along with a spa. Our room was an executive SeaView Room and we were not disappointed with the view. The Kingsize Bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was one of the biggest we have ever had. The decor could be better. We ate twice in the hotel's restaurant and although the food was nothing special it was tasty and served with a smile. Overall we would stay at this hotel again.

My experience of the hotel was very good - checking in and out was easy and with very pleasant staff - I was extremely delighted to have a large front facing sea view room, though this was slightly noisy in the mornings as doors below me were closed too with a bang. The hotel offers some very good amenities and I was overall happy with the food that I had chosen. If I had one criticism it would be the décor, in places the hotel needs some TLC, carpets are threadbare and wallpaper coming away, I suspect that Covid has not be kind to the income and the means to maintain. This however will not deter me from staying again!

We have stayed here many, many times (10 times last year) and enjoyed every stay. Yes, the Hotel is a bit tired in places but the position is superb, as are the excellent Staff - always very helpful and friendly. We wouldn't stay anywhere else!

We have just had a lovely stay in this delightful hotel which is in a fantastic location within easy reach of Bournemouth town centre, the gardens and the beach, although all of the facilities we required were within the hotel and grounds. Upon arrival the reception staff were very pleasant and efficient. The outside swimming pool is bright and clean with comfortable luxury loungers and additionally there is a well equiped gym by hotel standards and a heated indoor pool and beautician. The bar is very pleasant tended by courteous staff. We ate in the restaurant, although I had a problem with my food order, Nicky, our waitress could not have been more accommodating and understanding, there must be very few restaurants that do not have complaints at some time or another but it is how they are dealt with and I cannot fault Nicky for the way in which it was handled to a satisfactory resolution. Breakfast was self service and the food was hot and there was plenty of it. It was very busy and they ran out of butter but the waiter replenished as soon as we made him aware. The Manager is visible and very hands on and very approachable. I dropped one star due to the fact that the room was a little tired in decor but it was spacious and clean and comfortable.

It was very clean, peaceful and staff were pleasant and helpful. Good sized room with very comfortable bed! Breakfast was disappointing. On our first morning, we had a very lengthy 15 minute wait at the buffet for all tureens to be replenished. But, when the bacon and sausages finally came out it was evident that they had been overcooked a long time before and presumably kept hot therefore drying them out to a crisp. A number of very vocal, angry customers waiting at the buffet with us indicated that this had been the same for previous days. On our second morning there was no buffet and the English breakfast was brought plated to our table. We foolishly thought this was going to be fresh cooked to order as there was only a couple of tables occupied. But it was not to be, where our old friends the overcooked and dried out bacon and sausages made an appearance again and this time with dried out scrambled eggs!! With an inability to cook a basic breakfast we did not risk using the restaurant during our stay. This was all such a shame as it otherwise spoilt what was a very pleasant stay.

We returned to this hotel for the weekend after a pleasant stay last year. The Dinner was not as good as last time, but breakfast fine. Nice to see plenty of staff. Does this place employ a handyman? Numerous bulbs in the hotel need replacing and one or two other small maintenance jobs need attention! Quite a bit of chipped paintwork. I was a little annoyed that our offer specified an early 1500 check in was available, but reception insisted that rooms would be available at 1600 so we had to wait until then. The man on duty said that he could not give us a room as the allocations had 'not come down yet'. Otherwise no complaint- the staff were polite and pleasant enough and always helpful.

First impressions were excellent but once you look a little closer this is a very dated hotel. Walls with chips of paint and paper missing. Furniture in need of repair or replacement. Dust on every surface, our initial room had a thick layer of dust and fluff on every surface. We were moved to a better room with an outstanding view but again there were faults with fixtures such as the door lock keep only held in place by 1 screw. The metal plate moved each time the door was opened meaning the door wouldn't close properly until you moved it. When we reported this we were told it had been being reported for weeks but not repaired. Literally a 30 second job. On the plus side the staff could not have been any more friendly and helped in any way they could . The restaurant served really good food to a high standard and the overall facilities were excellent. Location is ideal for beach and town centre with great views in sea facing rooms. For the price of a room per night I believe the cleaning and maintenance standards should be much much higher.

We had short Easter break in this hotel. It is beautiful building inside. Helpful personal. Located about 10min walk from Bournemouth pier. Offers nice sea view rooms and standard breakfast buffet. Definitely worth the money.

We stayed for a short break over the Easter weekend (Thursday - Monday). We made use of the leisure facilities both inside and out. We ate in the restaurant for dinner and breakfast. The Easter Eggs on Easter Sunday for the children, was a lovely touch!

My daughter and I stayed here and we wanted to review the hotel as we had such a great time. On arrival to the hotel, we met Kerry who was working on reception, and on hearing this break was a postponed Christmas present from 2020 and the first time we had been away for a 'girly' break, upgraded us to possibly the best room in the hotel! The room was amazing, freshly decorated, clean and tidy with the bonus that we had a huge balcony with sun chairs and sunbeds and the most beautiful view across to the sea. Kerry went over and above to chat to us, made us feel welcome and looked after us both. The hotel itself was immaculate. The pools, both indoor and outdoor, were clean and well kept and the shared areas such as the dining hall and bar were again kept very clean and tidy. Breakfast was self service, however staff were on hand to chat to, ask questions of and again everything was clean and tidy. The hotel is in a good family friendly location, the beach is just across the road and down through the zig zag pathway. The hotel is very family friendly. Staff are polite and helpful and always on hand to help. Big shout out to Kerry! Thank you for a great couple of days!

Excellent welcoming reception and all other staff, attractive and nicely-stocked bar and lounges, lovely fitness centre, swimming pool and gardens. Room we had was a nice size and with a sea view. Comfy beds, all bedroom and bathroom scrupulously clean. Squeaks from flooring in some corridors! Very comprehensive breakfast although a bit slow bringing coffee refills, and evening meal had been prepared with pride and expertise, waiting staff lovely. Wisely stocked cellar. This was a delightfully enjoyable stay but unfortunately we could only stay one night as we had checked out of our previous very poor hotel one day early. This hotel is in the Best Western Signature range, we have stayed in these in France and Germany and those were great too, being family owned.

Our booking was messed up which led to a sour start. No water pressure so we had to use the shower in the pool changing rooms. Over heated rooms led to a two very uncomfortable nights. I got trapped in the lift with no apology.

Three star hotel that gives four star service. Staff were really cheerful and helpful and meals were very tasty. The room was far too hot and we should have asked about it but never did! E has a lovely sea view and large balcony which was great

Amazing position on the sea front Wonderful staff. Going to the Bar and then restaurant in the evening made our stay. No hassle just come down and enjoy. The staff in the Bar and restaurant are really lovely. You can go for a good deal but to make the most of your holiday pay a little extra for your room choice. Why not have space, upgrade

The hotel is spacious serving excellent food in nice surroundings with helpful and courteous staff although there seemed to be staff shortages in certain areas. The gardens looked well kept around the outdoor pool.

We went here at the end of March 2022. We stayed 3 nights. We upgraded to a sea view room and it was worth it. The room was amazing. Large bed. And amazing views. The bathroom was good. Bath deep and comfortable. But the shower pressure was terrible. That's my only fault. Wi-Fi was free. Car parking was £10 a night which was paid at reception. We ate in the restaurant and at the bar. The food was good. Drinks were good. Yes the hotel itself needs a bit of updating. There are areas that need repapering. Or painting and the sofas needs replacing but I expect that covid has caused them to have less income (like everyone else). Staff were ok. There was a lot of people working in the restaurants. We had breakfast as well. A buffet style. Full English, many different cereals, lots of fruit, yoghurts, croissants and toast. Sadly no lattes, or lacto milk. I would stay here again if I visited Bournemouth.

An initial problem with my room was quickly and satisfactorily resolved. The food in the restaurant exceeded my expectations, and was always enjoyable, and well presented. I was on a prepaid dining arrangement, and would have preferred a greater choice, but for a short stay, it was fine.

My husband and I I stayed here through a spa seekers package.this included a two night stay,breakfast on each morning,three course dinner one evening of your choice,full use of spa facilities and a 55 min treatment. Room was nice and spacious with a sea view,flat screen tv and tea and coffee making facilities. breakfast was good,had plenty of choice and three course meal was also good although quite pricey so glad we had this included as part of our package. Things that could do with improvement are- We noticed our room hadn't been touched as there was no milk or tea replacements the next day which meant we had to call down to the reception for some. The “cocktail” bar was quite disappointing.We requested a menu but were told that they didn't have one however there are a choice of three on tap.we decided we would go ahead and try one.Cocktail was nice but pricey at £9 considering it was out of a tap!! This would have been so much more appealing with a menu and fresh cocktails made infront of you. windows could do with a good clean in most of the hotel and especially the spa and just general cleanliness could be improved,lots of cobwebs and dust. The spa treatments were very good,nice and relaxing,professional staff. All in all a good stay and for the price we paid we are happy. If these points were addressed this would greatly improve the hotel .

Lots of really good things about the Bournemouth Carlton. Great price for a suite with sea view, plenty of parkin, good location, large rooms, very comfortable bed and all clean. Not so good - bathroom in need of refurbishment and reception staff need to be friendly and welcoming and able to produce a final invoice (which they could not do for us)

Stayed at the Carlton in March 2022 Friday and Saturday evening, had an excellent weekend with entertainment arranged for the Friday and the Pop Pickers group on the Saturday. Excellent entertainment, couldn't fault the food or the service, this was excellent value for money when you consider what was provided

Excellent attentive staff in all areas from reception to the bar and restaurant. The spa was lovely and warm, the warmest pool water we have experienced in our travels. Overall our stay provided a lovely relaxing atmosphere, will definitely be coming back. Thank you to all the staff that made our break so lovely. Barry & Mandi

It is clear that this hotel was once a place where ladies and gentlemen dressed for dinner. These days have now gone. But after saying that our £158 got us a pleasant 2 nights with no dramas. There were some minor issues and if I had paid more then I would have expected more. Young lady on reception was very accommodating.

I have stayed at this hotel a couple or so times. This time was the worst it's ever been, apart from Kelly O'Shea on reception who was brilliant. The food in the restaurant was probably the worst meals out I've ever had. Evening meal, cheap meat, badly cooked, poor choice. The buffet breakfast poor quality and cold. The room was scruffy and bathroom not clean. I Would never return to this hotel and would not recommend.

1 night stay as part of a gift we were given. Stayed half board and got a 3 course evening meal and breakfast. The food was very tasty - particularly the chicken wings and calamari! The breakfast is buffet style and was really nice. The room was spacious and the bed was comfy. Staff (especially reception) were really friendly. Free parking we just had to give our number plate to reception. It's about a 10 minute walk from the hotel into the centre of Bournemouth.

My husband and I have been staying at The Carlton Hotel for 8 weeks now and I must say we have been looked after extremely well and nothing is too much trouble for the staff. I have been coming to the Carlton Hotel for 20 years and yes, as some of the reviews have said that the hotel is a little tired in places but it is extremely comfortable and the views from this hotel are outstanding, and our suite with its huge terrace which had a table and chairs and 2 sun loungers was amazing. The beds are large and soooo comfortable. We have had the best nights sleep since we arrived at the Hotel. In our bathroom we have a lovely walk in shower and his and hers basins and a bath with big fluffy towels. We have been here so long due to a serious fire at our apartment block in Bournemouth before Christmas. We moved from another hotel which was totally unacceptable for long term stays to The Carlton in January. As I said earlier we have been looked after so well which is what we needed after the fire. The suite we are in at the moment is 112. On Tuesday we are changing rooms as they have a previous booking in our room. I am sure our next room will be just as cosy. ( at least I hope it will be ). There is a lovely indoor and outdoor pool a jaccuzi and sauna, so lots to do. Walking distance to Bournemouth town centre and great walks along East Cliff where you may be lucky to see the goats, remember to bring a large bag of carrots and lettuce for them. We will be very sorry when we have to leave the Carlton Hotel. Most of the Hotels in Bournemouth have struggled through Covid, but it is nice to see that things are starting to get back to normal.

We attended a group event for 2 nights.Both evening meals and breakfasts were superb. This hotel is in a great location.The outdoor pool area looks beautiful and I'm sure it's popular on a nice warm day..I will be using the indoor pool and spa on our next visit.Very friendly staff.Will definitely return

Like many of us the hotel is a little frayed in parts but it should not put you off enjoying a stay. Breakfast was good on all three mornings. Please ask at reception for top ups of tea, milk etc, and they are pleased to provide them. I like the fact you can choose not to have someone come in the make the bed / change towels. This is explained in the letter on arrival so please read it. A huge plus for a stay is the large car park but remember to log your details with the hotel. Lighting in some rooms were an issue, no central ceiling light in some, others had faulty flashing lights and my room had dark areas. Saying that, I still managed to thoroughly enjoy my stay. The hotel helped our group organisers provide a very successful event. Staff members were very helpful and friendly.

We have just returned from a weekend break for a function and apart from the location which is awesome, the real highlight is the staff - so helpful and friendly but professional too. Very comfortable beds and large bedrooms.

Used to holiday here as a child and sadly it's gone from a 5 star hotel to a 3 star. This reflects in untidy staff with a half arsed attitude and just low quality food, glad I only called in for dinner!! Pitiful effort.

We were first time visitors to Bournemouth and by pure chance booked a stay here. From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were made to feel welcome and Kelly the receptionist was professional, helpful and very engaging. The hotel is very well appointed and we were allocated a sea view room which was lovely surprise. We really enjoyed the health spa and facilities and the food was very good. The hotel is close to the town and all it's restaurants and the beautiful beach is on the doorstep. Great few days and we will be coming back for sure!

The main issue for BW & The Carlton Bournemouth is that the hotel itself (thus perhaps the BW central booking system) originally charged me £90.10 for a classic double room at a purely B&B rate. Insisting that the hotel was no longer offering a DBB rate. However, all online options were indeed offering a DBB rate in Classic Double rooms at £89! Thus, I had to complain to BW central reservations to enable a canceling of my original hotel reservations booking without penalty, allowing me to book instead online via a 3rd party (Secret Escapes). Hence, it is not acceptable for BW hotel staff to essentially 'lie' to their guests regarding what room/booking tariffs are in fact available to them! Shame on BW here. Sort your own business practices out here, before these facts are escalated to review sites & and go viral. Your name will be mud, & you will be driven out of business... you have been warned.

Twelve of us enjoyed a lovely weekend at The Carlton Hotel in Bournemouth last weekend. The Hotel is in a wonderful position with excellent views. We were very well looked after. We enjoyed many drinks in the relaxed bar, delicious meals in the Restaurant and had fun in the swimming pool. We were fortunate to have gorgeous sunny weather which was great to appreciate a nice drink on the bar terrace, enjoying the lovely gardens and sea view. So relaxing! Thanks to Paul Clarke (Manager) and also to Kelly, Rhian, Ethan and Joel for looking after us all so well. We hope to return soon. Thank you.

We have stayed at the Carlton hotel previously with our children and it was a great experience, however this time on a weekend away with my wife it was a little disappointing. First the good. The room was comfortable and well equipped and the staff very helpful and courteous. I couldn't be happier with this part of the experience, however the room was never restocked for teabags/milk etc as is usually the case (perhaps due to Covid?). It would have at least been nice to have new teabags etc left outside the room if staff are no longer permitted to enter. The worst part of the experience was the food. We had breakfast included but I managed to go without as the staff didn't seem to be able to keep up with demand, meaning the breakfast buffet took a long time to be replenished, resulting in long waits. I decided to give up in the end. Even worse, one night we opted to pay for dinner, choosing to order the risotto from a limited menu. Sadly the dish which arrived was probably the worst excuse for risotto I have ever seen. I just couldn't eat it and despite the staff offering to get the chef to make another off menu vegetarian dish, I had already been put off eating there. The manager did contact me to try and make things right, which is appreciated and given that we have had a good experience here before we won't let this visit put us off. I just hope next time the staff have a little more help as they did seem very rushed off their feet.

We booked 2 rooms in this hotel for a 1 night stay on the 26th February 2022. Our Hotel rooms looked like something from the 80's as the decor was old and outdated. There was a delay in getting one room as we were told it was still been prepared (7:45pm) which we didnt mind as we were going out for dinner. On our return the room, into a room which had been prepared the bins hadnt been emptied, the surfaces hadnt been wiped down (as there was coffee and tea stains on desk. There were no towels in the bathroom but more importantly there was mould on the bath seal and it just looked dirty. The hotel itself just felt unclean and is obviously in need of some TLC and a major refurb. We wont be booking into this hotel again

Dinner, bed & breakfast for under £100 was exceptional value. Our room was huge and had a sea view along the coast. The bed was comfortable; the ensuite adequate. Breakfast was a pretty standard hotel buffet although the fresh melon and pineapple was good. Yoghurt ran out on day 2. Dinner was OK with one vegetarian main per day which changed daily. Desserts were always the same choice. Staff (when you found them) were cheery and helpful. Excellent stay for the price we paid, less good at full price.

This hotel is excellent value for money. While it does show signs of needing a redecoration in places, the rooms are clean and the bed was very comfy. The view was exceptional. The hotel was well situated for the town and the beach. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely return.

Huge room with a massive and comfortable bed. Nice bath, lots of hot water. Lovely staff. Slightly shaby chik, loving the decor furniture and chandeliers! Food was excellent (evening meal and breakfast). The spa was pretty good too (although didn't try any treatments). Will definitely be back in the summer.

Secret Escapes 2 night break.Evening meal was poor.Great location but a lot of children because of the timeshare aspect.Didn't use the indoor swimming pool because it was so busy with young children.The hotel needs an upgrade.

From the moment you arrive, you have space and cleanliness combined with customer excellence. Rooms are exceptionally clean and you feel safe in every area of the hotel. Food is varied and caters for all, good prices, hot food and people complaining in reviews about how long it takes can pretty much choose from the various fast food restaurants 5 mins walk away, I am happy to wait 20 to 30 mins for hot good food. I'm always here on business and it's quiet, relaxing and plenty of space in Rooms, meeting spaces and bar for your laptops. You never feel claustrophobic, you feel reassured with covid elements in place and a general calm feel even in work mode. Plus, what a view !! Good walking on the front, easy access to pier, beaches and town. I will never stop requesting this hotel for work. Fantastic job bournemouth carlton.

Husband and I spent 2 nights here using a voucher we had as gift. The location of the hotel is amazing, right on the seafront. The entrance is grand as is the reception area.very friendly helpful staff. Our room was in the Timeshare block.it had a wonderful sea view,huge room with a very comfy bed and a nice sofa. Spotlessly clean. It was very quiet. However the decor was very tired,peeled paint on window sill, wallpaper falling off near window, carpet pretty worn, torn curtain. Such a shame, although it didn't spoil our enjoyment, and would stay again Breakfast was really good, plenty of choice, couldnt ask for more Needs a bit of a tidy up,to be in keeping with the rest of the hotel

Arrived and was pleasantly surprised to find we had been given a free upgrade. Great location overlooking beach and close to town.Hotel staff were all friendly and helpful.Only negative was the very poor shower which best described as a dribble. Great value for money.

Good location overlooking the sea and within a short distance to the town. Executive sea view room very spacious. Excellent food and friendly, helpful staff made for an enjoyable stay. Added bonus of leisure facilities, we would recommend and will return.

The staff were incredibly helpful- we had booked 4 rooms before xmas but COVID meat we couldn't travel. The team were great in finding us alternative dates. Love the building- perfect old grandeur of a British seaside hotel, large rooms and public areas. Great location, lovely staff, lots to eat at breakfast, nice pool. Glad we came.

Well placed hotel, eager staff and comfortable rooms. Enjoyed the classic looks and feel to the place, a lovely ambience. We had a dinner, bed & breakfast deal which was really good value for money. However, this has to be paid for somehow and that, we found, was in the 'dinner' part of the package - very disappointing. Apparently it was not 'company policy' to choose how your hamburger would be cooked (I like mine blue or at least rare) and the hamburger patty itself was awful, chewy, tasteless and I even suspect it didn't contain meat, so far as I could tell. That was the only spoiler. The leisure facilities, indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna were very good, staff couldn't do enough to please.

A lack of staff on check in/out and the bar was poor as was the quality of the food. This needs to be addressed. However the bed and room was very clean and comfortable and the pool area also very clean and staff very helpful.

We returned this afternoon after a three night break at the B W Carlton Bournemouth .The cost of the three nights was £392 for Bed and Breakfast. Friday morning they served a full English Breakfast.Saturday there was no bacon or brown sauce.Sunday there was no orange juice they ran out of bacon ,hash browns beans and fried eggs at 9.00am they had to go and cook more .There was no organisation what so ever.The hotel was very busy there were only two members of staff in the dining area and one of them had been on reception when we checked in on Thursday. The male members of staff were very untidy and scruffy in appearance their white shirts were more grey than white.I accept bar prices in hotels tend to be more expensive than outside bars,but we thought they were very expensive.,a large scotch with a splash of lemonade ,and a large Bacardi and a splash of coke was £ 20.40.In very nice restaurants in Bournemouth they cost us between £14.50 and £15.00. The hotel building is very nice but very shabby and the Woodwork in the bar area was covered in dust.Not very good at all.

The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. Our evening meal was excellent and our room was spacious and comfortable. It was especially nice to be able to walk down to the beach so easily as well!

Got a one night stay with a website cheap deal. I need a whellchair but the hotel is not very wheelchair friendly. The stair lift broke down on the way in and the automatic doors failed to open on the way out again! The dining room also has steps in it so impossible to get to buffet breakfast. However, the staff were wonderful and went way out of their way to help. We were upgraded and had a very nice stay.

Obviously very efficiently run because attention to detail was good. Large room was clean with good bathroom accessories and tea/coffee making facilities. Lovely Victorian building with spacious communal rooms overlooking the sea. On-site parking. Friendly, helpful staff. Special deals at certain times of the year make it very good value.

the staff were all very pleasant. We payed extra for for Seaview and it was well worth it, with a fabulous balcony. In the restaurant the food was only okay. Spa and pool lovely. As we're the treatments in spa.

Management was good enough to change the big family room booked in error to a front sea view double which was excellent for us. The staff were very friendly, especially the restaurant & bar waiter who was quick and pleasant to talk to. The food at dinner and breakfast was very good. Not a luxury hotel but well appointed, with good facilities and good value, which suited us fine.

This hotel excels in every way. Highly recommended. Staff dedication, attention to detail, service, food, facilities here are excellent, even out of season when naturally the main outside pool closes.

This is a good hotel in a convenient position with excellent sea views. The staff try hard. The food at both breakfast and dinner was good. The standard of cleanliness is high and the decoration is good, though the stair carpet is worn. There were some small things I could moan about - the room was hot and the window opened only slightly. There were some scuff marks on the wall, the odd spot on the bedroom carpet and one of the bathroom mirror lights was out. All things which would take very little time to remedy. But this didn't detract from my break at all. Overall I would thoroughly reccommend this hotel.

Had a 1night stay here all good spa was nice not very powerful but still a spa,indoor pool was warm an clean. Room we had was nice to start with but had to move due to appalling shower pressure was trickling out so was moved rooms. Receptionist had no idea where new room was so was wondering round trying to find it.so new room was bigger an spacious with a sofa but half the spot lights out an was 2 single beds pushed together. Dinner was good although soup was watered down but still good. Breakfast was help yourself good selection but hot items were Luke warm at the best an that's at 8am as opened

Spent 4 lovely nights here. The staff, food and hotel all very good. The room was fairly. Comfortable, and clean. Tea and coffee making facilities good. No room service because of covid, but all our needs were met, and reception dealt very efficiently with any requests.

Obviously its had a few changes in ownership but still holds its own. Just needs a little TLC to regain its stars and status as a premier hotel in Bournemouth again. Room was clean and bright. Bed very comfortable. It had air conditioning although not needed in January. Being on the top floor (3rd), it probably would be required in summer. Bathroom was clean although water pressure was weak so danced under the shower head. Breakfast was good quality although the hot buffet was only really warm. Staff were really lovely and its clear they want to help return the hotel to the premier league. Hope they success.

This once-prestigious hotel has a stunning location, perched on Bournemouth's beautiful East Cliff. It still has the sense of a grand old hotel, but has sadly lost its way. The bedroom was large and pretty comfortable, but was due a refresh. The public areas, though still full of traditional features, seemed to lack any warmth or luxury - harsh lighting, sparse and dated furniture, and lacking in any niceties (just a vase or two of fresh flowers, a few nice lamps, and a little tasteful background music, would make a big difference). Breakfast was distinctly average, and the hot buffet items were barely warm. The staff seemed to lack any proper customer service training, and generally came across as pretty unhappy and not very warm. It seems such a shame, and it could be so much better.

I found the whole experience very satisfying and would highly recommend a stay here. Staff are friendly and willing to help. The room was clean and tidy. The bed was comfortable and we slept very well.

Visited this beautifully restored Victorian hotel located in a prime spot on the East Cliff with panoramic views of the bay. Check-in was quick and efficient and the allocated room on the first floor which was enormous. The hotel has an excellent spa, small, but was never crowded. the outdoor pool was obviously closed .Parking available at the rear of the hotel .So far so good ,however it restaurant really lets the property down breakfast was ok but the dinner menu, considering its grading ,was more suitable to a supermarket café .It consisted of burgers, pizza or curry with a couple of "pub grub" dishes .Clearly all pre-packaged. The "wine waiter "had to ask is Rioja a red wine? and my wife's G&T was delivered with no ice or lemon . Overall a pleasant weekend away but I expected better from one of Bournemouth's premier hotel's

I stayed at the Carlton Hotel for one night on the 9th Jan. Booked through Secret Escapes. Which included an evening meal. Very dissapointing. The Calamari starter was overcooked and tasteless. The main was ok as I only had the salad with a dried out piece of chicken on top. The dessert was apple pie with custard which was more like water also the piece of pie had obviously been put in the microwave. My first mouthful was so hot nearly burnt my tongue the rest of the pie was ice cold. Prior to my visit I received an e-mail asking if I would like to make a bid for an upgrade. I did go for the lowest amount and was told all the rooms had been taken. This surprised me, as the Hotel had 75 rooms and to my knowledge there was only about 20 guest. I don't think I will be staying there again.

We hosted a birthday event at the Carlton to commemorate a 40th. From the very beginning the event manager Kerry was incredibly helpful and attentive. The function room was ready in a timely manner and the staff at the Carlton Hotel ensured all guests had an amazing time. A big thank you also to Kamal and his team who were on hand for the evening. The food, service and atmosphere left a lasting impression on all guests and these guys were simply amazing. We will be returning to the Carlton for future functions and I can recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking to host their function.

I stayed here for 10 days recently and I have to say that I enjoyed every minute. The room was lovely- ok it could do with a bit of updating but it was clean, warm (not too hot like most hotels), the bed was comfy and the view outstanding. The staff were really friendly and couldn't do enough. The breakfast was awesome too. If you want to stay somewhere that is not too expensive, or flashy but is a home from home whilst you are away then stay here.

Positives: room was lovely, fantastic views and very spacious. Dinner was lovely and we were served by such a friendly waiter who couldn't do enough for us; thank you Sergio, you really made our evening. Location is fab, walking distance to Bournemouth centre. Man who checked us in was very polite and attentive. Extra pillows brought up by reception. Negatives: upon arrival there was a lady on reception who was speaking to the man who checked us in. I asked whether I could check in and she turned to the man and said “oh we'd got so close to finishing that”. I felt like I was an inconvenience who had interrupted something they were doing. In fairness, the man ignored her and did seem embarrassed by this but it wasn't a great first impression. The breakfast ran out of food/milk/sugar and there was quite a long wait for this to be replenished, at which point the other food on your plate had gone cold. It would have been much more pleasant to have had a continental buffet and then order a cooked breakfast separately if required. Overall it was fantastic value for money and we wouldn't hesitate in coming back.

We've stayed in many hotels in the town and this is by far our favourite. Lovely swim and sauna facilities, Amazing breakfast, Cosy room with a sea view. Staff are always friendly and accommodating…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Great deal and money well spent - secret escapes £99 for a big double room sea view with dinner and breakfast! It is an old hotel but that comes with some old fashioned charm! 10 mins to the centre of everything! Food was plentiful and great choices - staff are really friendly and attentive - would defo stay here again. Gym had a strider, a bike and some weights so limited but hey run on the beach was the answer - spa looked ok with indoor heated pool - great atmosphere with it being Christmas

We booked a Sea View room for a weekend break and had a great stay at the hotel Room was big clean and airy and bed very comfortable All the staff were very helpful Short walk into town Have been before and will visit again soon

We booked a 1 night stay last minute via secret escapes £119 for 2 adults full use of the spa, 3 course meal and breakfast. Absolute bargain! On arrival the receptionist was very welcoming this was around 12.30 on Saturday 11th, she gave us all the directions we needed to help us to get to where we wanted to be. Our room wasn't ready but we knew check in would be around 3.30pm. Off we went to explore it's around a 10 minute walk from the hotel to the pier, lots going on with the Christmas tree wonderland walk. We taxied back to the hotel and was £5. Back at the hotel we sat in the lounge/cocktail bar, we did ask for cocktails but they only offered us the one on tap and being a cocktail lover the ones on tap just are not the same. We had reservations at 6.30 for dinner and you couldn't fault the menu 5 options for each course and the food came out perfectly cooked and very well presented all the staff again extremely helpful and welcoming. Again we went off for the evening to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere another quick 10 minute walk and we were back in the thick of it all. The room we had 226 was of fair size the bed was comfy, the pillow on the other hand could do with reviewing there not the best at all, the decor across the hotel was lacking and very worn and could do with a complete overhaul but didn't effect our stay at all. Unfortunately we never used the spa on this occasion but could see the out side pool would be amazing in the summer, and the indoor pool would be great for the colder days. We will definitely stay at this hotel again as the location was perfect for us, hopefully by then the pillows may be better.

needs a lick of paint. nice big room, easy walk to the town centre , carpark should be free for patrons. there was no room service due to corvid ours was a 4 night stay. will stop again better than some of the other east cliff hotels.

The hotel is in need of a refurbishment but I am giving it four stars because it does have a lot of character. I felt like I was in the hotel from the Shining which I have actually visited but felt this had a lot more to it. The staff were all really pleasant and the location to the town was fab ten minute walk along the sea front. The toilet did have a problem with flush and the shower was impossible to regulate temperature. I ran a bath but by the time I returned to get in it it had emptied which I did find comical. For a one night stay we got by but any longer I would not have liked these hiccups. Room was huge and the kids enjoyed their stay no complaints from them.

Excellent experience. Room exceeded our expectations, with a very large comfortable bed and beautiful sea views. The staff were friendly and very helpful. The food was excellent with plenty and varied choices for all courses. The indoor pool was very good too. Have already booked another stay in January

Spacious room, clean, good quality breakfast and dinner, nice hotel overall, and what we enjoyed the most was a heated indoor swimming pool that our little 17 month old enjoyed very much. We also had a sea view with both sunset and sunrise !

Room was lovely and roomy and bed comfortable but ceiling plaster and window cill chipped and needed a bit of TLC. Stair carpets worn in places. Food okay but needs improvement and limited choice. While we there a wedding took place but seemed to be a lot of people who took over the hotel guests bar when they had their own dedicated bar where the wedding meal took place. We couldn't hear ourselves speak and asked but weren't allowed to us the other seating area adjacent to the bar. On the plus side the reception and catering staff were lovely and helpful also the price we paid for the weekend was good. Would still consider coming back if hotel had a bit of an update.

Very impressed with Hotel. Yes it is a bit tried and in need a bit of updating! But then don't we all!!! Staff very helpful and couldn't do enough for you. Large rooms . Glad we choose sea view. Jo :)

Friendly and efficient reception, booked in online, key ready no holdups. Excellent parking and easy walk into town. Very comfortable and good facilities for disabled visitors in the room. Pleasant staff and comfortable bar. Excellent breakfast.

A charming hotel and really lovely stay. We could barely fault it. Will definitely be back again! The breakfast was delicious, the dinner was tasty, the massage was great and the girl (Infinity) that did it was so so lovely. The other reviews on here nearly did scare us off but I'm so glad they didn't because we had the best weekend away we've had in a long time!

This trip had been postponed 3 times for various reasons so it was good to finally be back in our favourite room at our favourite hotel. Hotel has revived itself after covid closure but it would have been nice to see some refurbishment and new sofas/chairs in bedrooms and public lounges. Seems like a missed opportunity but it wont stop us returning.

Friendly helpful staff, hotel and our room generally needs modernising but it was clean and acceptable. Food and menu choice not the best. Overall OK - you get what you pay for! If you want a 5 star hotel then pay 5 star prices - but the whole experience was pleasant. It was what it was - and nothing more!

Having enjoyed many holidays here in the old days the level of service palls into abysmal with a few notable exceptions , notably the bar staff and \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\thea on telephone reception, otherwise the staff on reception with whom I had to deal on check-in and particularly at check -out were surly and actually downright rude. There was a welcome letter in our room which was so badly written I corrected it and handed it to the girl checking me out asking her to give it to the manager "What do you mean "Sloppy" she asked? " I said it was for the manager "He is not here but I will tell him the points"/ I had to ask her 4 times to put it on his desk. This was after she insisted on trying to charge me for my pre-paid room.. "Well 95% of these voucher bookers need paying" After I showed her proof. Without exception the youngsters in the dining room not only failed to remove "used" trays but more seriously avoided eye contact and failed to smile. Throughout the Hotel there appeared to be a lack of dusting, notwithstanding Covid demands. The lack of an A La Carte menu was unacceptable even in a demoted 3* restaurant, Friends staying for 19 days were appalled to learn the the Table d'hote menu, good as it is changes randomly but only every 10 days!!! The spa staff were however excellent from receptionist to masseuse.

The hotel room and location were lovely. Spa staff were amazing. We had a fantastic weekend in Bournemouth for my boyfriends birthday Unfortunately the experience was spoilt at checkout. The lady tried to charge for a room upgrade which had not been agreed, and then accused me of lying, before back tracking when my boyfriend came to back me up Checkout was at 1pm on 13th November 2021. I'd suggest that the first course of action in this kind of dispute is not to accuse the customer of lying. Very rude, and bad customer service

Had a great time. Room was lovely with sea view, and very spacious. Spa was lovely and relaxing. Location was great. Service was disappointing Upon checkout at 1pm on 13th November 2021, the lady behind the desk told me checkout was 11am. I apologised and said that there was no time provided for checkout in any of the correspondence. She argued that it was on the welcome form and i explained that it wasn't as i had looked. She tried arguing with me telling me that it definitely was which i was a bit shocked at. She could have checked for her self, by looking at the welcome letter, but her immediate reaction was to accuse me of lying. Not a good start! Then she said, its okay, don't worry. And then said, that i owe £30 for a room upgrade. I was like...a room upgrade? She said, "yes you asked my colleague for a room upgrade when you checked in". Again, a complete fabrication. I explained that we only arrived at 2.20pm and had our Spa experience at 2.30pm and was in a rush to drop off our stuff and go to the spa. The lady behind the counter literally asked for our names and gave us the room keys. No upgrade or upgrade cost mentioned. Just a standard check in I wouldn't have had any problem paying £30 for a room upgrade, if i had been made aware at the time of check in. I would have upgraded. It was my boyfriends birthday, and would have paid the extra with no fuss made. But i'm not prepared to pay for an upgrade that i wasn't made aware of. The suite with balcony and sea view was lovely, but the spa experience i bought said that the package including an upgraded room, and so i thought this was what was included. It seemed like a good deal to me. All it took was some communication, but this was lacking. I don't expect to be upgraded automatically with extra charges without my agreement. And i also don't expect to be accused of lying upon checkout. That being said, the room was lovely and we had a great time. It was just a shame that the lady on the desk immediately presumed i was lying, and was quite rude. It put a bit of a downer on the weekend, which was amazing. She ruined the experience a bit at the end I might come back again, but would probably stay in another hotel close by. Being charged for things i hadn't asked for, and being accused of lying isn't really the experience i was hoping for. Everything else was fantastic, so it wouldn't take much effort to turn things around

We really enjoyed our stay at the Carlton with its lovely interiors and friendly staff. It is in an ideal position with great sea view rooms. The meals were good for the price we paid though a little more choice at dinner would improve the experience

Stayed here for 4 nights. First night the food for evening meal wasn't great but after that the food was superb. Good choice at breakfast. Very clean and staff very helpful. Very close to a steep hill to be able to walk along the beach.

Unfortunately this once lovely hotel is in need of a complete refurbished! It's in a lovely position with fabulous views . The interior is very tired and a bit grubby , cracked tiles in the bathroom with a dripping tap ,grubby carpets, dirty balcony with mismatched chairs ! Had an iron stain on the sheets although clean still not pleasant. The staff though were so nice not one complaint there !

the staff were all very friendly, the breakfast was delicious, and my room was great, lovely sea view. it is around 10 minutes walk to the pier, and around 15 minutes walk in to the town centre. the beach is of fine sand, though i didn't venture too far as it was November!

Once upon a time would of been a lovely place to stay , but alas time has taken its toll ! Very tired , old fashion and a bit grubby ! On the up side the staff were lovely, very helpful and chatty ! Breakfast was good ! We stayed in a superior room with a sea view , the view was lovely but the room not so much !

I stayed with my mum here for 2 nights and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.Staff everywhere were friendly and helpful.Grounds are well kept.Food for breakfast and evening meal was delicious.The service and all treatment was outstanding And we didn't want to leave! Thank you ! :)

Nice large room, bathroom and balcony. Unfortunately the room smelt like smoke, the coffee mugs were dirty and had a hair inside(looked pubic). The hotel spa facilities aren't great but the spa treatments and staff at Arcadia spa were fantastic.

Stayed here around 20 years ago, it was a very classy place then. Sadly this is not the case now, I will not be back. I am a big BW fan and have stayed at many locations without complaint. Sadly this hotel let's the BW name down badly.

Hotel is very shabby and needs a LOT of work! We had a massage included and it was very poor. Can barely call it a massage. The spa is disgusting. The jacuzzi water is brown, bits falling off it and it is not a relaxing place at all. The food is very poor quality. The staff have no idea what is going on. Food ran out both mornings at breakfast time and had to wait 30 minutes for the basics. Do not waste your time going here. Save yourself the disappointment!

We were on a Secret Escapes deal. This is a nice hotel but quite dated. In places it shows signs of having come out of a pandemic. The room where I stayed had a large spider web hanging from the ceiling and in the window sills. The hotel is in a lovely central position on East Cliff, not far from the beach and town. It has a small outdoor pool which was not open when I was there in October. The indoor pool was open but is quite small so 8 people would be crowded. On our first visit, the jacuzzi and sauna were not open due to lifeguard being sick. None of the staff knew how to get them up and running. There should be systems in place to get the equipment up and running in staff absence. On our second visit, everything was working. Breakfast was very average. Hot food was very average and not hot enough. They could do with a microwave to heat up food and/or milk for coffee. Some fresh fruit salad would be nice as well. In general, the staff were all very helpful and we were made to feel welcome.

Excellent stay Paul and his staff were extremely helpful. The room and food were 1st class and was worth the money. We will be recommending to friends. Also excellent sea views which were a bonus aswell.

I was the organiser for a Masonic Ladies Festival at the Bournemouth Carlton Hotel over a weekend in September 2021. The organisation for such an event was a big task but made somewhat easier by 'Kerry', a member of the hotel's staff who was a superstar. Kerry is one of the hotel's receptionists who has been given the added responsibility of organising large-scale events for one day in her working week. Clearly, just from my event, one day a week is insufficient time to arrange these events. Kerry often phoned and emailed me during her days off and in the evenings to make sure our event was well planned and catered for by the hotel. She came into work on her day off to meet me and discuss our requirements. Very commendable. I hope someone senior in the Best Western Chain recognises her dedication. With 97 guests resident, I anticipated some complaints. These were of a trivial nature and immediately put right by the hotel. Some of the hotel rooms were somewhat dated but clean, comfortable and spacious. Many of our guests had sea view rooms and balconies. Friday night entertainment, arranged by Kerry, was first class and received very complimentary remarks. Dinner in the restaurant on the Friday night was a little slow due to staff shortages but very reasonable. Our main Ladies Night function on the Saturday was a first-class event. Everything was as planned. The food, music, band, ambiance, and setting worked extremely well, again due to the dedicated planning by Kerry. A measure of the success of the event can be identified by the sum of £4,000 being raised over the weekend for charity. Early in our booking arrangements, we had a meeting, by zoom because of the pandemic, with Paul Clarke the hotel's General Manager. This initial meeting was the start of what turned out to be a very enjoyable and affordable weekend.

Excellent stay in this lovely hotel. Chose to upgrade to a sea view room which was huge. Spotlessly clean as was the hotel throughout. Strict Covid rules meant that rooms were not attended too unless specifically asked & we fully understood this. You needed to request additional tea/coffee making facilities & was left a large pack including biscuits. Food in the dining room was very good particularly breakfast. Service at diner was a little slow but it was busy & you could see some of the staff were ‘training' & with a shortage of staff in hospitality across the land, again we understood this. Staff at reception were efficient & very hospitable & we had no trouble finding a parking space in the large hotel car park. We will certainly visit again.

Great location staff were great food was good but could do with a bit more on menu but well priced . Very warm and clean . Room great size and very clean and modern. Pool was great and well maintained

We thoroughly enjoyed our two day break, a Travelzoo deal which was excellent value. Our room was large, clean and comfortable. The evening meal was very good and as vegetarians we were pleased with the choices given. We liked the ambience of this traditional hotel, its location and friendly welcoming staff. A special mention must go to Pamela, the receptionist on duty when we arrived, her calm, friendly and efficient manner was a great start to our enjoyable stay.

Ignore the negative reviews, if you wanted to find things to complain about I'm sure you could, but we had a really enjoyable break. Our room was excellent, spacious, comfortable and spotlessly clean. The staff were smart, polite, helpful and attentive, In particular Kelly on reception, Jake our waiter and the restaurant manager. They all worked very hard to make our stay enjoyable. All our meals were fine, we had no complaints at all. My advice would be to pre-book your dinner table in advance to ensure you could have the time slot you wanted. To turn up at 6.55 and expect a table immediately is unrealistic.. Would we go back - definitely YES.

Refused to take my allergys and offer me alternative dining instead point blank refused to even make me an omelette. Dirty rooms with previous occupants rubbish in bathroom and carpets. Huge mould patches hidden by drapes.

Like the majority of it's clientèle this hotel is old and dated. It's in need of complete refurbishment. Why? 1. We stayed in room 101 with squeaky and uneven floorboards throughout 2. The shower was at a fixed hight of about 5 feet, meaning it was impossible to wash with any kind of ease 3.The toilet cistern took 10 minutes to fill 4. Whenever the room next door used any of their bathroom facilities it sounded like it was draining through our bathroom. 5. The curtains didn't pull all the way across the windows 6. The plaster and wall paper was peeling away from the walls in the corridors. 7. The carpets are threadbare in almost all the public areas. The poor bar staff are inexperienced but seem to have had minimal training or support in how to pour drinks or use the till systems. We went out for dinner instead of staying in, and thankfully so given some of the reviews. But when we got back at 10.30 we were told the bar was closing and to order whatever drinks we wanted there and then. No night porter to continue service. We weren't after much, just a couple of nights caps. Very disappointing and a revenue opportunity missed. Breakfast was okay, but for a place that seems to say that service has been reduced because of the risk of infection, all hot items are under closhes, meaning you all have to touch them and increase the risk of infection. Check in and out were both slow because there was only one member of reception staff on duty, despite it being a busy weekend. The sad thing is, this could be such a great hotel! It's in a brilliant location with big rooms and really has all the raw materials a good hotel should have. But it'll take a huge investment to get it there and the management will have to pull their fingers out and train nd support their staff more effectively. Best avoided.

My family has visited the Carlton every few years. Unfortunately our last visit in early October was a shock. The shower head was ...feeble. Not enough water to shower properly. The taps looked unclean and ancient. The bed was fine and the room, if uninspiring, it was at least clean. The food was very poor. I gather that there was a staff shortage. Fish overcooked. Breakfast too crowded, with lots of elderly doddery guests hovering too long. Sausages are often my arbiter of whether the food is up to scratch. Sausages awful, bacon cheap and flacid, hash browns greasy, cheap nasty jams ( the type you get in Poundland 20 for £1) Nasty cheap bread. English breakfast tea ran out and never replaced Irish butter ( that really helps UK farmers) Bar ran out of crisps-no bar snacks-~hopeless. One good point-the staff were friendly. Finally, £10 for overnight parking is steep. It always used to be free. As a regular visitor to Bournmouth I'll probably look elsewhere in future.Shame.

Poor and not great service. Won't visit again. And not cheap and on the website looks so nice and clean but in reality is not really. And the swimming pool was not clean too. I would not recommend this place. I have visited a lot of hotels and cheap and much more clean and nicer. Very disappointed ☹️

Positives: - Lovely looking hotel inside and out with inside and outside heated pools - Clean, well kept public areas and dining tables well spaced (covid-aware distancing); corridors felt quite plush - Good options at breakfast, nice coffee and a lovely waitress (she had blond hair) who brought me a tasty specially cooked vegan breakfast (so no cross-contamination with non-vegan food) with vegan sausages and the usual English breakfast options except mushrooms as no-one had informed the chef there was a vegan diner and they were cooked in butter -Very large room, entrance area and bathroom (room 94). Kettle with tea and coffee plus biscuits but note no bottled water. Good to see less waste in bathroon supplies as the soap, body wash and shampoo were in refillable containers fixed to the walls. Much better for the environment and they were good quality. - Good sized car park, paid £10 for 24 hours when checking out. You need to give your registration number at reception when you arrive. The car park is down a side road just before the hotel entrance (and at the back of the hotel if the front is seen as the sea-facing side) - Most staff were polite and helpful, a few were friendly. The not-so-good: - Very noisy room due to someone constantly walking heavily above all afternoon and evening, plus it overlooks the car park on ground level. If coming again, I would ask to be in a different room. It was also a little tired and in need of refurbishment. - Real issues for other guests and myself with dinner bookings. Two other groups of guests as I was checking in were complaining about the limited time availability for them to book (6pm for the group and 9pm for the couple) but thank goodness I booked dinner when we arrived and sorted the car park a few hours before the unusually late check in time of 4pm. - The hotel blamed travelzoo forthe confusion, but travelzoo said they sent the correct details that my booking was for a room with breakfast and three course dinner with vegan food requested. On their system, we were booked just for a room. There were issues with vegan food at the dinner service- I was initially offered a starter followed by a salad and was told all the cheesecake desserts were vegan after checking with the chef. I asked about the chickpea curry instead of the salad and after checking again, I was told that was ok and it was very tasty- highly recommend this. Checked again about the desserts as I said I thought cheesecake was usually vegan, especially the one with clotted cream, and chef then confirmed only one dessert was vegan so for anyone with dietary allergies and intolerances- be very careful here. - The fitness room is not fit for purpose- two of the three machines (bike and treadmill) were out of order and the cross trainer was the only one working. There are a few weights and a bench though - I tried phoning before coming to check on several things including early check-in options and vegan food but could not get through despite many attempts and leaving voice messages. I was later told they were too busy to answer the phone or return calls. An email contact on the hotel webpage would be helpful (and there isn't one, contrary to what the receptionist told me) - The attitude of the receptionist on check-out was poor. She asked me about my stay and I said I had enjoyed it but there were a few issues. She asked me to tell her about the issues as she'd rather take a note and deal with them so I mentioned about the dinner booking issues and the noisy room. She then asked if there was anything positive because "our generation like to complain", and she said this in front of other guests with a smile as though I was just having a go, whereas in fact she had asked me for the negatives so she could action them. I reminded her that I had said I had enjoyed the stay initially and then left as quickly as I could. I think even Basil Fawlty has a better way with guests!

Great place to stay and very close to the Beach :) Excellent period hotel with a brand name.......with very friendly and professional staff comfortable large rooms with great facilities good parking and access

We were wonderfully surprised at the excellent deal we had recently at the Bournmouth Carlton Hotel. The bed was new, large and comfortable so we were able to enjoy a good nights rest. Thank you very much - Laura

We had a very good deal and therefore the hiccups weren't a problem. First, broken coffee machine all three days we were there a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates in the deal. We had to ask for the wine with our dinner and didn't bother over the chocolates, Room was lovely and the salon (Arcadia) is excellent.

So lets just provide a little background We have been staying at the Bournemouth Carlton for years whilst under the ownership of Hallmark but this was our first trip under the BW umbrella. Having stayed at BW locations throughout the world, we had high hopes that were dashed before we even arrived Pre-arrival: do not expect to be able to contact this hotel, central reservations couldn't (they did keep apologising), we couldn't as they never answered any of their telephones (on any line options) and the emails sent on 25/08 and 18/09 never received a reply - this should have been the first red flag Arrival: This went seemingly quite smoothly - we had booked two executive seaview suites (side by side) and the rooms although large with outstanding views and great little balconies had wallpaper peeling off (hidden behind the curtains), a phone that did not work, blown lightbulbs that had not been replaced. etc OK, we were staying one night so not a biggy Afternoon drinks - bar staff amazing! One of the staff members that are a real credit to this location! Dinner: Disaster started here. Ignored for over an hour watching table after table being served meals around us. Maitre De could not care less, general manager got involved. In the end, dinner for 4 refunded at £15 per person (is that all you charge?) so ended up eating at MacDonalds! At least we got served! Breakfast - arrived for breakfast - waited with no staff member willing to help until my husband ended up finding someone to check us in. But you are not on the list for breakfast! Go back to reception as this is just the final straw of this sorry stay. Are advised that booking is room only - but no it isn't! Go to room and get proof of rate details and are told that this has been booked by central reservations as room only - but I gave the paperwork over when I checked in with all the information on (note images of the vouchers were also emailed over on 25/08 - Oh but that's right, it was the email that was ignored!!) . Totalling upset at this point and just want to go home but other three members of the party want breakfast before driving (OK, so they got breakfast but I cannot stomach anything by now so head back to the room - key won't work , 2nd time this stay!). Other three advised breakfast is cold, waiters had not even turned the burners on under the hot plates so everything was cold (yes, my husband watched them eventually being lit but by then it is too late!! Others around them complaining also (as were the people in the car park talking to my son!) CONCLUSION: Team members seem to be suffering from a complete lack of leadership and the managerial team (maitre de, etc) have a can't be bothered attitude. We booked this stay during Covid in the hope of keeping locations such as this on their feet - we should have booked with a hotel that actually wanted repeat guests (there are plenty to choose from in Bournemouth) Best Western should be ashamed of this location - it has such potential and a lot of staff work their socks off to try and help the guests but without the interest at the top, they are doomed to failure After seven years staying here, we will not be back!!! It is up to you to choose whether this review is useful or not but this our opinion and our decision for future trips to Bournemouth is clear, we will be staying elsewhere!

Not my first time at the Bournemouth Carlton, but since the pandemic I felt I owed it to the hotel to finally write a review on its qualities. It is without doubt the most lovely traditional quaint British seaside hotel you could find. Overlooking the sea and only a few minutes walk from the pier and town, its the perfect location. Rooms are lovely, always clean. Staff are always helpful and cannot do enough for you (big shout out to Pam on reception for the most welcome we've ever felt in a hotel). Indoor and outdoor pool both amazing, with the outdoor pool always well heated in its private garden setting. We've only eaten for breakfast and bar snacks but if these are anything to go by, i'm sure the dinner is of the same excellent quality. Well done to everyone at the Bournemouth Carlton, you have life long customers in us.

We stayed at the Carlton Hotel with friends for a couple of nights. Check in was easy as we had already checked in online. Our room was large , clean and had a lovely view. We had a lovely swim on both days , the lifeguard was friendly and very helpful. We ate in the restaurant , the food was tasty and well presented. All the staff could not do enough for you. The buffet breakfast had a great choice on both days and again the staff were cheerful and helpful. We enjoyed our stay and have booked to stay again in December

We have just returned from a first class stay at The Carlton Hotel in Bournemouth. Our experience was great from start to finish. Our check in/check out was efficient and the staff were pleasant. Our room was well prepared and comfortable with a spectacular sea view. We were impressed with the Hotel's high standard and the convenience of multiple sanitising stations for guest's use. We were fortunate to enjoy good weather and able to soak up some lovely sunshine on the balcony. It was so great that Paul Clarke the Manager, showed such appreciation for our custom. We also appreciated a lovely welcome from Nicola working in the charming dinning room who ensured our dinning experiences were smooth and efficient. We thoroughly enjoyed all of our meals too. Thanks to all. We are already looking forward to our return visit.

Overall very good value and service. Rooms dated but large and clean. Lovely sea view. Good position for walking to the beach. Bathrooms dated with feeble shower. Staff all helpful. Outside pool area was lovely.

Just back from our eighth visit to the Carlton since reopening in May 2021. Yet again we had a wonderful stay. The Hotel is just a short walk to the beach, park and shops. We had one of the newly refurbished rooms,it was a lovely , light and airy room with clean lines and modern Scandi furniture. Once again the staff were amazing, nothing is too much trouble, we had a long chat with Paul, the Manager, who asked for feed back on our room. It's good to know that guests opinions do matter. The staff make an effort to get to know their guests, especially Kelly, who is brilliant and a credit to the Hotel. Looking forward to our next visit in November.

The whole weekend was absolutely fabulous. The hotel and staff were wonderful, especially Kerry on reception, Nicky, and Paul Clarke, the manager, infact, all staff from bar staff, waiting staff, house keeping, everyone. All so welcoming and friendly. The weekend was brilliant. Our room was excellent, food great and glorious weather. Will be going back very soon. Thank you all too for being there for us after my husband was taken to hospital on the Friday night. All were so helpful and concerned. But all turned out well and we continued to have an excellent stay. We didn't want to go home . See you very soon.

The location of this hotel is excellent but that is all, all rooms and decor need updating, repairing and refurbished to make it an acceptable standard. In my first room the TV was not working, the room smelt and it was very dirty, my next room, the shower would not turn off, and there were a lot of things in need of repair. Staff are friendly but there are very few of them and most appear to be students. Great place if you are looking for somewhere very basic to sleep but hopefully the company will take note and start looking into updating and repairing this place.

Location good, food good but rooms very shabby, peeling wallpaper, stained carpets seriously dated furniture. Very short staffed and not well trained had problem with shower, no maintenance man employed. Reported it to Reception but not interested another guest sorted it out for me. Expected Basil Fawlty to appear anytime. Needs serious money spent on in, but care and cleanliness costs nothing.

Unfortunately, the most accurate description I can make about this hotel is “it'll do” Positives: Rooms are spacious Near the beach Some rooms have a nice view Receptionists are friendly Pool was okay considering you're in England. Negatives: The whole hotel needs modernising! Lack of care in the rooms and around the hotel. They barely clean at all. Lack of staff therefore lack of attention at times. Fire alarms will randomly go off (as late as 3am!) Very squeaky floors. Food was obviously very cheap. The gym had broken machines and dirty. The sauna was very tacky and cold. There was dirty paint on the walls and dirt on the ground (avoid!) Overall, it served a purpose for meantime and, depending on who you were, made it good. The surrounding area were either very nice (like the beach) or very dirty. There was one street in which hosted plenty of nice restaurants, ruined by drunks, boy racers and loudmouths. It was okay. I wouldn't stay here again.

Spent 4 nights at the hotel, our first room was awful, my heart sunk when i walked in, dark,dingy,colour was awful, view was awful, carpet,furniture was awful and dated, yes you get what you pay for, first couple of days had a awful smell which we alerted reception,the nice lady then moved us to a timeshare suite, which was alot better with a sea view, but still need things replaced, the pool was lovely and warm, but shingle sticking to your feet, the was what i assume a old pool bar closed and worn down, basically the pool area needs massive improving and garden area, dirty pond and worn down/closed summer house, also need lighting around pool and garden area at night, theres no WOW factor, owners need to move with the times and stop ripping off customers in offering so much and giving so little.The best thing apart from pool was the staff, them like the hotel are being run into the ground, what a great location to be in, on Bournmouth seafront opposite a lovely sandy beach and the owners can't be bothered, we stayed in the Cumberland last year, vastly superior, this is something you need to aim for, with global warming and tempratures rising(ok not a good thing) and covid times, here's a chance to grab new customers/older customers from abroad and keep there here.

Just got back from a holiday with my uncle, auntie and cousins we was suppsoe to be in Portugal but this was a last minute get away. Hotel scored 5/10 for me hotel rooms definitely needs an update wallpaper coming apart from the walls, carpet very dirty. Room was spacious and bed was comfortable. Hotel its self is very out dated.. staff worked hard but did feel for them as there was a shortage of staff. Staff could do with cheering up. Reception lady on our arrival was very helpful. Swimming pool was always nice and warm grit around the pool wasn't comfortable to walk on and always had bits in the pool. Breakfast in the morning was fine. Overal an okay stay but wouldn't return in a hurry

Short stay booked through third party. Hits: Friendly staff throughout our stay even though they were stretched beyond their limits. Outdoor pool was excellent. Spa was great. Location fantastic as close to beach and all other activities close by. Misses: On arrival told that parking would be charged at £10 per night, should be mentioned when booking as £30 out of pocket before we even moved. We had what was described as an Executive room with sea view and balcony, I would not like to see the standard rooms if this was Executive as there was a musty smell in the room, bed was extremely uncomfortable, carpet was not even hoovered, no telephone or fridge in room, bathroom and overall decor requires updating, balcony looked like it had never been cleaned in years. Broken ironing board. Food was brought out cold from the soup starter to the mains, we could only assume this was due to severe staff shortages as you could see staff literally running around like headless chickens. Seating areas in bar and lounges the furniture requires cleaning and lots of plates and glasses left throughout all areas. Its a shame to have to write a negative review but honesty is the best policy. hopefully improvements are made to a hotel with good staff and big potential.

We have stayed at the Carlton Hotel in Bournemouth many, many times over the past nine years and we have enjoyed every visit. We have just returned from our seventh trip since May this year and the Staff are all exceptional, friendly and helpful and nothing is ever too much trouble. The are the main reason we return so often - they always make us very welcome and look after us extremely well. Theirs is a difficult job and they are a credit to the Carlton. We will be back soon and would never stay anywhere else.

To be my first afternoon tea for my cousins surprise birthday, I won't go anywhere else! It's was absolutely amazing. So private as our party, weren't disturbed at all, very posh and such a beautiful building. The food was divine! The service was perfect. I will definitely be returning!

We spent 3 wonderful hours in the library having afternoon tea for a family members birthday. I highly recommend it as the staff were very attentive and the food was wonderful. Worth every penny we paid for a lovely afternoon

Excellent location and and old established hotel from the Falty towers era that has maintained a high standard of service to its guests. Admittedly it's a little odd fashioned but that adds to its charm. It's a definite must visit location

This used to be a nice hotel. Last stayed here 3 years ago and it's getting tired looked like nothing had been done in all that time. I paid £648 for a two night stay in a "superior" sea facing room over the air show weekend. Realistically it was just a mediocre room with tired decor and poor water pressure to the shower. If this was a superior room I would not want to be in a standard room.

Great position of the hotel a short walk into Bournemouth and the sea. The heated swimming pool is excellent and a great choice for breakfast. The shower was very disappointing and the bath was too small with the shower curtain in when showering.

I took a three day spa break with meals and breakfast included also two spa treatments. Good value for money. Good food and great size portions. Friendly helpful staff. We stayed in room 104 it was a good size with an awesome large window with view of the sea. The spa treatments were lovely . One of the rooms was a little hot while having treatments but this was sorted with a fan. We used the indoor and outdoor pools which were both so lovely and warm. The hot tub was Luke warm. Plenty of sun beds around the pool. Fresh towels for use. This is a child friendly spa. Very family orientated . Lots of rooms with awesome sized balcony's with sea views. Don't expect the ritz as you are paying three star prices so you will get three star standard. Remember the hotels have been closed for so long they have not had time to do repairs. So you may get some wall paper that is peeling off. You may get some windowsills that need a sanding and lic of paint. But you will get a good sized room that is clean and provides you with all you need comfy bed . Nice hot shower and deep bath. Fresh towels when needed and tea and coffee facility's. Good internet I hope this helps you decide to give this hotel the business it deserves . Plus you will eat in a dining room with beautiful chandeliers playing lovely soothing music while you eat. You will be served by a mixture of characters who all will see to your needs if you ask. One other guest said they ran out of the wine they wanted ......... well have a g and t instead !! It's not the end of the world. Breakfast was great a fry up all lovely and hot and a good choice of toast and Jams even Nutella for the kids and big kids. I hope this is a helpful review Do not expect the Ritz expect the above I have shared with you X

Our stay here was really lovely. The staff are all very helpful and attentive. The breakfasts were hot, fresh and lots of choice. The hotel is a bit dated, but then so are most of the hotels in Bournemouth. The location was perfect for what we wanted.

Myself and my boyfriend stayed at this Hotel over the August bank holiday for 3 nights. Hotel staff lovely and very helpful. Our room when we first arrived was on ground floor and although very clean and big it was very dull and in need of updating,(broken bathroom window also). Went to reception and asked if there was any other room available as i was not really happy with the room / view as we did book for a room on a higher floor, the girl on reception was really nice and looked for me and she did understand were I was coming from about the ground floor room, she took me up to another room on second floor and it was lovely newly refurbished and updated decor. Would stay at hotel again but definitely make sure it wasnt a ground floor or would ask if room was a newly refurbished one.

Stayed for 2 nights. Family room was big.The hotel is a bit dated but we booked it because of the heated pool outside fir our daughter. Location is by the beach which is excellent. Breakfast good hot and freshly done. Tried soups from the bar menu and there were tasty. Spa need a serious update . Would come again

We had originally booked to stay in the sister hotel ‘Eastcliff' however, we were very disappointed with our room as it was not what we felt had been advertised, we had booked a deluxe suite. The room was in desperate need of TLC and we felt the price we had paid we deserved something better. The young lady on reception was really helpful and went out of her way to address our issues, however, she was completely on her own and so we headed over to the Carlton to speak with the management team. Kamal was the manager on duty (both managers we dealt with were professional and friendly) and he couldn't have been more helpful he quickly resolved our issues and offered to move us over to the Carlton. He managed to organise this at the end of his shift … when he possibly should have already left, so a big thank you. The room was a definite improvement- with beautiful sea views and a more modern feel. It was well equipped, with comfy beds and tea making facilities. Breakfast was great and the restaurant area was clean. We chose to eat in the hotel restaurant one night and had a lovely meal. Bar staff were really friendly and helpful as were restaurant staff. We were aware that there may have been a shortage of staff as some staff members managed different roles throughout the day. All staff were helpful and friendly … despite possibly having to deal with complaints and working long busy days. The hotel does need TLC in some areas but we really enjoyed our stay after our initial issues. You certainly can't beat the location although worth pointing out there are steep slopes to navigate at times to get to the beach and pier. Thank you to all the staff who may have been working under challenging circumstances in recent times for making our stay so enjoyable.

My family and I have just experienced the worse 7 nights stay at the Carlton Hotel -where do I begin! The hotel is advertised as a spa hotel with disabled facilities but this really was not the case. When we arrived the jacuzzi was out of order for 2 days and so was the disabled lift. The shower in the so-called disabled room was a bath with a shower inside so not convenient for my disabled mother-in-law. The hotel itself is in a poor state and needs refurbishing inside and outside. Doors and skirtings are scuffed and need to be repainted, windows glass blown so the majority are misty. Dirty glasses and plates are left around the hotel for hours not picked up and attracting flies. In my mother-in-law's room, we found an unlocked electrical service box that was not secure that had very old wires sticking out, and could have been dangerous if there was a child in the room. Annoyingly the keys to both our rooms were faulty and had to get it changed three/four times so was constantly breaking down. The rail in the lift was broken when we arrived and was still broken when we left. The rooms are very dated and the photos advised on the website are very misleading, the carpet was dirty and in some places was a trip hazard and found nails sticking out of the bannister. Very disappointed with some of the staff as the students were not properly trained and giving out wrong information, for example, we enquired about the price of the breakfast and was told it was free and this was clearly not the case, continently was £15 p/h but later was told it was £10 so for a family of 4 if would cost us between £60-40 needless to say we went out for breakfast instead and paid £25 for 4. On a positive note, Nicky in the restaurant, Kerry in reception, Michelle and Sophie in Arcadia Beauty Spa were all very professional and friendly. Overall we paid just over £3,500 for two rooms, 7 nights total rip off.

The hotel certainly needs a full make over ,the furniture in the rooms is dated and scruffy. Some staff are not trained especially in the bar area. But the positives are the swimming pool is lovely and the lifeguard is very good at his job and helpful. The hot breakfast is very good but to make it better they could do with danish,croissants etc. A really nice coffee maker would be a good asset too. The rooms are large and we had a great Seaview. This hotel is perfect location,5 min walk to beach and 10/15 min walk to some lovely restaurants nearby. So if the hotel had a full make offer it could easily be 4 or 5 star hotel as it is 3.5 .

We had a lovely stay at the Carlton. We have stayed here many times and love the charm and character of this impressive building. Our room was clean and spacious. Breakfast was delicious. The staff were friendly and helpful.

Great location on the cliff within a 5 minute walk of the beach and 10 minutes from the centre. Rooms were very nice and the bed was comfy. The only downside was the shower. It was very low pressure especially when you wanted it warm. I didn't complain because I heard rumblings around the hotel from other guests about this. We were only there for 3 nights so not a big deal for us. Breakfast was varied and tasty and the swimming pool area was well kept and a bonus versus other hotels in the area. We spent a lot of time there in between adventures. And it is heated! If you have time visit the SPA and have a treatment. My wife had two and loved both of them. All of the staff we met were very warm and welcoming. Would we visit here again? Yes. Overall we had a good time at the hotel and Bournemouth in general.

Booked this hotel for a short break with family. Excellent location. 5 minutes walk to beach. Friendly and helpful staff. Heated indoor and outdoor pools were a hit with my son. Would stay again…………..

The room service was very helpful and even left skincare bars for us to use. The room size was decent and food was delicious but they need to add more options on the kids menu because there is barely any. It would be better if they added a kids room with toys and games for children to play with.

Good value . Great view from room . Room size is decent . Cleanness is also good . Breakfast is not bad . Staffs are friendly . It has a nice pool and quite good for family visit . Location is also not bad , near the east cliff zip zap . Only improvement I would suggest is to have better step less access . The hotel has got stepless access if you are a wheelchair user but for just luggages and wagons and buggies etc | had to carry them up 5-6 steps from either main or car park entrance

A hotel, that is generally in need of a little tlc but the investment may be sizeable.staff were efficient and the meal trialed on Saturday night was lovely. Pool was a great success with kids. Would definitely return as the family all enjoyed it.

Me and my boyfriend chose to stay at this hotel based on the pictures, rating and location. I have never wrote a review on here but I wanted to share how awful my experience was so others can avoid it too. Firstly for £180 a night you would think they would include breakfast however this wasn't included in the price. We went into Bournemouth for breakfast instead which was nice. We arrived to discover the parking was £10 a night which is a lot considering you are a guest at the hotel. The hotel looks fairly nice from the outside and when you walk in it is spacious. The receptionist checked us in but was quite unenthusiastic. We discovered our room was extremely far to walk to but when arriving to it we noticed the door can just be opened with no key. It didn't lock or need a key to get in. We pushed our way through to find the room smelt of damp and wee. The only positive to this was that we was given a full sea view room when it wasn't requested. I went back to reception to request that we get moved rooms on which the girl on reception said she will have to see what's free. She wondered off to check no one was in a room and come back, plonked herself in the chair and said “well I have a room but it's not a sea view”. I said we hadn't originally booked A sea view room so that's okay. She said “well actually you can see the sea from the room so”. I said okay that's fine confused at her contradiction. She then dropped her phone on the floor and swore infront of me getting distressed about several people also complaining about things. We moved all our luggage to the next room. They have the trolleys for staff to assist you with you luggage for situations like this but no staff members were there to help, it's deserted. The second room was not much better. The tv was broken, the balcony had rubbish all on and the door wouldn't lock on the inside. 8am in the morning the maid just walks in while I am just waking up as the door could not be locked and there was no sign to tell staff to “do not disturb”. We didn't want to stay our second night so we checked out and requested a refund. The lady on the desk was training and was left on her own so could not issue us a refund without a supervisor. She should not be left alone on a busy period and we should also have been able to get a refund straight away not having to come back at 4pm in the afternoon for them to still not know the situation and to be rude towards me about what I was asking for. The pool looked lovely but I never had the chance to go in it with it shutting at 6pm and opening at 10pm. This hotel has potential to be amazing but the staff and the outdated rooms are a massive let down. I will not be staying here again.

My room was huge with an amazing view. Sadly that is the only positives. When I arrived the lady on reception insisted that I hadn't prepaid for the room and tried to get me to pay again, luckily I had printed out the email confirming my payment. The food in the restaurant was extremely limited and horrible - some of it so bad we couldn't eat it. We were half board but didn't return after one meal. The staff didn't seem to know what they were doing. Couldn't find the drinks you wanted at the bar, you had to point them out to them, and it was supposed to be a cocktail bar! Only one card machine shared between the bar and restaurant, and EVERY sale had to be printed out and stapled together then placed in an overfull glass. So every trip to the bar took forever. And finally mine was supposed to be a spa break. The sauna and jacuzzi were broken. The indoor pool had 2 chairs beside it so nowhere to relax and was being jumped in by children who were running in and out from the outside pool. It's a shame because it could be a fantastic hotel

Lovely stay at the Carlton. Staff were very friendly and helpful, in particular Jordana and Mridul. Nice choice of menu in the bar and a great buffet breakfast. Great sea views and a very good pool area. The location is perfect.

Check in- Smooth an easy as checked in online. Pool- very nice pool area, lots of space, clean and tidy. You got free towels just in the bar area. The life guard was efficient and wasn't afraid to tell people who were not following the rules. Room 319 excellent views,however the shower was useless. The water trickled out, and it was a tiny space to wash in. The taps on the sink both had H on. I informed staff. I was told as we were on the 3rd floor the pressure was not good, so therefore there was nothing they could do about the shower, which was rather annoying considering how much we paid for the room. They also didn't change the taps to hot and cold. But they did change the cracked toilet seat when we informed them. The room was clean, but very dated. The bed and pillows were amazing and we slept well. In the bedroom, there was tea, coffee,milk, cups biscuits, towels, toiletries, an iron and ironing board, lots of coat hangers , a hairdryer, sofa and smart TV. Hotel- very dated in its presentation, but was clean. Staff were friendly and worked hard. The food was nice but due to being short staffed it took over 50mins to arrive and that was for 2 sandwiches. The hotel is around a 15min walk into the town centre and the beach. The whole of Bournemouth is full of hills, so take your walking shoes. All in all a pleasing stay.

Long weekend trip to Bournemouth with some friends. Great hotel and location. We all had a fantastic time! We have to say that our stay was made all the more special thanks to Daniel who works at the hotel. He made us feel so welcome and couldn't do enough for us all. All of our needs were taken care of. Make sure if you're staying at the Bournemouth Carlton East Cliff hotel to check Daniel is there to make the stay all the more worth while!! Thanks to Daniel and the team. Love John and the boys.

Well located Hotel on the beach. Short walk into the main town and also the promenade/garden area. Paul the manager is an asset to the hotel, he went above and beyond to help us. Pool area big and outdoor pool very warm.

Pool absolutely fabulous, room size was generous with an added bonus of a sea view & balcony - they are the positives. Air conditioning not working, when I enquired as to why the receptionist just shrugged her shoulders and said she didn't know why - rooms are extremely hot. Drinks/bar food can take approx 10-15 minutes to be served and then anything up to an hour for food to arrive (yes, even sandwiches!) Rooms are not serviced at all, covid is given as the reason but other properties I have stayed in are servicing rooms so that is a crock. Staff seem fed up, rather unsmiling and probably exhausted from complaints! The time here started with great expectations however there is no pride or passion in this property or a want to offer a memorable experience. If it wasn't for the pool, I think they would be out of business. Please do better, so much potential but little enthusiasm - which is why we tend to go abroad.

The hotel itself was lovely, however the service is extremely slow and poorly managed. We stayed in the sea front room with a view of the outdoor pool. The room was spacious, the air conditioning was good, enough wardrobe space and cupboard space. In terms of toiletries, they only provide shampoo no conditioner, they also do not provide toothpaste or anything like that. We asked for our room to be serviced on Sunday and again on Monday, however nobody came at any point during our stay, so for the entirety of our week we had to reuse towels and continuously ask for toilet roll… The breakfast we paid for to be included was not worth it, the service being too slow so we waited around for almost all buffet items every morning, and the food that was out and ready was quite cold. The bar is very over priced and has limited drink options, that goes for the restaurant as well. The outdoor pool is really nice, shame they don't have enough sun beds for all the guests.

Family holiday. Location is great. Outdoor pool was great for the kids. However the hotel needs to improve on its facilities and decor. Our toilet did not flush so we were asked to use the lobby toilets temporarily. These were disgusting and had not been cleaned. Our room had only one lamp that worked. Shower was constantly dripping, toilet would not flush. Very dated decor. Floors were dirty as it had not been hoovered. Cleanliness isn't a priority!!!

When the sun is beaming it's like being in spain with the beach on your doorstep and outdoor pool. We had a wonderful stay pretending we were on a proper sun holiday. The rooms were nice and clean but some parts of the hotel a little too traditional for my personal taste

Found ourselves a sunny spot in the bar to enjoy our afternoon tea. We enjoyed a variety of sandwiches, some warm scones and a selection of amazing cakes; so plentiful we asked for a ‘doggy bag'. Staff were friendly, polite and helpful. The hotel is in an envious location with views across the bay. Plentiful parking behind the hotel although there is a cost to park.

Staff were helpful and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxed. Our room had seen better days but it was a good size and the bed was very comfortable. Dinner was very good but the buffet breakfast was cold (it wasn't supposed to have been) and the coffee came from a self service machine. Good value for money

It was Nanas 70th birthday, so we thought we'd treat her to a lovely family meal. First disappointment was the hotel demanded us to pay in full and book a room not needed(as we live in the local area), weeks before the actual date booked. I understand business is business but the request was quite abrupt. We arrived and as booked had a lovely private dining room with its own lounge for before and after the meal. So it was a perfect start to the actual celebration. We sat down when asked to by a lovely staff member. Looking forward to the the pre ordered Sunday roasts. The starters came out and looked promising, they all tasted nice. Due to this whole virus issue we had a few edlery members of the family we thought was best to give it a miss. The hotel wouldn't refund the pre paid meals for them so we asked for them to still be plated and brought through as we had already paid for them, which confused the waiters a lot. Now for the so called amazing roast lunches they had promised. As soon as it was placed in front of me my heart sank..... I had ordered beef it more looked like a leather boot sliced and placed on my plate!! Everyone else felt the same, pork and lamb were so over cooked and dry! either they had left them under a heat lamp as soon as the starters had been served or the chef slept through the oven timer alarm. Each plate had half a roasf potato cut into quarters and a bit of brown water(gravy/jus) and "garnished" with so much rocket our pet guinea pig could have had a feild day!! The side dishes took so long to come out after the main plate that we were wondering if the plate of leather, rocket, half a roast potato with brown water dripped over it was all we were getting. Luckily they arrived to make our plates full. Brocoli was bland over cooked, carrots were OK, parsnips were more like crisps. Quantity of the side dishes was no where in comparison to the amount of people that were there, was a joke. So much so we had to ask for more cauliflower cheese, only to be told that's all we can have!! if the three people who didn't turn up did, God know what would have happened....... Desert the chocolate brownie was so hard I would have been able to break a window with it, best thing that was serverd was the strawberries and icecream for the kids, lucky them. The service staff were lovely, that's the only reason you've scraped a 2 star vote. So for the price of £30-40 per head I wish we had booked out the whole of a local TOBY CARVERY and still had better food!!!!

In reality somewhere between 3 and 4. Why? Well, it is not average but, in all honesty, it is not quite very good either. Staff are all friendly and helpful save for one issue. Reception told us to get robes from the Spa. Ok. Got to the Spa "You need to ask reception." Gents changing rooms being 'refurbed' so you get the use of what amounts to a cupboard with a light. No lockers, no seating. No real biggie just a bit lacking in refinement. Spa itself was alright. Indoor pool a decent enough size, all things considered. However, roof looks a bit knackered and in need of fixing. Windows and frames not been cleaned in some time. Come on guys, it's not high season, but how much effort is a damp rag or some windowlene? Really not a great impression. As with many hotels, it seems, the place can be kept unbearably hot. You can't please everyone, granted, but you've got the heating on and then doors open. That makes no sense. Corridors, room Cocktail Bar all the same. Room, we were on the 3rd floor, was good enough save, again, for a couple of points. Water pressure was abysmal. Truly, truly awful. Shower was either maximum so it was 'hot' intermittently or 2mm off that was cold. Radiator was on FULL. Windows opened immediately, radiator turned down. Food. Really good. Lovely dining room. Great service with a good high end feel. Breakfast also very good. A very decent selection to help yourself. I can only imagine the complainants on here never lift a finger for themselves and couldn't cope ! Cocktail bar was good enough. Nice service, decent cocktails. They have several portraits of famous military persons from history and some famous (infamous) politicians. However, all men (don't think I saw any female portraits in there) and, rather surprisingly, a drawing of Enoch Powell ??!! Extremely odd choice and maybe a little poorly thought out. Overall, just a few bits need tidying up and thinking about. It's a massive opportunity to present to people the best our seaside hotels have to offer and, given the current environment, I suspect more people will be holidaying on these shores. Bit of extra effort here and there and you're on to a winner.