Best Western Shaftesbury The Royal Chase Hotel

We were here for a two night stay. Room 22 was large, clean but bland. Needs pictures on the walls to cheer it up. Bathroom was fresh and modern though. Towels white, fluffy and clean and plenty of hot water. The bedding was clean but appeared worn. The pillows were thin, well used and like breeze blocks, the mattress was old and very uncomfortable. There are lots of observations about the mattresses on various websites, including the hotel's own, but nothing seems to have been done. The bar area was very uninviting, like a canteen, consisting mostly of dining tables and chairs with only a rather aging sofa and four easy chairs to relax in and have a drink. Staffing levels were at a very basic minimum level with the same staff member running both the bar and serving at the tables during the evening. If you wanted a meal at lunchtime or a drink - forget it, the bar and restaurant were closed. In fact that's not entirely true, the bar was open at 3pm! However, the shutters were down and we had to search for a member of staff to serve us! The menu actually looked good but the food was bland and tasteless. Would suggest using the pub opposite, The Half Moon. There the bar was open, full of character, a lovely menu serving tasty food oh, and good staffing levels. On leaving and paying the bill, we discovered numerous discrepancies and had been overcharged by £41.50! This was corrected by reception staff. However, on arriving home, there were anomalies found amounting to a further £12.90! Again this has been refunded. No apology was made on either occasion only an excuse that the staff use different tills!! Clearly a training issue! In summing up, this hotel is certainly not worthy of a 3-star rating. It's seems as though it's being run at minimal staffing levels in order to save money. Travel Lodges, Premier Inns and Ibis are far better!

Phone today to see if I could get in for a Sunday roast lucky there was spaces so me and my mum and nephew went for 1pm never been had a Sunday roast here before. We was greeted and shown to our table got our drinks quick and given the ticket to get our food. All very quick and no fuss. 4 meats on offer I went for turkey. Good portions and help your self to the veg again good selection and all pipping hot. Gravy was really nice too. We had 2 pudding after as they was a good price all in all very good lovely Staff great food. Will definitely be back again

I've been to some excellent BW hotels in the past but I was really disappointed with this one. It was shabby throughout and is badly in need of a complete renovation. My room was cramped and smelled fusty. The reception and dining area stank of chip fat which completely put me off the idea of dining at the hotel that evening so I ate out. On the positive side the breakfast was fairly good and the staff were pleasant. Overall it was a poor show and I definitely wouldn't go back.

Stayed here 8-9 March. Great car parking nice friendly checking in and very nice huge room all though it was very old fashioned looking in decor but thankfully very clean. Bed was massive and extremely comfortable with lovely pillows. Bathroom nice and clean too. Then straight down to the bar for a drink….. well just don't bother! For me it was a instant about turn and went across the road to the half moon I think it was because the bar in the hotel is appalling looking all so miserably dingy. Not a single comfy chair in sight either. I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing! Thought for a moment I'd walked into a 1960's working mens club. After seeing the bar there was no way I was going to eat supper there so walked into town for food. You never know what your going to get when booking a Best Western I find. The one in Chippenham is outstanding in every respect but this one really is just very nearly okay. I would actually recommend this hotel but only for sleep comfort and nothing else.

Have the feeling that despite how helpful the staff are, they're being hampered by a parsimonious view of 'hospitality'. My room was clean and well appointed and the bathroom facilities were clean, though basin in an alcove next to the heated towel rail proved to be a design conundrum. No bottled water provided, though. Breakfast was very much do it yourself assemblage, and replenishment was slow. The bar area is not inviting as it's pretty spartan and staffing during my visit intermittent. It's a lovely setting, but at the moment it's not reaching its full potential, despite the best efforts of the staff 'on the ground'.

Comfortable bed and pillows. Thought the building could do with some updating. Disappointed the extras we paid for were not in our room ie dressing gown, slippers, bowl of fruit, coffee machine etc. my husband had to ask at reception and was told coffee machine was broken. They did let us have a coffee machine eventually which still wasn't working. They provided us with the slippers and dressing gowns which were very small. The fruit bowl did arrive although its contents didn't look very fresh. The swimming pool was out of order for four days of our stay. Have to say breakfast staff were very pleasant and the food was excellent and very tasty.

Room was spacious, clean and warm, as with all these converted mansions sliding sash windows don't shut properly. The hotel generally a bit tired. The kettle hadn't been cleaned for (by looking in it) ages. Bar prices £6.80 for a pint of Guinness left me feeling like I was just there to be milked for cash, this venue is just not worthy of such prices.

Chose this hotel as was close to our relatives & Shaftesbury town. Nice hotel, room was good size but lacked anywhere to hang coats especially if wet ( didnt want them in wardrobe). The TV had no signal

Amazing hotel compared to travelodge. I work nationwide and used to travelodge for a night away....never again. Dated building from the outside but don't let that fool you, enter and feel at home with a warm and cosy environment, also friendly and inviting staff. Had an included breakfast and chose from the menu a Full English, see pics...it was delicious, compliments to the chef and the the waitress who was lovely. Can't fault my stay, thanks to the team that make this a great place to rest your head.

We pre-booked a room suitable for a disabled wheel chair user and we're given a standard double room.when we complained we were told that there was no other option available.the room had very limited space to manoeuvre the wheelchair.the wheel chair fitted into the bathroom but only just.There was a step to get into the shower but not a single grab rail anywhere.They had one disabled toilet in a public area which involved a trip down the corridor to attend the toilet both day and during the night.I was so upset and so did not sleep well.if you are disabled I would totally avoid the hotel as being unsuitable.the staff were not particlarlysympathetic.In the car park both disabled spaces were occupied by commercial vehicles

Dirty mug on the tea tray in the room, drinks rings on the coffee table, room not made up one day. Unexciting evening menu, poor quality sausages at breakfast. Exterior of hotel appears run down. Hotel conveniently placed to access the town. Plenty of car park space.

A good stay. Check in was easy. Breakfast was acceptable and hot food was served to the table as was tea and coffee. Cold buffet was self selection. Room was clean, well maintained and spacious. The settee was a bit low and difficult to get up from, but then that's my age. The only disappointment was having to ask reception to replace the liquid hand wash in the bathroom as it was empty, this should have been noticed by housekeeping whilst servicing the room in the morning.

Had a lovely family meal on Sunday after just returning from holiday it was just what we needed Plenty of choice of Meats including 2x beef joints one cooked medium rare and the other well done, gammon Turkey and pork joints too and lots different Veggies Very nice roast potatoes too Have been here a few times and you can always be sure of a warm friendly welcome Nothing is too much trouble here

I recently stayed at this hotel after attending a wedding, and I wanted to share my thoughts. While it's true that the hotel could benefit from some updates and a fresh coat of paint in certain areas, what truly sets it apart is the exceptional staff. The team is incredibly kind and helpful, and their politeness shines through in every interaction. I've had the pleasure of visiting this hotel several times in the past, and I've always been impressed by the consistently great service they provide. During this stay, they went above and beyond by preparing a take-away coffee for my long journey back, which was a thoughtful gesture I truly appreciated. Thank you to the entire staff for making my post-wedding stay a memorable and pleasant one. Despite some minor maintenance issues, your warm hospitality and customer care always make me return with a smile.

We stopped at the Royal Chase on our way home from Peppa pig world during the holiday…. We were pleasantly surprised how accommodating the staff were…With 2 tired children the chef made some lovely pizzas for them which we didn't have to wait long for and the curry was very nice. After dinner we noticed the hotel had a swimming pool which is opening to the public so we asked reception if we could have a look at the pool! It was so lovely to see the two lady managers cleaning the pool / checking chlorine, scrubbing the pool side and hosing the changing rooms to make sure they are clean for the next use ! This straight away surprised me and has since made me go back with my children swimming as I know feel this is a clean safe environment for young children. I do feel the hotel needs quite a bit of modernisation as it is looking very tatty such as carpets and furniture….especially the building its self! (Perhaps if the building was repainted outside it would be far more attractive)! Thank you again RC for a pleasant experience! We will be back for dinner & swimming.

Beds were awful the mattress was extremely uncomfortable, the rooms were boiling even with fans on and windows open. Our towels were dirty and there was a lot of noise that you could hear from the hallway and other rooms. The breakfast was definitely not worth £13 overall would not stay here again.

Stopped one night before the EOTR festival as a couple with one older child in a family room. -Bin in the bathroom hadn't been emptied after the previous guest left, makes you worry what else had slipped the cleaners attention? - The hotel bar turned off the ambient background music and pulled down some shutters on the bar an hour before closing while we (the adults anyway) were still having our first drink in there. They were still serving but it was clear we were not welcome and/or they wanted to go home. - At breakfast we waited 5 minutes to be seated and there was nobody around, had to literally shout into the kitchen for attention. Coffee was not topped up at the buffet, the dregs were like liquorish, it was only 9am, still 30 minutes to go on breakfast service? Perhaps the serving staff were keen to go home too. I know things are more expensive now but I still expected much better for £150 per night. We have stayed in the hotel a couple of times previously and I do like the hotel but they seem to be struggling with staffing levels and/or customer service ability.

I was volunteering at the local festival on a night shift and booked this hotel to rest on my day off. I cannot fault the manager and staff here. Not only did they let me check in early they also provided me with a take away hot cooked breakfast / pack up even before the start of breakfast serving time. All staff looked happy and were friendly. I even witnessed the manager helping the domestic cleaners get rooms ready as they were short staffed! what a wonderful and supportive manager indeed!. I will definitely be back next year . Thankyou to everyone

Tatty, filthy room. Does this hotel have a room service?! Food was abysmal. Breakfast, cheap sausages, overcooked eggs. Unseasoned. Stewed mushrooms. Microwaved beans. Didn't bother eating in the evening, as the menu was awful. Wetherspoons menu is far more exciting. Glad I was only here for one night. This hotel needs a troubleshooter to go into the kitchen.

The king executive room was dated in decor and shower was dire; it lacked pressure and temperature was moderate. No grab rails in the bathroom for disabled people. Staff are friendly and helpful. Certainly not value for money. Needs updating to reflect price.

The worst food at a hotel is served here. I and friends have eaten here every other week, and we are charged a substantial price yet two cardboard sausages, or reconstituted fish shapes as fish and chips. A dreadful lasagna. The chef and team are simply not up to the standard of the hotel. Or actually, they are down to the abysmal standard of this hotel which is dated, tired, run down.

Mixed reception, corners cut Arrived to be met by the most unhelpful and unfriendly receptionist who basically grunted and pointed. Thankfully the later staff couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. Room was hot, it wasn't a particularly hot day, no air con just a very small and very noisy fan, so choose between no sleep from being too hot or no sleep due to noisy fan! Arrived to be told they weren't serving meals that evening and the pool is open to public so always rammed. Room looked clean but on closer inspection it wasn't particularly clean at all. It saved us an early morning long drive but wouldn't recommend.

We stayed in this Hotel about twelve years ago, the occasion being a reunion with Family from Australia, and thought it would be nice to re-visit. I am sad to say, despite the positive aspects of this Hotel, they are far outstripped by the negative. On the plus side, the interior is clean and fresh – looking, apart from the exterior which is well in need of redecoration. We arrived during a heat-wave, and the first thing we noticed was just how hot our room was. All the Hotel provided was a 9-inch table-top fan, which didn't cut the mustard, so we requested a pedestal fan. They provided another medium sized table-top fan. Needless to say, that has little effect on our sweltering room. The Soap, Shampoo & Conditioner wall-mounted dispensers in the bathroom clearly hadn't been cleaned or re-filled for a long time, and the room hadn't been vacuumed, as there was debris from the previous guests still on the floor. Service in the breakfast room was patchy at bests, with long waiting times and incorrect orders delivered. Some of this can be explained by the Management understaffing the waiter service, with just two on shift when there was a Coach-load of 26 people to serve, plus the other guests at breakfast. Dinner service was equally poor, when we were the only people in the restaurant, so no excuses for very bad service there. We came home one evening to find a staff member sitting on the guest staircase leading to our rooms. We had to ask her to move so we could gain access. I have never seen that before! I could never, ever recommend this Hotel.

Unfortunately couldn't find anywhere else to stay so had to pick Royal Chase at Shaftesbury. OK room. Breakfast NOT included which was a poor show. Told about the swimming pool, then the next day it was closed! Staff seemed to still be in training!!

My first time staying at a Best Western hotel with expectations high. Soon dashed by a cool reception, a shoddy room and couldn't care less attitude on departure. We were taking "advantage" of BW's 3 nights for 2 offer. We left after 2 nights - enough was enough!

We spent four nights here recently when we were moving house and found the staff very friendly and helpful. In particular Sue who served us at breakfast - she always had a lovely cheery smile! Our bed was lovely and comfy and the meals in the evening were delicious!

Stayed with several family members for a party in nearby village. This place needs investment to sort out tired, outdated and tatty decor, fixtures and fittings. Nonetheless it was clean and comfortable enough. Most staff friendly and helpful but felt like they were struggling to make the best of this place. Food was adequate but more in keeping with bar food in a pub rather than a hotel. The advertised electric vehicle charge point was nothing more than an outside 13A socket- any EV driver knows that this really isn't adequate unless you can stay plugged in for a couple of days!

Appears slightly tatty from the outside but our room was fine with good WiFi & shower and a large car park. Staff were friendly and helpful and the pool plus sauna were a welcome luxury. Breakfast was a small buffet plus cooked to order arriving hot and a generous portion (full English/veggie or smoked salmon & scrambled eggs, porridge also available). There was no gluten free bread the first morning due to a late delivery but it arrived the next day and the hash browns were gluten free though we weren't convinced about cross contamination issues. The restaurant serves pub style grub with generous servings so quite good value (could do with vegan options) - we were going to try the Half Moon pub over the road but it was closed due to a heating issue. A 15-20min walk to Shaftesbury which is small but pleasant to walk around, boasting the picturesque “Hovis advert” Gold Hill, good views and pubs and a small Abbey ruins which was built for and run by women (closed most of the winter). The Aroma curry house near Morrisons was friendly and served a good though not particularly spicy curry. Overall a decent place to stay if you bag a deal (£150 for a family room for 2 nights was excellent value just after Christmas).

Tatty and run down hotel. My room did not remotely resemble the photos on the website. I booked for an evening meal but the restaurant was closed, despite phoning to book the day before my arrival. Poor value and poor standard.

we had a nice clean well proportioned room. There were more socket outlets than my kitchen. It looked like a new shower and bathroom. Hear reception and good virws of the garden. I couldnt switch subtitles off the TV. I suppose thats my fault not theirs

I've stayed here a number of times over the last year on business, so I think this represents a fair review. Firstly the rooms. A few have been modernised and are quite inviting. However, many are dated, poorly maintained, with inadequate repairs to shower fixings and fittings. The beds have always been clean, but fixtures like behind TVs and radiators could do with the occasional clean at least, this is poor. Secondly the food. The meals served in the restaurant are nice. But breakfast is a bit uncoordinated. If you go when it's busy, you'll likely end up with the wrong food or beverage or bot. The breakfast area is just badly organised. Breakfast is served at a reasonable time which is good compared to others in the area. Third and most importantly, check your bill on departure. Mine is wrong on more occasions than not. Sadly, I have no choice but to stay here, as it's my company's go to hotel.

This is a copy of the email I sent to the hotel: Good Afternoon, My wife and I recently stayed at your hotel. We had a great time and enjoyed the good facilities and very friendly staff. We have no complaints and will probably return as we have family living in the area. Whilst there I had to take my car to a tyre repair garage at Poole. The tyre had a puncture hole and a replacement tyre was purchased. I have just had a second tyre replaced as a piece of gravel was recovered from this one. I have not had a flat tyre in years but getting two in a few days is of concern. Although I cannot say for sure that the cause of the damages to the tyres were from your car park I strongly believe they were. Could I suggest your car park needs repairing which can only benefit the overall excellent appearance of the hotel. I received a reply thanking me for the email and saying the car park is being repaired. Fortunately my insurance will pay for the tyres.

Arrived around 10pm. Glazed main entrance door locked and lacks Building Control regulations manifestation. Aside from the nice new (but dangerous) glazed secondary door at the main entrance, I doubt the hotel has had a penny spent on it in the last 30 years. Travelodge or Premier Inn hotels much better!

Unfortunately our stay at the Royal Chase Hotel, was not to our expectations. The bed was very uncomfortable, bed linen was clean, however of poor quality and the mattress was of a poor standard too. Very limited hotel services, no one at the bar to serve a drink at 9pm and no hot drinks available in the lounge area until 5pm. When asking hotel employees if it was possible to have a drink they didn't have the answer and said we had to leave our bank card at reception, however still no one available so we left the bar/ lounge area. We chose not to eat breakfast or dinner at the hotel as the service appeared poor so I cannot comment on the quality of the food. When spending £150.00 per night on a room only basis, I would expect a little more value for your money. There was a couple of positives which is important to include. The bedroom and bathroom was clean and serviced daily. Tea tray and biscuits provided were replenished daily. The location of the hotel, enables good access to town on foot. Ample free Parking at the hotel.

Very expensive for a basic room. Breakfast on three days was terrible. Plate dripping with grease, mushrooms were inedible as deep fat fried. Cheap and nasty value sausages. Inedible breakfast on all three mornings

Room lovely and food portions are very good and tasty. Easy to park and free Used the pool - towels provided which was great . Had a great nights sleep and staff really lovely too . Definitely will stay again

On arrival we found ample parking with 2 designated Disabled places near the entrance. There is no lift but one of the stairways had shallow steps and two handrails. A lovely clean, peaceful hotel with excellent food and lovely staff. We don't swim but the large indoor pool looked amazing! Everywhere was clean and tidy:

I stayed for a family wedding. Reception was a little frosty on check in, and the room was kind of dated . But then I experienced the hospitality, absolutely out of this world. The food was amazing, breakfast like you have at home. Even the head chef helped me tie my tie. Its like staying with family or close friends. Nothing is a bother. I stay in hotels every week. This little gem has blown my mind in the efforts they make. The best best Western hotel I have ever been in. Would highly recommend. Don't judge a book by its cover experience the treasure.

I am truly blessed to have had our wedding at The Royal Chase in Shaftesbury on Saturday 21st May 2022. I can not fault the staff, the hotel, the entire package. Everything was perfect, from the room, the ceremony the reception. Nothing was too much effort, the staff were graceful, helpful, professional and nothing was an issue for them. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart for making our day so magical. Leslie, Camilla and the entire staff from housekeeping to the chef, the bar, everyone, made our stay and day just perfect. At such a busy time for weddings I am honestly so blessed to have had my day at this hotel. Thank you so much. The food was exceptional I just wished the day had never ended. Thank you thank thank you.

Food excellent, the wedding food came out lovely & hot for everyone, very difficult to do for a large number of people, so well done. Drinks in the bar were very reasonably priced. Even though the hotel is right next to a busy roundabout, traffic noise was minimal when in the room. Other guests could be heard when returning to their room, otherwise no complaints

We had our wedding here it was so organised and everything ran smoothly it looked beautiful the staff were so friendly and helpful they made sure everything was ok if we needed anything they sorted it and everyone had an amazing time I cannot thank them all enough

This review is in no way a reflection on the staff at this establishment who were all very helpful and accommodating This place looked nice from the pictures, and even though it's not cheap we decided to treat ourselves and stay two nights whilst touring the area on our motorcycle, plus it was my birthday. First impressions were not good. The driveway is full of pot holes and the exterior very very shabby, plus very little hard standing. Liz the receptionist was very welcoming and helpful, but the place did seem to be running on minimal staff so she was working very hard. The overall impression of the interior was that it needs some tlc. Our room (described as a standard double) was more like an afterthought. Very small and cluttered, and shabby decor with the wallpaper peeling off, however the bathroom was spacious and modern, but the downside was plastic glasses and the shower only reached lukewarm and the shower head needs descaling. We had a meal elsewhere but decided on a drink in the bar before going to bed, and again the bar area is very dismal with no atmosphere. The bed was no way a double as I am only small and my feet stuck out of the end, my husband is tall so really struggled. We were woken in the night as the window hadn't been shut properly and it was rattling badly in the wind. Breakfast was nothing to get excited about either, and again the staff were minimal and working very hard. My eggs were over cooked and swimming in water and the sausages were cheap. We had come to the decision that at £150 a night there was no way we wanted to stay another night, so spoke with the manager and managed to negotiate a refund as they were not able to offer us another room All in all a very disappointing experience, in a hotel belonging to a chain that once were very good.

Great location for exploring the area Really enjoyable stay ,the staff were excellent, could not do enough for you. The rooms were nice and large and had most mod cons , but no aircon. The weekend we went was quite warm so we requested a fan , but none were available. The pool was a reasonable size and has been mentioned in other reports , it is available for locals to use, the next nearest being 20 miles away. That being said we did not find it a problem as it was just for leisure. If it was fitness you were after , not sure this would fit the bill. The changing area was a tad small and badly designed to. The area best needing some attention was the kitchen , breakfast requests being interestingly interpreted, with it becoming a standing joke as to how the request wopould come out , for example well cooked bacon , but only on one side ! and rock hard poached eggs. However staff attitude and helpfulness did alot to detract attention from these shortcomings

The receptionist who took our booking was warm and lovely and purely because of that we decided to stay an extra night for the long Easter break. The receptionist on the day we arrived, was awful, no smiles, unhelpful old lady.

Staff are 100% focused on the customer experience. Nice pool, sauna and patio. There is a large grass area. A small 12 min walk to the town and it is free parking with a old country feel to it with local people coming and going.

Hotel has been decorated and is very clean and staff very friendly. Breakfast was excellent and lovely evening meal. .Plenty of Car parking space but the car park does need the holes filled in. We had a very pleasant stay..

Fantastic staff : smiles and helpfulness all round. Covid has had an affect - of course it has - not everything was available on the menu or in the bar and hadn't been for some time. And the fabric of the building grounds was needing dome TLC but hey the Hospitality sector has been through hell the past 2 years so thumbs up from me The smiles and helpfulness of the staff trump any shortcomings !

Read mixed reviews on this hotel, so was not quite sure what to expect. Our stay was pleasant enough. Some of the staff couldn't have been more helpful, some, shall we say, a tad abrupt. Yes, the hotel could do with an update and parts of the car park are in bad need of resurfacing, but all in all we got what we paid for and I would definitely return.

Had a lovely time here for a business trip in February. The hotel is close enough to the town centre and a few minutes away from shops. My room (44) was nice and more modern compared to my colleagues. Would also recommend the executive suite! I cannot thank Sue enough, she made our stay so wonderful and did an amazing job through the two weeks. Dave the chef was also great. The pool and sauna were an added bonus.

We planned a weekend away with friends to visist Shaftesbury and see the snowdrops The Royal Chase is on the edge of Shaftesbury, but still very close to the town centre and stands in its own grounds. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, although quite plainly decorated. There is a nice leisure centre with reasonable size pool and sauna. We had dinner in the restaurant which had a good menu choice - unfortunately, due to staff illness, there was only Debbie running the bar and serving, but she did a brilliant job, and was amazingly unflustered. All in all, a lovely stay.

An overworked team trying their best in a rather tired old hotel. The pool would be good but the general public has access which makes it busy. The breakfast is good, in particular the waitress is very efficient. Otherwise no redeeming features.

we stayed for 2 nights, hotel was nice, we did not have the best view in our room as we had the pool roof. rooms a very big, with a nice big bathroom, with bath and shower, shower was not very power full. The bed was huge, although the duvet looked lumpy it was very comfy, we had evening meal in the restaurant which was very well priced and there was a lot of it, we also had drinks in the bar, which was a little expensive, I don't go out often. some very lovely places to visit in the town with amazing view for miles, we also wen into Sailsbury cathedral well worth a visit

We stayed over Christmas as the hotel is close to our daughters house. The staff were efficient and friendly and made us most welcome. Anytime we asked for help or service it was provided immediately with a smile. The room could have done with being deocorated but that said is was clean and comfortable. The swimming pool and sauna were excellent. We will be staying again.

All I can say is it's a lovely hotel and great swimming pool the bedrooms were ok bed comfortable. But organisations of the team is poor Lack of leadership. Breakfast service was a disaster chef wasn't service what was orders missing items

Nice, clean & convenient hotel. Friendly, welcoming staff, keen to ensure a comfortable stay. Good room service menu - which arrived promptly & hot. Plenty of parking & easy walk to Shaftesbury town with a variety of independent shops.

I wish to share with you the miserable and disappointing stay which I experienced at your hotel recently. The attention by your staff I would rate at 3 out of 5, and that is a generous score, worryingly, this poor assessment is the most positive thing about your establishment. The rooms are frankly disgustingly filthy, the taps are coated in scale with pubic hairs stuck to them. Towels are soiled and the dust on the ledge behind the WC is so thick that I was able to write my initials in the dirt. Furniture has not been moved to clean or hoover behind or below. The bath and shower are so dirty that I refused to use either. It is painfully obvious that the housekeeping team give nothing more than a cursory flick of a cloth to the surfaces on show. I have made an official report to the Quality in Tourism inspection board. Every meal we ordered from the pre-booked cold lunch to the evening meal and breakfast the following morning was a disaster. The service was agonisingly slow, we asked THREE times where our food orders were and they were forgotten, incorrect, 25 minutes delayed or arrived too late for our meetings. Specific dietary needs and declared allergies were disregarded. There was no apology, no explanation or embarrassment. Staff members stated that they had only been in employment a few weeks so were unable to be of any assistance. The lack of care, pride and professionalism is shockingly obvious and the management team have no desire to provide any customer service and ignore genuine concerns and feedback. I tried to share the issues with the management before check out so that they were aware and could make the necessary corrections to prevent any other guests having the same experience but I was simply dismissed. There is nothing to recommend about this property. Do not waste your money you will be bitterly disappointed.

The crunch of broken glass as my car drove over an empty bottle of beer in the car park on arrival sums this hotel rather well. Quite how they justify £95 a night is beyond me. Disinterested staff, dated decor, peeling wallpaper, blocked sinks; I could go on. The reception staff barely made eye contact in the morning and certainly didn't ask if I'd enjoyed my stay. So there was no opportunity to provide feedback except on trip advisor. And you'll notice they don't respond on here either, because they really aren't interested. This is a beautiful part of the country. Don't ruin your visit by staying here.

My partner and I checked in on Thursday and left yesterday so we had a two night stay. The decor in the hotel is extremely dated, wallpaper peeling etc. The room was small, the mattress on the bed had half the springs gone so it was very wonky and uncomfortable on one side. The room was very stuffy, poor natural light and did have a fan but it was so dusty that it just below out stale dust. Pretty grim. I've attached photos of the window frame and nets. Both were covered in mould. The bathroom was fine, seemed more modern and was clean. Breakfast was ok on the food front, good selection of cold buffet (though the pastries were stale) and the cooked food was nice with a good selection to choose from. The wait staff were polite but very slow and really couldn't be bothered. Incorrect orders taken down and food had to be sent back as a result. We knew we couldn't be moved rooms because we'd been told they were fully booked. When we mentioned the mouldy windows and nets on check out the receptionist said ‘I'm so sorry… that's why I'm leaving!'. Which summed up our visit really. I would not stay here again and would advise others against it.

We only stayed one night with our Samoyed dog, all staff that we met were very friendly and accommodating. There was a great selection at breakfast. Although we didn't use it the pool looked inviting. There was also ample parking and a grass area that we could walk our dog. The only negative point is the decor needs updating / refreshing but on the whole it was clean

I have stayed here many times do to nature of my work and not by choice.All I can say is that be kind to the staff.They struggle.I know it's frustrating when you go to a hotel and you pay quite a lot of money( this hotel is ridiculously expensive for what it is) but believe me the staff are doing everything in their power and more to make your stay comfortable.Be patient at reception when there is no one there because the receptionist might be serving in the bar or waitressing in the restaurant.I've heard that they even do the dishes and sometimes clean the rooms.I have called reception once because I wasn't happy with my room just to find out that the girl at reception went and cleaned another room for me to move in.And man she did a fine job.Same receptionist served me drinks at the bar while the bell at reception wouldn't stop ringing.From what I saw every time I stayed there they are pulled in 11 directions at the same time.When I wanted to talk to the manager the next day about my room she was in her office but couldn't be bothered to come out( I heard her when the girl at reception went to ask her to come because there is a guest that wants to talk to her). Be kind and patient because it's not them.Is the people who run the business.They don't know more than they tell you.And clearly they don't have a leader so they do what they can and what they know best.I am a father of two daughters and I would not want my daughters to pass through that every day at work ( rude people who think they are better than them).It's a physical and mental struggle every day. When the glue doesn't hold the pieces fall apart.

The staff are brilliant, the food plentiful and reasonable price. Great swimming pool, could do with some seats on the lawn to relax in as well as those by bar. Room 4 under stairs to store room so heard people up and down. No air conditioning or double glazing so hot and noisy but very welcome fan.

Roads being dug up all night the noise was horrendous, reception said nothing we can do no room change , 30 degrees outside no fans or air on , no evening meals served , do you the room had been kicked in and patched up with a new lock , dirty rooms , no child window locks so window went all the way open , stains on the head board the list go's on was just horrific

I had the pleasure of a brief one night stay at The Royal Chase Shaftesbury, the hotel is well located and good value for the area. Parking was provided FOC and the hotel was easy to find. Upon arrival we were greeted by a friendly efficient check-in team, and this trend continued with all team members and services we experienced. Please don't be put off by negative reviews, sure the Royal Chase is not a 5 star resort, but it does deliver a clean, comfortable, friendly experience in a very attractive building that retains a lot of charming features..

Nice location and easy to find but this hotel is sadly lacking with unhelpful and unfriendly staff at check in and glowering, sullen teenage staff at breakfast. Although the hotel has a restaurant (one of the reasons we booked) they weren't serving dinner and were told by the front of house staff member to try the pub across the road. When I asked if it needed booking she didn't know, when I asked if we - as hotel guests - could use the pool she said it was full (could see from the CCTV that it wasn't) but told us the pool was available for hotel guests after 7pm. As a family with young children a 7pm swim out of the question- so we “booked” the pool for 4pm the following day. Day 2. After arriving back from a full day out just after 3pm and asking if we could move the pool booking forward to 3.30 we were told “I'm sorry I can't do that”. It beggars belief! The pool was (again) empty! This hotel seems to be hanging on by a thread and putting not enough effort into the service of hospitality. Front of house staff could be more amenable to hotel guests- I don't think asking to go for a swim early is unreasonable and if the restaurant isn't open, this should be on the website! Service at breakfast was great, food was also great, the lady attending us was very friendly and accommodating. Overall, won't be staying here again- it shouldn't be painful to relax in a hotel - sadly I feel I worked a lot harder than the front of house staff!

Stayed for one night for work purposes. The hotel is severely dated and requires some major updating. The head was faux leather and ripped. The net curtains on the bedroom were ripped. The back of the door in the bathroom was wallpapered and has a ‘mystery' stain on it. Breakfast was good although everyone's order was pot luck... seemed a little chaotic. Outdated practice of table linen is totally unnecessary nowadays.

It is Ok but rooms are not cleaned if staying more than a night and I think this is more to do with saving money than worry about housekeeping getting Covid. Communal stairs were filthy. Breakfast ok. Supper was poor quality Staff slow forgetful. Night Porter the best. Pool overcrowded. We stayed four nights but would not recommend for more than a night as a stop over somewhere else!

Carvery was superb, all the staff were very friendly and nothing was too much trouble, a choice of 4 different meats, loads of veg and cracking roast potatoes, definitely worth a visit for Sunday lunch!

Probably one of the worst hotels I've ever stayed in. We got back very late as we had been to a wedding and didn't notice how bad the room was until the next morning. There were orange marks on the bedding, the headboard had little rips all over it and there was hair and grime over the tiles in our shower from the previous guest. Breakfast was awful! I couldn't eat most of the food, sausages were disgusting, bacon was hard and tasted like rubber and eggs were undercooked. The pool was nice and clean. The night porter was lovely and very friendly.

Short break as Portugal holiday cancelled. Hotel was well situated, short walk into town and easy access to surrounding area. Had the Sunday Carvery which I must say was excellent value and absolutely delicious, small portion would be enough for most. Breakfast was again large and ample and dinner was again large, boy do they try and fatten you up at this hotel ! Staff were super friendly especially Sue our breakfast and dinner waitress, giving us advice on surrounding area ,where to go and see, etc. Rooms were as expected for a budget hotel but surprisingly large. Overall a lovely visit, weather could have been kinder but this is England in July !!

Staff were so friendly and helpful couldn't do enough for us excellent food rooms clean and everything there that you needed well situated pool area excellent breakfast was well presented and plenty of choices

The room we stayed in (42) was very poor. My sister stayed in 41 which was much better although we both paid the same money!!Definitely needs refurbishment. Bar/lounge area was soulless. Decent breakfast. Would not return here

Two nights stay here the location was fine we did need to use the car to get into town but it was only about a mile ,but quite a busy road ,the room was fine but we did think the the dining area lacked atmosphere so we didn't bother eating there,the breakfast room was much better ,along with the breakfast was good and there was also plenty to choose from the help yourself area ,cereal yogurts fruit ,fruit juices etc ,so no issues there ,there was also an indoor pool which looked really nice my hubby used it but I think you have to book in as limited access with covid .I think the Hotel lacked warmth ,we went into the bar after we'd been out for a meal but it was empty apart from one other couple ,so just no atmosphere,and the decor is just bland ,they need a few candles or tea lights around just to tempt people in ,so I don't think we'd go back ,it's a shame because on the website we thought it was great ,and I think it could be with a few improvements,Staff were friendly and helpful ,just wonder why it was so quiet ,other places we went were really busy everywhere couldn't get booked

This visit was for a family gathering, so we had a 2 night stay, following all COVID precautions, comfortable room and very comfortable bed. This time did not use restaurant but previously it has been very good. Will use again.

We had a 3 night break at the Royal Chase, part of a Bedt Western deal. The hotel was easy to find and Shaftesbury is a great town to visit. The hotel was clean and tidy, unfortunately the room had been set for one but this was quickly remedied by the helpful staff, they also provided a fan as it was warm in the room. Breakfast was well set with a good choice of cold and hot food cooked to order, the food was hot and to be honest very generous portions. Thank you Royal Chase for a great break. The location in the country is good with easy access to Bournemouth, Salisbury and the New Forest

I would have enjoyed my stay here but for the undrinkable coffee served at breakfast. The rooms are comfortable; the staff helpful and the food was good. This company lets itself down by not serving breakfasts cooked to order - and decent coffee. Breakfast is only served until 8.30am too - a shame for those on holiday. If you eat outside tables are situated on the edge of the car park which isn't ideal.

In early May 2021 I booked a 3 night stay at this hotel for 2 adults - the booking was timed for after the date when restrictions on hospitality were to be lifted. My credit card was charged the full amount of the stay just after the free cancellation period ended. Two days before our visit, I received an Email from the hotel about check in and the arrangements in place regarding the current health situation. I was asked to complete a health questionnaire and the Email also advised that there would be no housekeeping carried out to our room during our stay. I queried whether there would be a rate reduction because of the lack of housekeeping - I was advised that this was not possible. I asked for our bedding to be changed during our stay and also queried whether it would actually be ‘safer' to clean the room during our stay (rather than a period of 3 days without toilet cleaning, surface cleaning etc etc) and I was advised that the hotel was following a tourism accredited policy in respect of the health situation and the arrangements were in place 'to keep their housekeeping staff safe'. From the hotel responses it was clear that they objected to my polite and logical questions and a comment I made that the policy made no sense to me -- and the hotel suggested that I might like to cancel the booking as they weren't sure that they 'could meet my expectations'. They offered to refund me all monies paid if I did cancel. I thanked the hotel for their offer of a cancellation refund and advised them that we wished to maintain the booking and would see them 2 days later on check in. Shortly thereafter I received a further EMail from the hotel advising me that they had cancelled the booking 'as they could not meet my expectations' - they advised that I would receive a full refund. Later that evening I checked my credit card statement and discovered thaat the hotel had actually charged me again for the 3 night stay (rather than refunding me) - I telephoned the hotel and they apologised and admitted an 'honest mistake' in the credit card charging error. It seems that the hotel cancelled my booking 2 days before the check in date because I had the temerity to ask questions about their housekeeping policy during the current health situation - I had booked the stay to visit recently bereaved relatives and this late cancellation created difficulties for me (to say the least!). The credit card error is pure carelessness and I now have around £640 unnecessarily charged to my card, as the refund will take a few days.. ...... I asked for the Manager to call me the following day, and the receptionist confirmed by Email that the Manager would telephone me as requested ……..I am still waiting for that call. Would you book this hotel?………you be the judge based on my experience.

My Wife and I stayed for 2 nights. The building and grounds are lovely from outside but don't let that fool you. Inside and away from the reception it's a bit tired. It was clean and the bathroom although very small was nice and modern. The room was set up for one person. Normaly I would put that down to staff being rushed off their feet but there were very few guests so no excuse really. 1/2 a loo roll and paper cups in the room, (sorry, cup). The receptionist was pleasant and sorted the problem out very quickly. The receptionist was the only person we really spoke to. No other staff about. Breakfast was continental and not so great. It really did feel as though they just couldn't be bothered. I have read good reviews for this hotel so I can only assume that they are waiting until Covid 19 is under control before upping their game.

After the cabin fever of Christmas we decided to have a night away and chose the Royal Chase because it was close to home , had an indoor pool and is near some good walks. The hotel was very quiet with few guests and seemed to be operating with a skeleton staff . It was extremely reasonably priced and we were very happy with our stay . We had a spacious, clean room which was warm and had comfortable beds. Our ensuite had a bath which was a nice bonus. We would be happy to return again and would recommend it to others.

Excellent staff and reception. very good breakfast. Internal decor was terrible. Doors to room required key to enter and not card. Carpet was old. limescale all over shower head and bathroom floor. not very good. Same price you can book in a better hotel.

Stayed with my kids for their early half term. Hotel was so cheap to stay but offered everything we needed. The pool was superb, such a perfect temperature and size. Nice and deep and the booking system was well managed and easy to sort out. WIFI worked well, good was good location ok and room was fine. I've given the five stars because for the money I paid, the service (staff were all well friendly), the pool was superb and we had a super week for peanuts!!! Best value three star hotel I've ever stayed in!! Caveat (it is a three star hotel, so don't compare apples with oranges and you cannot go wrong here)

Great location for Shaftesbury and surrounding area. Easy to find and even though it was situated next to an island it was very quiet. Very peaceful stay and a great sleep. Booked room only as we had an early start so did t sample the breakfast - certainly looked good though.

Stayed whilst on a business trip. As soon as I entered I knew it was a mistake. A distinct damp smell mixed with a smoker smell could be smelt from when I entered reception right up to my room. Breakfast offering was expensive and limited, so I chose to get breakfast at a local cafe on the high street (about 25 min walk from hotel) The room was dated, the musky damp smell was really off putting but got used to it during my 2 day stay. I won't be back I'm afraid.

I first reviewed this hotel back in 2017 and this review is for a stay I made in pre-covid times, back in December 2019. I stay here on business as one of my customers has a factory in the town. It is a lovely hotel and the staff are always helpful and great to chat to. As usual, I booked one of the best rooms I could and it came with two double beds, a large screen TV, coffee and tea stuff and a great bathroom with a powerful shower cubicle. Wi-Fi at the hotel is not brilliant, but adequate for general business stuff. I ate in the hotel for two nights and the food is still as great as it always is... Nice to see standards are still as high as ever... I'm due to head down there again before the end of the year

This would be our fourth visit to The Royal Chase, we loved the hotel & the area. The hotel being ideally situated within walking distance of Shaftesbury. This was our first "break away" after the dreaded virus lockdown. The hotel had obviously been given a good tidy up & clean during lockdown, it was spotless & the staff were delightful, especially the girls behind reception, always smiling & willing to answer any question or request. The hotel was busy but they were well organised with the wearing of masks & social distancing. The pool was excellent, very clean & as per the rules very quiet. The only problem was they were obviously very short staffed but why, the hotel is busy, they knew it would be as people book so why was it so short of staff. The poor girls in reception were running everywhere, trying to do two or three jobs at once. There was no beer in the bar, why ? What on earth rules are there that leaves them without beer when the pub across the road has plenty. As for breakfast that was just pathetic. Two girls rushing around trying their best to serve a busy breakfast. As for choice that was worse then pathetic, no muesli, no Weetabix & two very poor Danish pastries wrapped in cling film. On the first day we ordered the full English breakfast, it was just inedible, full of running grease & undercooked. The toast was cold & the coffee like tar, just awful. The second morning was not quite as bad as we only ordered very little & the coffee was drinkable, just. Shame, we loved The Royal Chase & the staff were doing their best, except maybe the chef, but they were let down by management, leaving them understaffed & poorly stocked, why, they still charge the same so obviously they are just trying to increase their profit. Short sighted as the customer will always remember.

Enjoyable break in ideally situated hotel for visiting Stourhead and of course Shaftesbury itself. Staff very welcoming. Felt safe in present circumstances. Hotel itself very pleasant but in need of tlc in places.

Having booked a Deluxe King Sized room during these Covid times we had expected things to be a little different. However, paper cups, wooden sticks to stir drinks, no house keeping for our three night stay and no bath robes/slippers (which were stated as being included) was a little much. This was not a cheap room and I had expected better. Yes we had a small fridge, coffee machine and plenty of tea/coffee/sugar but the bins not being emptied at all for the time we were there meant they were ready to overflow when we came to leave. We had to ask for toilet rolls as only one had been supplied. We also had no bulb in one of the lamps (not what you expect) but reception did come and put one in for us when we asked. From speaking to other guests we decided not to risk an evening meal. We were told about slow service from over-stretched staff who were doing their best in the circumstances. We found a lovely pub over the road who, although very popular, always managed to fit us in and provided excellent food and service. We did have breakfast there. The room being used is a function room set up with tables complying to the government guidelines . It was adequate but felt more like a school canteen than a hotel restaurant. The continental table had a very limited - and at times sparse - selection. However the hot food was good and arrived quickly. The staff serving were very friendly - especially the gentleman on Saturday and Sunday - and did their best to ensure you had enough tea/coffee/juice etc. The shower in our room was very fickle in its temperature - fluctuating between luke warm and warm. The floor of the shower being ceramic was very slippery and we have pointed this out to reception on our departure that something needs to be done about it before an accident happens. I'm sure a bath mat of some description would suffice and still be within Covid guidelines. It has a lovely little pool which you have to book to go in. Each slot is an hour and limited in number so they can then clean in between each session. It is open to non-residents as well which means it can be very popular. There are no changing rooms to comply with Covid restrictions so you have to arrive already changed. They do provide towels at reception for hotel guests to use so you don't have to bring your own or use the ones in the room. It's in a good central location for lots of attractions in the area. All in all it's 3 star rating is probably about right. The hotel needs some renovation and it definitely needs more staff. Covid should not be used as an excuse for reductions in the level of service guests have paid to receive. One or two more staff at busy times would have made all the difference.

My family and I stayed for one night in August. Staff were helpful, friendly and attentive. Government Guidelines were adhered too very well. Rooms were clean and comfortable. The hotel is situated close to a main road but you wouldn't know it. It isn't far from the centre of Shaftesbury which was a bonus. My daughter particularly enjoyed using the pool! Rely enjoyed our stay here!

This morning we booked a session swimming. We were told to arrive at 1:30pm. We did as we were asked and on arrival we were told “Sorry the pool is booked out for a social bubble”. We had driven 30 mins, with three excited children. Absolutely disgraceful, we weren't the only ones this happened to either. I suggest training your reception staff a little more so they know what's actually going in within the hotel.

The hotel may not be glamorous (decor a little tired, and reception area and corridors especially unprepossessing ), but we were very comfortable in our clean room which had a lovely view over the garden and was very quiet, and above all the staff were outstanding. We met quite a few different staff during our staff and without exception they were hard working, very willing and helpful, and so pleasant and friendly. The pool was also very good and a real bonus.

Great location large free car park awesome welcome on arrival good size room very comfy bed great shower fantastic customer service there is a great size swimming pool for free use of hotel guests will definitely stay here again

Absolutely amazing service. Can't ask for anything else, the people who work there are the best people I've ever stayed in a hotel for especially LUKE, CAMILLA, LESLEY! Thanks a bunch! Couldn't ask for more. Luke's a lonely character but he tends to everyone's needs and beyond as they all do!

Last minute booking. Excellent service and food. Fellow guests and staff calm in the face of current risks Nationally. Well done Best Western. Sensible common sense and following Health Dept. advice has made the weekend safe and enjoyable.

We met family at this hotel for a Sunday carvery lunch. There was a problem with card readers and we were warned by phone beforehand. The staff were very pleasant and attentive and the quality of the food was excellent.

The hotel smells really awful on arrival. I was ignored by the front desk who were delivering lovely service to someone on the phone but left me waiting for 15 mins. Then my room was freezing! Took ages to get it warm. The floorboards were so noisy I was woken up by my Nextdoor neighbour through no fault of theirs and heard the road in the night. Didn't stop for breakfast as the smell was too bad. Go somewhere else if you can and don't be persuaded by the photos to stay here.

Stayed overnight with family in 2 rooms. Hotel staff were very welcoming and accommodating and provided a cot for our granddaughter. We ate in the bar restaurant and food was superb with massive portions!! The breakfast finished promptly at 9.30 which meant that our son and family didn't quite make it whereas other hotels will still provide a breakfast. However tea and coffee with toast were made for them. Our room appeared freshly decorated whereas our son's must be on the refurbish list as decor seemed slightly tired. Overall we very much enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend to others.

Stayed for two nights in a superior room. The room was lovely and clean with plenty of tea and coffee. Super king size bed was very comfortable. The Staff were all very polite and friendly especially the lady on the reception Thursday lunchtime when we arrived. It's only a short walk in to the town. Although we didn't eat an evening meal there the breakfast was very good. Plenty of choice and a good size portions. We did use the pool which was good. The changing rooms are a little small but clean. Overall we really enjoyed our stay and would use again.

We only stayed here for one night but had 7 rooms in total. Our rooms were completely different, and it's clear that the ones above the function area are a lot smaller and a lot colder, whereas the rooms to the side of the building were a lot bigger (about double the size), and were also a lot warmer as the heating was working in those rooms. The rooms were fairly average, nothing special about them but also nothing terribly bad either. We thought the price of the breakfast was more than average, but there was a good selection and the full english breakfast choice was pretty good., and it also tasted pretty good. If I needed to come back and have a space to stay then I'd stay here again.

The room was large bright and airy. Only downside would be if more than one person was in the room the bathroom door was a sliding one and slightly noisy. Breakfast and dinner was nice and I had no issues choosing an option. Drinks at the bar were expensive as expected in a hotel. Evening meals were £11 plus but they were large portions. There is a swimming pool that you can use. I would highly recommend this hotel if you need to stay in shaftesbury.

We stayed at the Royal Chase on Wednesday evening and were very satisfied with the experience. The lady on reception was cheerful, helpful and efficient. We stayed in room 11 which was very clean and functional with a large bathroom. The one downside we found in the morning was the low water pressure meant that the shower didn't work very well. We enjoyed a good value evening meal - there is plenty to choose from on the menu and the service was good from a very pleasant and chatty lady. The brakfast again is very good with plenty of choice and again we had a very nice lady to serve us. Checkout was very and again we received some helpful advice for our trip home. We will definitely visit again.

I visited for a family reunion over lunch. The hotel staff were warm, friendly and very helpful, and the service at lunch was excellent, although my wife and another had dirty knives tipped down their backs at one point! They even swapped my custard (which I loathe!) for ice cream when my dodgy hearing had registered cream or ice cream on offer. The main courses were somewhat simplistic, meat/fish and 2 or 3 veg sort of thing, but it is only a 3-star hotel. I had salmon, which had been cooked well (some time before), boiled potatoes, spinach and carrots, not peeled, which is acceptable, not properly washed, which isn't. Mud ingrained everywhere and seriously embedded at the top end. Lazy prep. Otherwise, everything well provided for and a great place for reunions and wedding receptions (my sister and brother-in-law had theirs here). A good situation too, on the edge of Shaftesbury, easy to access and plenty of parking. This is a hotel that has seen better days, but is looked after and saved by the great staff. Just a pity the chef wasn't on board with them on this particular day.

We stayed only one night but it was very warm and inviting. Excellent staff couldn't have been more helpful. Older building, but tastefully upgraded and very comfortable. Stairs carpet could do with replacement as getting threadbare. Dinner and Breakfast excellent too.

Although the staff were very pleasant the hotel itself was very dated... old furniture, not particularly clean and it feels a little forgotten. Average but could benefit from updating and a seep clean.

Booked in for one night for a last minute getaway, only two rooms left when I booked, managed to get a 'family' room for the two of us, double bed and single, real good sized room, large bathroom with excellent powerful shower, very clean throughout. Hotel has a bar and indoor Pool which we didn't use but was an unusual bonus for a 3 star Hotel, very quiet overnight, excellent WiFi, good selection of tea/coffee, recommended.

Stayed 3 nights with my wife and another family member, staff were very helpful and nothing was too much trouble, the food was excellent and plenty of it -good value for money. The rooms were fairly standard in content but nothing special. Some parts of the hotel appeared quite tired and dated, and the car park entrance from the road needs resurfacing. Plus points definitely the staff and food. Overall good value for money

Stayed for three nights on business. Interior of the hotel was quite dated, room (2) was sufficiently spacious, but could hear traffic from the nearby road. Sliding door into a tiny bathroom, and poor water pressure in shower. The high point of my stay was the porridge at breakfast served with caramelized sugar and blueberries. Staff were pleasant, and location was handy for the the town centre (and 24 hour Tesco a couple of minutes walk).

Photo of hotel on line, via Booking .com, gives an impression of "Grand Surroundings" Not quite the case on arrival.Side door around the corner.That said, be prepared for a pleasant surprise on entry. Very warm friendly welcome from the young lady on reception.Cases collected from car and taken to room, due to my mobility problem.Very clean and well decorated hotel.The only fault with the room was no bath.(Should have checked before booking) The bathroom look like it had just been refurbished to a very good standard. It is a pity that health and safety was overlooked.New long 5 foot shower tray with large glass shower screen approximately 6 foot tall by 3.5 foot wide, and not a grab handle anywhere.To get into the shower you have to hold onto the glass panel and step up onto the shower tray, and move to the other end to get too the taps.Not an easy task with mobility problems. Add water, soap, shampoo etc onto the smooth surface of a shower tray. with a large glass screen. You have the makings of a major accident. An anti slip mat was available on request. (Approximately 12" x 18"). Still left a lot of slippery surface. Food well prepared, all be it a very dull menu. Pool and sauna very good. Can become overcrowded at weekends, as it is open to the public.

Enjoyed a Farewell Sunday lunch here with a group of friends. Although I have no negative comments to make, we enjoyed a pleasant afternoon. I cannot fault anything, rather, for me the food, service and ambiance are all average. Just 'nice'. You will get well cooked food and generous portions, all served on hot plates, so piping hot. it may float your boat and prices are reasonable, so worth a visit.

My Husband and I enjoyed an over night stay whilst visiting friends for Shaftesbury Carnival. Hotel was great although we were to busy to use the pool it was being used by others. All the staff we came across were friendly and helpful. Our room and en-suite was spotless and breakfast was lovely. Nothing negative to say we would both happily stay again. Thank you

Clean, tidy, and efficient staff making our stay a plesant one. The decor is a little dated, and our matress was not as comfy as we would expect for the price we paid but otherwise it was all we expected it to be.

me and my husband stayed here for our sons wedding weekend, the room was a nice size with plenty of drawer space and a chair to place your suitcase, always fresh towels every day which you don't always get at other establishments, proper teabags, (tetley) lovely little biscuits, our room was at the back overlooking the garden and lovely and quiet , the staff were really friendly, and the food was wonderful. overall a very pleasent stay

An old fashioned hotel (expect a lot of brown) but everything worked and the breakfast, which is cooked to order, was fast, plentiful and well prepared. All the staff I met were very friendly and helpful and created a pleasant atmosphere. Room 5 is spacious with a large bathroom, only drawback being noise from the air outflow from the health club. The hotel is on the edge of town and some of the rooms will be affected by the busy junction.

We've stayed previously and service and rooms just as good this visit. We often eat in their superb small restaurant even if staying on a cottage holiday . Its a favourite for short 3/4day breaks but we've stayed so many times we booked a cottage this time but still returned for a night and two different evenings for dinner. Best staff anywhere. Excellent food, please dint change - see you next September

Staffs at royal chase best western in Shaftesbury were absolutely amazing. The customer service was brilliant. We were made comfortable and was allowed to swim a bit longer. Very accommodating and helpful. Thank you so much guys

Nice old fashioned English hotel - not the Ritz but comfortable with lovely service. My wife and I were very happy there while visiting friends in a nearby village over the bank holiday. Special thanks to Samantha for special favors!

We pre-booked a room here in early August as an overnight stop-off point on our journey to the Isle of Wight. The hotel is situated on the outskirts of town, adjacent to a large roundabout and busy main road. Consequently there was quite a lot of overnight traffic noise, as we had to leave the window open due to the hot weather. It is a large hotel with fairly limited parking. Our room (23) was accessed by several steps (no lift) and along many corridors - not good for those with limited mobility. Our room was quite large and comfortable, with a king size bed and a reasonably large bathroom with bath and shower. We enjoyed our evening meal there. Quite a limited choice, more 'pub grub' than restaurant quality, but our food was well cooked and tasty. At breakfast there was a wide choice of hot & cold food, the hot food cooked to order, all in large portions !

The welcome was excellent, thank you. However the room was dated and not very clean, especially the en-suite with black streaks on the pointing. Be aware that there is no lift and the stairs are narrow and steep, not easy with luggage, etc. The food was good but service in the restaurant was VERY slow and not the best breakfast selection. Overall not the standard we had hoped for.

We hired a room for a reception after a christening and I have to admit the staff were brilliant and the food was very nice and there was plenty of it. I am still eating the leftovers a week later. We only asked to cater for 20 but I think they amount could easily cover 35 maybe 40 people. Many thanks to all the staff for making the day so good and easy

Excellent staff, facilities and food. Lovely building, stunning grounds, well furnished, the swimming pool was great, car parking was well thought out, the nights were quiet and unlit so no bright street lights.

Booked in for two days visiting friends in Shaftesbury Lovely friendly place Bed was very comfortable Nice Breakfast Set in lovely grounds Bar and Restaurant Will definitely stay again when in that neck of the woods

False fire alarm 3:30 am spoilt stay, not just once but of on off on over period of 20/30 minutes. A bland apology was offered on departure but there was no gesture of goodwill which given a wrecked nights sleep one might reasonably have expected

Room was a superior room that was of poor quality, bed floorboards creaked every time you moved or walked on it. Room was grubby decor, wallpaper peeling of the ceiling. Net curtains were dirty, grubby fingerprints on doors. One teabag and two milk cartons left in the room. Breakfast was awful! Black pudding dry, eggs congealed, hash browns soggy, toast cold and soggy, butter ice cold and would not spread. Coffee was bitter

We had 2 rooms booked for a family wedding. The rooms had been modernised, so were everything you'd expect from this type of hotel. A fire alarm went off during the night. Guests were offered a refund, but only if you asked. We only found out when another of the guests told us. They said nothing at reception when we paid for breakfast & would have let us leave with no discount if I hadn't asked. Not good. Breakfast was ok. But the girl serving was miserable & put her fingers inside the mugs she gave us whilst carrying them to us, not good training. Not an awful experience, but could have been better. Certainly, the discount should have been automatically offered at check out.

I have stayed here several times before. The room was functional as usual. But the best thing about staying here was the big breakfasts. Today I asked for 2 rashers of bacon and was told I could only have 1. Also 1 sausage etc. Not what I'd expect from a £12.50 breakfast. Left a bad taste in my mouth, and a half empty stomach for my long day of meetings. Will try another hotel next time.

I can see many people are also complaining about the heat and stuff air in the room. Let me just add that on top of that, heater pipes and our room (nr 4) were piping hot. We tried coping with it but after an hour or so, around 10 pm we were forced to leave as the only solution the reception had for us was another fan. Add a miserable state of the building itself (this hotel is begging for a renovation) and an unpleasant GM who decided 50 gbp is charge fair enough for a stay in the oven nr 4 for an hour and refused a refund, and this is possibly the first out of 200plus reviews I have posted over the years. Absurd.

We stayed one night while visiting a local festival. The receptionist was very knowledgeable and friendly. We made good use of the nice pool in the morning which was quiet so great with our son. As the breakfast was an extra cost, we walked into town and found a lovely alternative at High Street Bakery. Our room was clean but decor could do with an update.

We stayed when the heatwave hadn't yet hit, but it was still hot and stuffy in the room. Need to upgrade to AC! The pool and sauna are nice but wasn't prepared for parent/toddler mornings at the pool...

Stayed one night at Chase hot uncomfortable visit although fans provided, a sheet would be sufficient on bed instead of a quilt. Breakfast took 20 minutes to arrive please don't try to say freshly cooked.Staff service was ok.

Nice pleasant hotel near Shaftesbury in a quiet location although near a busy roundabout. Room clean and tidy and plenty of complementary items provided. Other facilities available.ie pool etc.Hotel is in its own grounds with a combination of trees and flower gardens.

Our room was lovely and a Queen size bed which we didn't expect, it was very comfortable, at the side of the hotel so no noise at night and a good sleep. There was a nice sitting area so it was similar to a suite and a really great shower room. A large bowl of complimentary fresh fruit was a nice touch which we really appreciated. Housekeeping could be improved as in four days the carpet was never vacuumed and glasses never changed. Also we noticed clean towels and clean bed linen left on the carpet in the hall outside each room in the mornings, not acceptable as who wants to sleep under sheets and use towels that have been on a carpet that dirty shoes have walked on? Maintenance poor- we reported two light bulbs out and even after filling in a form and a day later informing reception they had not been replaced still nothing done. Breakfast very good, though the waitresses seem to do everything including making toast and possibly cooking the breakfasts as well as cleaning tables etc. Pool lovely, Staff very friendly. Would have liked to have given a higher rating but as can been seen there are some issues that need addressing.

Everything great. Lovely room fresh and clean. Great food, nice location friendly staff. 2nd time here. Swimming pool looks nice but not used. On my way to Poole great overnight stop with only a 40 minute drive to Poole. Don't hesitate and book.

Really love staying here. v friendly staff. good food, clean and well looked after. Nice pool and sauna for relaxing if you want to. good location for exploring the nearby town and plenty of walks around. Some of the older rooms could do with an upgrade, but they are generally large and adequately appointed. Executive rooms are fabulous and great value.

The room was spacious and clean, with a fairly large bathroom. The in room facilities were good. This included an iron and ironing board wardrobe ( shelves were clean too) , tea and coffee ( inc organic tea) and biscuits , which were lovely!. The beds were comfortable and bedding clean, and I'm fussy!. The reception staff were friendly and polite as was the staff member at breakfast. The breakfast was good. There is a swimming pool and a sauna which we didn't use but was popular. The only downside was the internet which kept dropping out every few minutes.

Needed somewhere to stop overnight before catching a morning ferry from Poole. Shaftesbury seemed ideal. The outside of the hotel is not very impressive and could do with redecoration. Staff were friendly and helpful. Our standard room (23) had recently been refurbished and had a generous and comfortable king size bed. The over bath shower worked well with a good flow of water. An evening snack and breakfast were fine but nothing special. Shaftesbury is a lovely town and ideal for a pleasant evening stroll.

Went to this hotel for a Sunday carvery with my partner and her mum. Staff were really very good from the moment we arrived until we left. We have been to a few carverys around the country and this was one of the best. The meat selection was varied and really well cooked. There was also 3 selections for vegetarians which was amazing as my partner is a veggie. On the subject of vegetables, there was a very wide selection and they were all cooked perfectly with the roast potatoes, very very good. We will definitely be back !!!!!

Lovely hotel. Very easy to get too. Plenty of parking. Staff were lovely. Rooms were nicely decorated, with good choice of amenities. Bathroom was clean and bright. Only small thing that let them I marked down for was for the lack of continental breakfast available. I arrived a little later for breakfast and it wasn't restocked. No juice available or pastries as all had been eaten and drunk. Would still stay again though!

We really enjoyed our stay at this hotel. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Ideally situated for walking into town and visiting Gold Hill. The pool and sauna were an added bonus too. We enjoyed the plentiful well cooked quality breakfast. Hopefully we will return in the near future.

a surprise 4 night break - very easy access to get to hotel in pretty countryside with pretty town in short distance - Gold Hill a tourist attraction. Used public transport train and bus - all very easy and good service. Very pleasant pool and comfortable bedroom and lounge - a good place to stay

I stay here regularly on business and I really like this hotel. The rooms are very comfortable and it is good value for money. It could do with updating in parts but they seem to be updating the rooms so many have been updated. The food is not bad and reasonably priced and the breakfast is great. The pool and sauna are particularly good and the staff are very friendly so all in all I would definitely recommend this hotel..

Parking is easy. Reception good. Our room was roomy, immaculate, bright (unusual) comfortable beds and good bathroom. Dinner in attractive dining room was very good, beautifully presented and with good service. Breakfast was nice. We'll return.

We stayed for two nights, my husband and I with our 6 year old daughter and it was a really pleasant experience. I booked through a popular hotel booking site and within a couple of hours of the booking a member of the hotel staff had already been in touch to let me know they had a wedding booked one of the nights we would be staying, so there was potential for noise from the disco. I asked if was possible to have a room away from that area and a prompt response confirmed we could have a room at the opposite side of the building. Big thumbs up there! The day before arrival, another courtesy email just letting me know reception opening hours and how we could check in if arriving late. Again, this was really appreciated. The check in process was smooth on arrival and we found all the staff we encountered really friendly and welcoming. Our family room (double bed + single) was plenty big enough for the three of us. Very clean and the bathroom looked to have been recently refurbished (either that or extremely well kept!). We were really happy! We did use the pool too. Very simple, but ideal for us to have a little splash. It was quiet and we had it mostly to ourselves. All in all, we really enjoyed our stay and would happily return if we were needing accommodation in the area.

Lovely lunch and special pancake menu for pancake day. Excellent service, delicious food. Thank you for looking after us. Swim and lunch menu available so you can have a dip in the pool then lunch after. available Excellent access for all abilities great car park close by.

I booked this because we were going to a Soul Music event at Shaftesbury Football Club. My partner says I never let him down by booking a bad hotel and this certainly was true again this time. Great location for getting to the venue and also a Tesco for essentials needed. Walking distance. Spacious room with huge comfortable bed and newly refurbished bathroom with bath and nice toiletries. Clean and welcoming room to walk in to. Bedside lights left on for us, thankyou housekeeping. EVERY member of staff we had dealings with here were fab and efficient yet also unobtrusive which is what you want. Reception, bar, restaurant all great asset to the hotel. Nice that they had a selection of gins along with the Fevertree tonics we like. Food was good too. We had a light lunch, dinner before going out and breakfast the next morning. Big carpark which we could see from our room. Terrace in front too which we think must be very pleasant to use in better weather. Thoroughly recommend to everyone and would stay again without question.

Lovely hotel been modernised recently, nice rooms, staff and facilities. Stayed one night and included a lovely breakfast. Staff all lovely and facilities were all good and clean, booking was easy and location great and easy to find.

We stayed here for one night recently. Zoe on reception was so very very helpful and couldn't do enough for us - she is an asset to this hotel. We stayed on the ground floor in an executive room. It was very spacious. Had a large smart TV. Lovely bathroom with shower, heated towel rail & toileteries. The bed was very comfortable which I desperately need due to disability. There is an indoor swimming pool & sauna. Breakfast was cooked to order. Unfortunately they did not have any "butter alternatives" - many people nowadays don't or cannot eat butter. I believe they should address this. We would definitely stay again - in fact we have booked for February. We have stayed numerous times before having family close by. The hotel is in a great location for getting around Shaftesbury & further afield.

Very friendly reception on arrival. My room was huge and very comfortable. The amenities in the bathroom are really nice. I was pleased with the pool and sauna, it's a well kept pool. Definitely would use again

Stayed on business and was not disappointed with the BW standard. Had an executive room which was very spacious and comfortable. Cannot comment on the restaurant or breakfast as I did use the facilities. Would stay again as it's only 20 mins walk to the centre.

Stayed 2 nights room was lovely staff pleasant breakfast well cooked with quality produce evening meal very good too excellent facilities lots of parking swimming pool sauna and sun bed will definitely return

Really spacious and clean room with good facilities and huge, comfortable bed. Had we have known there was a swimming pool and sauna we would have taken out swimming stuff! 1 star taken off for breakfast- would have much preferred a buffet for cooked breakfast as portions were far too small for us (no toast served with a full English and only one of each item).

Nice looking period hotel with indoor swimming pool and restaurant. Evening meal and service was a bit disappointing, however cooked breakfast was very nice, rooms have been recently refurbished and were clean and functional, overall not bad

Convenient location for trip to Shaftesbury for the New Year. Breakfast was superb and staff very friendly. Ample parking on site and hotel has a lot of character still retained in the older parts. Rooms and bathrooms were spacious.

Very comfortable and pleasant stay (as usual) with very helpful and friendly staff. Breakfast made to order, swift but not rushed, and nothing is too much trouble.Highly recommend the Royal Chase for a stay in North Dorset.

Stayed here for one night as I has my Christmas meal. On arrival the reception staff were very friendly. I had a single room , it was very spacious for a single , plenty of bedroom storage . The bed was very comfortable indeed. The shower room was a lovely large walk in shower. I didnt stay for breakfast as I didnt actually live too far away, just too far to get a taxi home. Check out time was 11am on a Monday which was good.

Two hungry people arrived at 1 pm without a booking expecting to be told there would be no availability, especially so close to Christmas. However, the staff were extremely friendly and helpful, clearing a table within a minute of our arrival and asking for our drinks order. The restaurant was spotlessly clean and very comfortable, the log fire made for a very cosy atmosphere. A section of 4 carvery meats and a good variety of serve yourself vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and pigs in blankets. Our drinks were on our table when we got back with our meals. Staff do not pester you but are close by if you need anything. Would definitely eat here again.

Stayed with my wife on our anniversary, beds very comfy, food was good and plenty to choose from. Few staff in restaurant and busy, however Ryan, who was working that evening, saw to our every request without fault and made our evening very relaxing but also extremely enjoyable. We wish him well in his future endeavours and would like to thank all staff for a great stay.

Had Sunday carvery here and it is delicious and good value for money. There is a very good choice of vegetables and there is also a good choice of sweets. The tables are set out nicely with white table cloths and the dining room is light and airy. Will definitely come again.

North Dorset 'Walking for Health' held their Christmas lunch here for 90 People we had a pre chosen menu and all aspects of this lunch were excellent. Food was good flavor cooked to perfection and delivered hot. Front of house staff worked well were cheerful and very accommodating. An all round good performance from The Royal Chase - Thank you

We booked a table for the Sunday Carvery. On arrival the place was not too busy. The staff were pleasant and helpful. We couldn't fault the quality of the food - veg and meat cooked to perfection. Just one criticism - a bit tight with the meat. A couple more slices and all would have been perfect.

The service and the facilities were below par for a Best Western. We had a nice double room with a large comfortable bed. The plug in the sink in the bathroom did not fit and no maintenance person was available to fix it at the weekend. The breakfast was good but they asked you to wait to be seated, and we waited and waited! The dinner did not appear to have been freshly prepared. The tiger prawn and crab linguini tasted like it had come out of a tin, and the chicken curry did not appear to have been reheated properly. My wife required a gluten free meal and was served an ice cream with a wafer which initially the waiter said was gluten free, but to his credit he checked and it was not. The changing rooms for the pool were not satisfactory. They were in effect wet rooms, and when I had a shower the whole room flooded including the area round the urinal. Surely this is unhygienic. Overall it was a disappointing experience and we would not stay there again

Have not stayed in this area before but was recommended it by staff at a local establishment. They were not wrong! Situated a few minutes walk from Shaftsbury town centre, I could not have asked for more, albeit I got this at a corporate rate. The room (No.3) was very clean and spacious and respectful to original features such as the fire place (not in use). Good cupboard space and a lovely view from some Georgian style sash windows. The bathroom was well maintained but I recommend turning the shower on a couple of minutes beforehand to let the hot water come through. The staff were very helpful, polite and courteous. The young lady at breakfast was very busy and made sure you had all you needed. She was seen keeping the restaurant to a good clean standard. Thankyou. The breakfast was very good too, lots to offer. If I was to pick at anything for perfection? Towels - to consider the environment only change towels if they are put in bath or on the floor. A policy adopted in many hotels. I was only there 2 nights and would have been happy to reuse. Obviously the choice would be there for guests preferring clean towels. The sauna was very dark as there was no light on there. But this is just being picky Highly recommended. Per Ardua 96

Excellent food excellent quality and service excellent staff love this hotel stayed 4 times now when visiting our daughter wouldn't stay anywhere else when in the area The rooms are very clean and comfortable

Bed is comfortable slept well but sound proofing isn't great. Rooms a bit dated with old windows that don't quite shut out the cold air. Breakfast was good seed to be low on staff as many things had run out and know one to ask to replenish. Was a bit frustrating.

Just what we expected. Clean hotel , friendly staff and good value for money. Bonus of having a pool. Next time would love it if you had a mini beauty room - nails , waxing, massages ect. Spa and pool hotels in your area at a reasonable price are really hard to find - i know I have been looking lol Location excellent for Longleat and Dorset Heavy Horse Centre as well as an array of other attractions. Despite being so close to the road , room noise was minimal. Was pleased to see that we were put into the room we requested , was not sure that this was going to be possible after initial communications with the hotel.

We stayed to attend a family wedding at a different location and to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The hotel is well situated on the outskirts of the town and only a 15min walk to the town centre We arrived early but the very obliging and friendly reception allowed us to check in which was much appreciated We had a Superior room which was clean, well appointed with an excellent shower, it looked like it had been recently refurbished (room 8). It is a shame they did not update the windows as the old sash type did not close properly and as the room is directly above the entrance, you could clearly here people chatting and arriving outside which was disappointing Breakfast was very good, with a good selection and all cooked to order. We had dinner on our anniversary which was excellent and a special thanks to our server who went out of her way to make it a special evening Overall a good stay and would recommend

Exterior of hotel looks a bit dated and tired but it is an old building. Grounds well kept and parking wasn't a problem. Checkin experience was very good and efficient, all staff encountered friendly and helpful. Room comfort was good overall and bathroom had been updated fairly recently. Overall well kept and clean if a little dated in places. Common areas do seem a little tired though. Free wifi a bonus but was a little slow. Breakfast very good with a good choice and arrived freshly cooked and hot (unlike some other hotel chains).Didn't use the swimming pool but looked a good size for a hotel. Overall good value for a three star hotel. Only downside is a 10 minute walk into the town centre but we were aware of that when we booked.

We had a pleasant stay in The Royal Chase. Lovely breakfast cooked to order and a nice evening meal. The hotel has a lovely indoor pool although we didn't take advantage on this trip. Sadly the restaurant was practically empty in the evening which didn't create much of an atmosphere but I understand this was unusual. Very busy at breakfast however. Our room was pleasant enough but decor looking a little shabby. Rather sad picture on one wall and not much taste. The staff were all friendly and helpful at all times. We would be happy to stay here again.

Given a larger than expected room. Quality was evident in bathroom and facilities. Nothing was too much trouble. Booking a taxi proved problematic though as not many taxis in town. Good breakfast. Reception staff very helpful.

Stayed with my dog for a couple of nights at the end of August, easy accessible for all routes, very comfortable, a minor hiccup over the booking [had requested a ground floor room] was sorted out very quickly and with complimentary refreshments. Very comfortable, clean, friendly staff, excellent restaurant facilities

There was a pleasant and efficient check-in on arrival. The staff were always helpful and are obviously a great asset in that throughout the stay nothing was too much troube. The rooms were clean and comfortable. We were warned of a wedding party being held whilst we were staying and heard no noise from this. Breakfasts were run efficiently. Although the menu is basic it is satisfactory. It appears to be managed very well and we would very happily stay there again.

Was obviously once an admired hotel used by the town for functions and by business travellers. The hotel is now tired and in need of redecoration and a general injection of enthusiasm and team spirit.

We had a very disappointing stay at this hotel. The decor is in serious need of updating. It felt more like a 1980's Motel than a Hotel! After a long trip we went to the Bar for a drink. It was a warm summers evening and the hotel was deserted apart from lots of women attending a ‘slimming world' meeting. The bar was unattended and after waiting a reasonable amount of time we gave up and walked into Shaftesbury. This hotel is 10 minute walk from the beautiful town and is the hotels only plus point.At breakfast we had to search for a member of staff to serve us. Staff could be seen in the kitchen but they were too busy eating toast and chatting to notice us waiting. Breakfast was served in a very outdated dining room which was decorated by artificial flowers. The breakfast was basic but acceptable.If Alex Polizzi came to visit she would transform this hotel in 48 hours! It wouldn't take much other than some fresh paint and some fresher staff!

We have been going down to this area every year for the past 18/19 years and had passed this hotel.Our normal place was closed so I tried booking the Royal Chase and found it great. Rooms are a good size, beds are comfy, good TV reception, very pleasant restaurant with good food reasonably priced (didn't try the wifi, pool etc).

I stayed one night for business and was very happy with my room. As soon as I walked in everything smelt freshly cleaned and was very comfortable. The restaurant food was delicious and having booked the meal deal with the accommodation we were able to have three courses, all of which were very nicely presented and tasty. Friendly staff and would definitely recommend.

I booked on the hoof whilst riding in the area. Great welcome from Charlotte, who explained everything. Tried the sauna (fine) and the pool, which was bigger than some hotel pools. Dinner was excellent, with great service provided by Sadie. All in all a splendid traditional hotel, with big rooms and comfy beds.

The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating! The room was clean and the restaurant food we had fantastic. The pool Was needed after a hot day touring around. Would definitely stay there again.

This must be one of the best carveries in the area. Very child and senior adult friendly With easy access for push chairs and zimmers. The choice of 4 meats and over 8 vegetables enables it to cater for all tastes. All served with the correct sauces and excellent gravy and Yorkshire puddings. There is a vegetarian option as well. An advantage for regulars is the loyalty card - 10 visits and then a freebie. Very good bar and waiter service.

We had a number of problems during our stay including a dangerous window with a broken sash cord and appaling chamber maid service. As soon as reception were informed they apologised and remedied the problems. Likewise the restsurant staff when i was served the wrong meal. If the staff had not been so good with excellent customer service skills this review would be lucky to have one star. The room was very stuffy and the hotel jaded and in need of a refurbishment. Also the lack of a lift was a surprise in this day and age and the Disability Discrimination Act

What this hotel is missing is staff. Took 15 minutes with me scouring the hotel bar, kjktche, pool, outside. Really poor. Flustered, but polite young lady eventually showed up telling us sharply she and 'Steve' were on duty and that Steve, apart from being the barman was also bell hop and waiter. Good very good but over priced. Rooms clean. Bathroom small, but clean. Odd shower though. Hotel seems to have been recently decorated. However it was unappealing with no pictures up, walls bear, very Spartan and not very welcoming. Would I stay again. No, probably not, needs more work mainly on atmosphere and staff availability.

On the plus side, a good room and bed and most staff helpful and pleasant. We had a good fish pie for dinner. A lovely garden but unfortunately it was hard to access and there was no seating, let alone outdoor eating: what a waste. Instead we had a drink in what might have been a nice portico had it not been in the car park and absolutely filthy. The bathroom was old fashioned and tired with peeling wallpaper and a stained toilet bowl.

Stayed for2 nights over a weekend. Staff made our stay they were all excellent. Food was good as well, highly recommend the breakfast. Rooms were clean and had everything you needed. Would stay here again.

We spent our honeymoon here 23 years ago. We had a lovely time and as we were in the area we returned for the first time for lunch. The hotel has obviously been updated some what and it all looks very nice. We sat in the restaurant and had a lovely lunch and reminisced. Food was really good and Kelly our waitress in the bar and restaurant, was very efficient and friendly. We will return for a weekend I think.

Stayed 2 nights at this hotel. Was up graded to superior room when partner rang and arranged for champagne on arrival. Had breakfast which was £10 per adult free for children. Well worth it. Had evening meal in bar starter and main course. If we had known the potions sizes we large wouldn't have bothered with starters. All meals we lovely. We used the pool facilities, very clean. Staff very obliging, had to call night porter for milk for little girl all free.

Average hotel, clean and tidy and comfortable, rooms are small, try to get a room at the back of hotel because of lack of air conditioning if you sleep with the window open you can get noise of the gravel car park with car's moving. Personally I think hotel and bar are expensive for what you're getting, it is close to town centre 10 minute walk which is ideal

We had a ground floor family room as our booked twin was not available, probably due to a large party of Australian gardeners who were visiting the area. Decoratively the room looked a little tired but was clean and nicely furnished and we slept very well. Breakfast was excellent but best of all are the delightful staff who make you feel welcome and at home. Our daughter and son-in-law dine there frequently so that has got to recommend the kitchen too.

A busy hotel. The car park eases after 6 . No room change on offer as it was full. I was daunted by a room overlooking the carpark and ultimately the road, but slept soundly. No air con, but the windows do open! 23, first floor= A good size room with tea and coffee making facilities and even chocolate powder and biscuits. Locked-in-time carpets! No lift , be prepared to carry your bag. Very good breakfast , lots of choice of freshly cooked food, served at a reasonable speed. Evening bar snacks not so good , and white wine was warm. Large bathroom, with a bath. Impeccably clean.

Nice place to stop when travelling, easy parking, nice food, rubbish wifi. Room was clean and pleasant, character from previous use. Bar area pleasant place to sit and chat, dining room lovely and welcoming

I would recommend staying at The Grosvenor Arms over this hotel, a room at each costs £135 but includes breakfast at the Grosvenor and would be a much more pleasant stay. Rooms are outdated and lacking in any style, the shower trickled and it was unbelievable stuffy - no air con. This is not good value for money imo.

We had a highly drab weekend here, for a wedding nearby. Room was basic (but clean) with rock-hard pillows. Worst element was it was like a sauna - no air con, and just a fan to circulate the warm air. The decor in central areas had some of the naffest most hideous pieces of tat I've seen in a long time. The breakfast room only lacked Manuel to be the full Fawlty Towers experience - so 80s and dated. And when i called in the week to enquire about booking taxis i was told "Google taxis shaftesbury" - wow. Just wow.

Third time I've stayed here and it a nice hotel within walking distance of the shops and sights of Shaftesbury. Room very quiet and spacious and staff very friendly as well. Nice grounds with plenty of car parking.

We stayed for 1 night for our friends 50th birthday party. The bedroom it's self was a bit out dated however nice and clean. The bathroom was lovely and clean and is newly refurbished. All the staff were very nice and helpful. The breakfast was made to order and was really nice. The hotel has a nice little pool however we didn't use it. All in all a good stay.

I had to be in this area on business so I took my wife for an overnight break to relax and enjoy what from the initial impression was a nice, comfortable, relaxed hotel. We were not disappointed at all. ALL of the staff at this hotel were extremely friendly and very professional, in my experience, not often a combination easily achieved. Luckily we had probably one of the best rooms in the hotel. Comprising a super comfortable bed, beautiful en suite with a bath and a shower. The food was delicious ( can recommend the lamb, my wife's steak was perfect too) my wife used the pool and said the temperature was perfect, not too warm or too cool. Good advice from the very helpful lady managing the reception (my apologies, I can't remember her name) who advised against driving into Shaftesbury and walking. The only negative was, I had some difficulty connecting to the WiFi but this could have been device related. It was solved eventually. I can highly recommend staying here, we shall be staying here again, if/when we return to this part of the UK. Worth a walk to see the famous Gold Hill, location of the Hovis advertisement on 70's television.

Visited this place for the first time today for a business meeting and the place is very tired and in need of refurbishment. Service was fine but this place could be so much better with investment. I won't be returning.

Hotel was everything we needed for an overnight stay with the benefit of having a swimming pool to entertain the children on arrival. We had been told the room would be a tight fit for a family of 5 however there was ample room for us all. If and when I we come back to stay in Shaftesbury I would definitely return to this hotel.

Amazing would definitely stay again room was nicely decorated and clean staff were helpful breakfast was very good also actually had a window that opens well kept gardens all together a beautiful place to stay

Room 30 (ground floor) family room. Located very close to pool which worked very well for us :-) Clean , tidy and had all the accessories you would expect of 3 star hotel. There was an unpleasant smell in the room on arrival but this cleared after leaving the room window open for a while. I joked with my husband if the previous occupant of the room had passed away prior to our arrival - very distinct aroma lingering around! Customer service faultless , staff members communication prior to our arrival was also excellent taking into account the last minute nature of our booking. Reception saved us £80 when they noticed an error on our room account. We were also pre warned about a private function that was going to be taking place during our stay. Had our window open and no noise issue at all :-) Room Service - menu choice good , food quality outstanding (exception being sausages, not keen). The Stakes we had were as good as any 5 Star Hotel restaurants that we have dined in. Liked that breakfast menu took into account different appetite sizes , must help to reduce food waste. Key to state number of each item on the list you would like. Swimming Pool was the main reason for booking this hotel. It was very busy owing to Easter Holiday, however for a splash about with our 4 year old it was ideal. Opening hours are good and no restrictions on when Children can access the pool. The one thing that lets the hotel down is its car park and shabby looking external paint work. Needs some fresh paint and new tarmac / gravel.

I've stayed here on business a few times now and going back next month. The Chase (or the Royal Chase) as it was once called is an old house that has been massively extended Rooms are sparse but comfortable, but the highlight has to be the food in the bar and restaurant - the chef is a fantastic cook and the food is amazing I try to book the larger rooms, although the downside to this is that there is only one TV in the lounge part of the room and it is a long way from the bed, so if like me, you are a bit hard of hearing, watching TV in bed is a bit of a problem!

The Chase has really improved since my last stay. Staff friendly, rooms clean and breakfast very good. Will certainly use again, when in the area. Car can get congested but found a space each day. Shaftesbury a short walk and there are some fantastic walks nearby

I stayed here for a week. Good location as walking distance, approx 5 minutes to Tesco and a little further to the centre. Room was a little dated but clean. Flat screen tv, swimming pool but no gym. It was a little rushed for me at breakfast as they start at 7.30am during the week. As i had to be at my training event at 8am it was tight. Staff were friendly. Be good to have a gym. The Wi-Fi worked well. I would stay again if i was in the area

Convenient location, easy parking. Hotel offers leisure facilities. The bar area and restaurant offers quality meals at a reasonable price. Helpful and friendly staff always willing to go that extra mile. A hotel with a monastic history with careful work done to preserve some features. Would come again if in area

Not bad hotel, a little tired needs modernising, pool very good, had to wait ages to check in as no staff around? Restaurant menu is a little limited, could do with more choice, very average, service was good, good breakfast, prices were high for what you get, not great VFM, maybe they should include the cost of breakfast in the room rate to make it better value for money? Overall very average and lacking investment and in need of refurbishment

I have to start by saying I agree with all the reviews that talk about the staff being so friendly. Without any hesitation, they seem genuinely eager to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy your stay. The hotel is very comfortable, huge bed, ample bathroom and good supply of teas, coffee and biscuits. Lots of wardrobe space and large mirrors. Don't bother with the slow hairdryer in the bathroom, I found a full sized proper dryer in the drawer after I'd struggled to dry my hair with the fixed bathroom one! The breakfast was excellent but evening meals weren't great. The fish and chips were good but duck was dried out and quite hard to eat. After a long journey I didn't complain and just ate what I could as I was hungry and tired. Bar prices were quite expensive which is a shame because we would have used it a lot more, had it been good value for money. £4.75 a pint and £17.95 for wine adds up to an expensive night if you're relatively big drinkers like us. The ladies behind the bar were fab however! The pool was lovely, clean and not crowded, the sauna was the same. Getting into town was about a 20 minute walk which was fine during the day, but the weather was freezing, so later we tried to book a taxi when we decided to go back there in the evening. After ringing more than 10 different taxi firms who were too busy we gave up and had no choice but to walk again. During the evening we tried over and over again to get a taxi home, to no avail. By this time it was tipping down with snow and extremely cold. A very helpful, fast food delivery man eventually took pity and gave us a lift back. Top bloke!! All in all I would recommend this hotel and wouldn't hesitate to rebook if we visit the area again.

Stayed here for one night with my husband. Room was very nice, bed was huge and very comfortable - room was a good size. Room overlooked the gardens and car park area and was very quiet. Had dinner in restaurant which was very good. Chicken and mushroom pie was very tasty and lamb tagine was delicious. Apple crumble and custard was really scummy and cheese board was also very good. Breakfast was also great and plentiful. Staff were all very efficient and professional. We didn't use the pool but it looked good so regretted leaving costumes at home! Would stay again and would definitely recommend.

Was here for almost a month... feels home. Very accommodating staff... extra mile assistance. Everyone is nice. Peaceful place. Nearby drugstores, Tesco and town center. Will definitely stay there again!

We had a nice time there Grounds and building look good, Room was very nice, Staff where very Friendly. Bar nice with open fire. Food was excellent. only thing was Pool was not able to be used on the Friday.

We used this hotel as very convenient for sightseeing. The car park is quite difficult to negotiate due to trees and pot holes. Once inside there was a warm welcome by really friendly and helpful staff. Our room was extremely quiet, comfortable, warm and clean although I didn't consider the bathroom was cleaned very well every day and the bed could have been made more actractively. The restaurant/bar staff were excellent but very busy so more would have been a good idea , especially during busy breakfast period. Our meals were delicious and high standard,

Hotel booked on spec as a stop over on route to holiday with small dog so no particular expectations. Dog friendly can mean dog tolerant and rooms/facilities are very different between hotels so provided you are not expecting 5 star treatment and service, any effort to give good customer service is welcomed. Having read several recent reviews I think I must have been staying at a different hotel:- Location is a little strange, it is easy to drive into the rear of the building as we did, believing it is the front but once inside, finding reception is relatively easy. Check in fine and in the course of conversation established that dogs welcome in bar area where you can eat. Staff happy to set up a table for us here also for breakfast so excellent service so far. Rooms are very clean but a little tired. They have all the amenities required so missing a little grout here and there and a few bits of chipped paint really do not matter if all you intend to do is have a good nights sleep which is what we did. Unfortunately there was a large party in the room next to the bar which was loud and had an abundance of people in and out to the bar so eating in the evening may have been a little difficult. We went to reception just to ask when the party may be finishing as we could eat later and found that they would set us up a table in a small room nearby in order that we could eat in comparative peace. You cannot buy that sort of thoughtfulness, even in a 5 star hotel so credit must be given to the staff concerned. We were so pleased that we did stay, the food was superb. Had we lived locally we would have happily booked a table in the restaurant on a regular basis. All in all, we had a really enjoyable stay. A special thanks to the reception staff and especially Kerry who in the thick of it all still found time to help us. Please do not be put off by some of the poor reviews. We are now looking to book again for one night on our trip back home!

A three night B+B stay, we had a room at the front, bright and comfortable and not disturbed by road noise. Overall value for money as long as you give the restaurant a miss in the evening. Works canteen quality at smart restaurant prices. The bar lounge area is very nice, superb real fire and comfy seats. Bar prices good and nice ales/wine. We used the pool, spotlessly clean and warm, Sauna the same. Staff all very friendly and helpful. Chef needs a lesson or two though and the deep fat fryer oil was definitely in need of a change. On our second night there was a busy party monopolising the bar and the staff were run ragged, they still found time for me though when I needed something. Lots of eating choices a 10 min walk away so do try elsewhere in the evening for dinner.

The hotel is very sad , to few staff most times , breakfast was hit and miss depending on which chef was cooking , the bathrooms had no water pressure for a shower , the welcome at reception was poor ,the check out was even worse ,unfriendly to say the least . the room wasnt cleaned every day .

Disappointing stay last weekend. The room at the front of the hotel was a mistake and I should have asked for 'the quiet side' which I normally do but forgot this time. The room needs a facelift and double glazing. When the front door is used you can hear in the bedroom. However the worst part was the bathroom, the grouting needs replacing and a good steam clean around the edges of the bath. The bath itself was clean but not the surrounds and when it was last painted this wasn't cleaned properly where it had splashed in the tiles. The wardrobe door was loose so care was needed when opening. Even the shower switch came off. It was a cheap model and not what I would expect in a commercial property. Evening meal needed to be booked by 6.45 as the hotel had a private party that evening. Evening meal was ok although the side salad was more like a 'dressing' to the plate. In fairness to the receptionist she was most apologetic and immediately apologised and refunded half the cost for the room. She said she would put a block on the room for that night and ensure she notified all those who neede to know. All the staff we came in contact with were friendly and had a smile which isn't always the case. An hour or so later I had a call from the hotel receptionist to say she had checked the room and was very apologetic and refunded me a further £20. I can't fault her professional attitude or approach - this is excellent customer service and I feel it's important to note the good along with the bad. We are staying in Weymouth in September in another one of the BW hotels so I hope they redeem themselves.

We decided to book for Xmas lunch as a family as a treat so no-one had to cook. What a disappointment this was, I found this hotel to be pretty soulless, the staff were very nice and did their best to give good service but the food was so average. I had pate to start, it was just ok, could of made it better myself, the main event Xmas dinner was ok, no effort was made to make the veg special, it was just steamed, this surprised me as usually there would be maybe sprouts with bacon or red cabbage, you know the usual things that set Xmas dinner apart. The thing that really annoyed me was they tried to say that their were no parsnips but clearly they ran out. I really felt that a toby carvery would have been better than this. We still had a good time as a family but @ £60 a head felt totally ripped off. Had it not been Xmas day and I felt for the staff I would have kicked up a stink. Definitely won't be returning.

Stayed for 3 nights over new year with my husband and 15 month old and overall it was a very pleasant stay. We used the hotel as a base to visit Longleat and Stone Henge and location wise it was great. There is a Tesco very close by and the village is a short distance away. We used the pool and the restaurant and both were good and our room was clean and a decent size. Staff were very welcoming and helpful and the hotel was child friendly. The decor in our room (32) was just a bit dated and could probably do with a bit of a refurb. The shower was powerful which was good but the toilet flush was very poor! On the whole a pleasant stay and it met our needs for what we wanted for our trip.

Great family room, very quiet and super comfy beds. Bathroom wasn't clean (just sink and mirror) but staff offered me a room change and were entirely attentive and helpful for entire visit. Great pool, located perfectly for town.

Hotel situated 15 mins walk from Shaftesbury, friendly staff, nice pool and sauna. Room clean but decor looked a bit tired. Toilet didn't flush and room adjoined adjacent room, didn't get much sleep as neighbours were noisy. Breakfast was poor quality.

A warm welcome awaits you at The Chase. The staff were very helpful. On arrival one is faced with a rather dated exterior. We had hoped the inside would have been better, sadly not the case. The hotel rooms and especially the bathrooms are old fashioned and need more than a lick of paint. As a seasoned traveler I would have appreciated the little touches such as a shower cap, but yet again disappointed.

I stayed 4 nights in room 42, a large double room with an ensuite. The bed was excellent, very firm and supportive and the room was kept very clean. The breakfast's are varied and tasty, I opted for the porridge instead of the cereal, it was made to order and it was delicious. The main courses range from the Full English to Smoked Salmon on scrambled eggs. The hotel has a pool which I didn't sample but it seemed popular without being over crowded. My only slight criticism is the Reception is not at the front of the hotel being the first thing you see, its down a corridor and appears to be in a converted cupboard. Move it to the front.

Stayed one night in room 43. We had asked for a quiet room and this was exactly what we were given. Room 43 is a quite large ensuite so there was plenty of room for 2 people. A bonus for us was the windows actually opened. There were nice toiletries in the bathroom, a plentiful supply of hot water and, if you've left your book at home, there is a good in house magazine, called Postcard, with interesting articles. The room was clean and the bed comfortable. We had breakfast and there was a good choice of cereals and fruit juice. Then you could pick and mix the cooked food from the menu. We found all the staff to be pleasant and efficient. The hotel is about 10 - 15 minutes walk to Shaftesbury centre. We didn't use the bar area but it looked cosy with a range fire and leather sofas. There is a car park at the hotel. We would stay there again.

A marvellous stay, a lovely dinner, great breakfast and a fantastic sleep in a comfortable bed. The room had plenty of space to move around without bumping into each other. The staff were absolutely fantastic, great service ands nothing was too much trouble.

This hotel is situated approximately 15 minutes from the town. It has a nice feel to it. Rooms are being upgraded. Check in quick and easy. Bar area cosy . Beware fitness classes can make some rooms noisy. By far the biggest let down is breakfast. I ordered crumpets and they were still frozen in the middle....how can you get toasting wrong?? My friend ordered her breakfast one morning and when it came out the baked beans were cold. A solid B could do better.

We took advantage of Best Western's Winter Sale rates and had excellent value for money. Comfortable room, friendly staff and the food in the restaurant was extremely good and reasonably priced. We would definitely stay again.

Love this hotel stayed here at least5 times now the staff are so friendly and helpful. Rooms are being upgraded and are comfortable and relaxing you have everything you need even down to iron and ironing board. The food is great a very good choice at breakfast and cooked beautifully. The evening meals are also beautiful a very good choice of fresh Cooke homely food will be back again next year as our daughter lives near by wouldn't stay anywhere else.

I've stayed in many hotels when away with work but the food here is by far the best I've had in any comparable hotel and such good value for money. Pheasant and Venison steak were specials on 2 of the nights I dined and both were very nice, well presented dishes. A highly competant and freindly front of house team made for a great 3 days away.

For travelling to Poole or just visiting Dorset this is a nice hotel with good amenities including a spa and pool. The breakfast was very nice and made to order with a very good choice. The bar was open but I didn't visit as I was working

The hotel is located about a ten minute walk from the town. It is a nice easy walk to town. The hotel has generous parking and is pleasant inside. Our particular room was very hot and fans were provided in all rooms and corridors. We couldn't open the window overnight as we were directly above the hotel generators, which made sleeping near on impossible. I brought this to the attention of the lady at reception in the morning and was told when I book next time (which I won't be doing) to book a quiet room. I said to her that I assumed all of the rooms were quiet. Why would I want a noisy room?? Apart from that the food was excellent and restaurant staff very helpful. We won't be returning.

Reception on arrival was friendly and efficient. I had to ask for our cases to be sent to the room as there is no lift (already knew this). Room was comfortable and a good size for the executive suite. Food throughout was good. Only problem with breakfast was the first morning. No tables free in the dining room so was directed to the bar by a waitress where tables were laid, but then we were forgotten about for a while. Minimum level of staff on an extremely bust morning and the staff were under pressure. All the staff we dealt with were friendly even those who were struggling at breakfast time.

Comfy, friendly staff and pleasant room - I had a good night sleep. Unfortunately, the catering staff couldn't cope at breakfast. I waited ages for service and had to ask for the table to be laid. You could see how stressed they were. Just one extra member of staff would have made all the difference. When breakfast did arrive, it was delicious!

We've stayed here 4 times now What draws us back are the excellent staff, their friendliness and service. We are real foodies and have never been disappointed with a meal in the restaurant . The same menus available in the bar if you prefer a more relaxed setting. The restraint is small, immaculate, tables with crisp white linen, including napkins and the staff are fantastic . Rooms: we stayed this time in number 2 . Quiet location, large bed, warm but a little small and I would have loved a bath and not just a shower so next time I'll make sure I ask for a room to accommodate this. No complaints at all. This hotel is graded 3* and it is because of lack of lift etc but apart from some rooms and areas waiting their turn at being refurbished you'd be hard pressed to find better for your money , especially if you like a swim sometime in you're day. See you next year!

This was a return visit but in a different room!! I was in room 8 and whoever designed the bathroom obviously never ever stayed in the room. Yes a super modern bathroom but the washbasin is tucked away in a very small alcove with the HEATED towel rail takes up some of the very limited space so preventing you getting to the basin!! Excellent breakfast - enjoyed the sausages!!

Great breakfast and pleasant staff but this dated hotel certainly needs a makeover. Its a dog friendly hotel but the tiny room was shabby and so noisy, our experience of the place was very poor, which was a shame.

I have stayed in a lot of Best Western hotels and generally find them to be very individual a pleasant change from the corporate chains, however this hotel just misses the mark. First impressions are not good with an untidy and uneven car park the reception area is very unimaginative and boring and does a little to encourage a sense of quality. My room on the first floor was tired and dated the bathroom was unfortunately very lacklustre although clean. The swimming pool and sauna were however a bonus for a hotel of this size and quality.

My room (room 2) was musty and smelt of damp. The toilet ran all night and I had to put towels around it to make it quieter. The bathroom was very cramped without even a place to put a wash bag. The hot tap in the sink sprayed all over me. The bed itself was comfortable and large. Breakfast finished at 9:30 but the bar stayed open late.

Lovely hotel, staff incredibly attentive and delicious food. Hotel also has a swimming pool and sauna. Near to shaftesbury with shops and a fantastic walk up gold hill. Was just a pity I only stayed the one night. Will definatly be staying again

First impressions good, great location, and a well decorated and maintained building - well staffed with pleasant happy folk all eager to be of service. The bathroom is clean and in good order and the bed? ... just right as Goldilocks might say. Squeaky floors were tolerable as was the restricted breakfast start time of 07:30 for hot food - I needed to be at work locally by then each day so I knew I would miss out. Like a previous reviewer I was sited above the smoking veranda, I already knew the hotel was fully booked so I was trapped - forgivable but frustrating as my booking profile (I'm a business traveller) expressly states non smoking areas only. - I was just in time for an evening meal on arrival (the restaurant closes at 21:00) and I ordered my starter at bang on 20:30 it came at 21:01 - a deep fried mozzarella ball with roasted tomato chutney and a pesto dressing - well presented, but icy cold in the middle, not just fridge cold but frozen... I hadn't eaten in nearly 26hours so wolfed it down anyway. I prepare this myself on occasion, I know it's not a thirty minute dish for an amateur let alone a professional kitchen. The main arrived some 20mins later - an overcooked and dried out pan fried chicken breast that needed considerable effort to cut with the cutlery provided, on a wild mushroom and parmesan risotto that resembled a couscous mix needing another five minutes to steam - it was wetter than wet and I couldn't even taste the parmesan, as to the mushroom content I actually lined up the slices and counted enough for only two complete ones - it was laughable, I had already had to summon the waitress to get me the pepper mill as it was truly bland. Once again my hunger made me eat it all - I really couldn't face sending it back as I needed to sleep ahead of an early start. Eventually I was rewarded with the dessert menu and selected a creme brulee before the waitress could walk away - after 7minutes I was informed it wasn't available. I had to actually request the dessert menu again and my second choice of a posset duly arrived fresh from the fridge after what seemed an eternity. "may I have a spoon that actually fits the glass please?" - it was made in a cloudy (very dish-washered) glass from the bar. That spoon also took a while to arrive as it seemed all the cutlery was kept elsewhere in the hotel and certainly not in the Byzant Restaurant where I had become the sole diner quite sometime earlier. I got my bill at 21:46 ... an hour and a quarter isn't bad in company with drinks, but considering each course only lasted me a few minutes at most it was shocking - to be fair I did take my time over the dessert as I had no fear it would get colder.. Throughout my meal I stuck with my original choice of tap water with ice as I wished to enjoy the flavours and was being kind to my stomach after starving it. I can't drink that late in the evening when I need to drive around 0700 so despite an expense account I opted to forego that possible excuse for what came next.... do read on, please. I had requested an early alarm call that never came despite the check-in clerk highlighting it on the paperwork - it was entered in the correct location on the form, but she made certain to assure me that it was clearly marked. In the event I didn't need it as I awoke with appalling stomach cramps around 05:30 and suffered acute diarrhoea until lunchtime - as I said I'd not eaten anywhere the previous day and only drank bottled water prior to my arrival so, as I'm sure you'll feel I chose wisely, I have opted not to dine at this hotel anymore.

We recently attended the hotel for a swim and lunch offer and were very disappointed with the food and the service we received the general opinion of the restaurant staff was they had better things to do than serve us. Also the food wasn't what I would expect from a 3 star hotel and as a result my wife was ill the rest of the day. The pool on the other hand is great for us and my son and the rest of the staff are always helpful when we have been to swim before we just will not eat there again

Free parking on site and good size rooms, pretty decent shower, plenty of plug sockets, a fair size tv, hairdryer and kettle. My current room is dated (the bathroom appears a bit fresher) and smells ever so slightly musty with some creaky floors and doors but generally not too disturbing. The doublet cover is torn and generally there is a lack of attention to detail around the place. The remote needs to be pointed directly at the red spot on tv to work. The bed although slightly lumpy I found pretty comfy and got a fairly good nights sleep. No air con but plenty of fans about the place and the windows do open. It's just a shame people were smoking near my window (rear of building) smell filled the bathroom even with the window shut - yuck! Coffee, tea, biscuits available in the room but no hot chocolate :( Soap, shampoo/shower gel & conditioner provided. Fresh towels every day. Staff friendly enough but often disappear - I suspect this is because there appears to be only one person serving at a time so usually you have to wait a few minutes for them to appear e.g. at the bar in the evening or when waiting to be seated for breakfast. Very disappointed by the food served in the bar. On my first visit I didn't enjoy the BBQ special - they had to substitute the ribs (with gammon) as they'd run out - I thought BBQ ribs with bacon and pineapple and mash sounded yummy but hardly ate the awful monstrosity served up (see pic). On my second visit the chap next to me said some of his garlic bread was a little burnt whilst my lamb was tough as old boots the al dente veg was cold and the red wine jus flavourless - well that's two disappointing meals now on separate occasions - next time I'll give the main menu here a miss and go to the pub opposite or Tesco up the road. Breakfast is fine, cooked to order. There was a small spread of cereals, yoghurt and pastry. Warm water and a selection of fruit juice in leaky containers again demonstrate the general lack of attention to detail here. However, I am impressed with the fact they have gluten free items marked on the menu and gluten free cornflakes available - I'm told gf bread is available but you'll have to ask for it. Oh and plastic flowers in hotels/restaurants should be banned - nothing but dust traps and not nearly as nice as real flowers or a decent centre piece! They do have a pool which I enjoy using. Although not very big and has curves walls so not designed for proper swimming - no lanes. Free Wifi in my room dropped constantly and is not even worth the hassle of fetching emails, surfing web or Skype! Not great if you have work to be done online. In the bar it's not bad - 14Mbps down 4Mbps up, latency 60ms and should be able to handle multiple devices streaming.

We thought we had booked a room for A two day stay but due to an oversight on our part found we had booked the following week!!!! The staff were very understanding and helped us find new accommodation in another hotel. The hotel looks nice and also has a pool Will definitely take care booking next time

We stopped for lunch here as they held the blood donor session in the hotel and my husband's appointment was early afternoon. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I had a vegetarian risotto which was a creamy one which was very good. My daughter had the same but asked for a chicken portion to go with it. They obliged. My husband had sausage and mash, gravy and a portion of peas which we all shared. My only suggestion would be to add some garnish or a few green veg to the risotto as it looked bland.

We stayed 2 nights at the Hotel. Staff are very helpful and polite. The room allocated was large and had plenty of space with an en suite. Kettle with tea, coffee, Biscuits etc in the room. Comfortable bed. Tolietries in the Bathroom. Nice large towels. Breakfast was nice. Plenty of choice too on the menu. There is a swimming pool in the Hotel for Guests to use, which is also open to non residents. No complaints about the Hotel. There was a portable fan in the room as it was a very warm day/night when we stayed. We put the fan on all night as even with the Windows open it was warm. Ironing board/iron/hairdryer in the room.

This was a good hotel, the staff were fine, there were workmen throughout the place during the day and the car park seemed full of workmanship vans, however when inside you would hardly know they were there, and it was a clear sign of a commitment to keep the place in very good order, and in that they succeeded. Great room with easy access to grounds which were a plant place to sit for an hour. Fortunately we had a couple of stairs in our car otherwise there was nowhere to sit and enjoy the garden. Restaurant was fine and we stayed in for dinner. The waiter service was very good, prompt, polite and very helpful.

Friendly, attentive staff. Nice setting and function rooms. Clean and big rooms. Pool area ok but could do with an update. Breakfast was good. No air con though in hot weather was a downside. Good pub opposite.

If I had spent £65 on my room I wouldn't feel so negative about my stay. At £95 it's completely over priced. The whole hotel is dated and scruffy. There was some work going on so maybe upgrading works are in progress. The bathroom was very old and needs ripping out. There was a nasty, mouldy shower curtain around the bath with the most useless shower known to woman. The room was boiling hot, I slept with the window open but that made no odds. There's no air con. The food at breakfast was the only saving grace, lovely toast and the scrambled egg was delicious. The service was poor, the waitress was completely over worked and under supported. The coffee pot was a million years old and I ended up with more coffee on the table than in the cup. Unless you can book this place for £65 or less I would give it a miss.

We stayed for a Saturday night in a standard double and paid £106.25 for room only. On arrival we were given keys to a twin room. We'd booked a double but were told no doubles were available and that we'd booked a twin. After checking our reservation, they found a double without explanation. The room was quite small and dark. We needed to use the lights during daytime because directly outside the window was a tree blocking any view. There was a flat screen TV, wardrobe, hairdryer and a chair too wide to fit under the vanity table. The room was a lacking a little love, the wallpaper curling near the skirting board and there was damage to the wall near the wardrobe. Furniture was cheap Pine. The towel rail in the toilet could not be turned off which was bothersome on a warm May Saturday. There was no safe or mini bar in our room Positives included a very powerful shower with plenty of hot water, pleasant toiletries, soft towels and comfortable bed. Tea making facilities were decent and the wifi worked well. We also got a courtesy call a few days before arrival which was a nice touch They have a swimming pool which was popular, ample free parking and you're within walking distance of the town. Overall though, I'd choose elsewhere, I felt the hotel offered poor value for the quality of the room which we stayed in and the front desk didn't offer that great an experience.

I stopped here overnight whilst passing through. I booked with only a few hours notice and asked for a late night check-in. Hotel staff were greatly accommodating and were always on hand. Room was lovely, quiet and provided a great nights sleep. Breakfast was good - large choice of meals and all within a "normal" budget.

We enjoyed a long week end break at this hotel in May 2017 to celebrate a birthday with friends. The check in was quick and the room was clean, functional and comfortable with nice views over the gardens. The hotel is situated around 10 minutes walk from the town centre and offers reasonable car parking. There is also a very nice heated swimming pool which was not too busy when we were there. We met in the bar that evening and the staff were efficient and helpful. On the first night we went out for dinner to another local hotel and were very disappointed. The following morning we had a very nice breakfast with plenty of choices of cereals and mains. That evening we ate in the restaurant and the menu offered plenty of choice, was reasonably priced and proved to be very tasty. We felt overall that the hotel offered fairly good value for money and would stay there again.

Dropped in for lunch at 11:45 but you can't order until 12. Started well! Sandwiches on appalling processed bread and a vague attempt at a cup of tea! Thanks goodness I wouldn't normally stop there. Enough said.

It had been a while since we stayed here, the last time for a wedding. Nothing had changed and yet much has changed, our room (No. 3) was freshly decorated with a new, albeit small, bathroom. The bed was comfortable and my wife was delighted to find an effective hair dryer as part of the facilities. There are two really good things that stand out; the staff - nothing is too much trouble and they really make you feel welcome. Secondly, the breakfasts; freshly prepared, served with a smile, a good way to start the day. No doubt we shall return.

Having looked at previous reviews I was slightly concerned that this hotel would be a bit run down. However we were pleasantly surprised. Our family room was newly refurbished with a fantastic bathroom! Furthermore it was close to the pool which was great and very rarely had anyone else in it. Breakfast was a bit mixed; one morning was great (we went a bit earlier), however the other morning was obviously very understaffed (we overheard a waitress mentioning staff being cancelled as they expected it to be quiet). The food took a long time and there wasn't as much choice out. Our order was also slightly wrong. The food however was cooked to order and tasty. Overall we were impressed. The location was good and the hotel definitely fitted our needs. The staff weren't the most enthusiastic, but were polite and answered any questions we had.

Stayed here for a business trip and yes, the hotel is a little tired and needs updating. However, my room (41), was large, airy with a decent hairdryer, coffee etc and an iron. Shampoo and body wash also supplied. It was also quiet as it was a back room overlooking the garden. Breakfast was good with the cooked option made fresh when ordering. Would of liked a gym. My colleague had a much smaller room with no bath, so it's a bit hit and miss on which room you get.

Stayed here for one night on business. The hotel is pretty much what you expect for the price. It is clean with large rooms and most of the usual accompaniments. Food in the restaurant was reasonable and the beds comfortable. The hotel also had a pool although I had no time to use it. There are however, a few things lacking compared to other best westerns I have visited: No air conditioning in the rooms No on demand movie service No gym The car park is also far too small for the size of the hotel. Would I stay here again? Yes.

I stayed here for four nights on a business trip. I found all the staff incredibly helpful and friendly, and the food in the restaurant was nice so I have give the hotel two points for this. My room wasn't in a good condition, there was dust on all of the light shades, the curtains were coming of the rail, bathroom wasn't in a good state (grout in-between the tiles were black and there was a bad smell in there too). It was very dated so I don't think this was the recently renovated part of the hotel. The windows in the room weren't reinforced in anyway so the cold, noise and smells from outside came into the room. The heating wasn't adequate either so I had to stay under the quilt to stay warm. The floor in the room needs fixing, I get that it is an old building but maintenance on things like this can still be done. The floor had sunk considerably and my bed was on an angle that made me feel like I was falling out of bed. My room was also above an entrance so I was disturbed constantly throughout the night by the door slamming when people were coming and going. Also people stood outside of this entrance to smoke and so (bad windows remember!) the smoke was coming into my room. After reading other guests comments about the management and seeing the manager's responses on here I realised there was no point in raising any of this as the management don't seem to have a great value in what their guests think. Also as some of this was structural etc, there wasn't a lot they could do really. I was due to stay another four nights the following week, but due to my experience I decided to cancel my bookings and stay somewhere else.

Very pleasant stay. Room obviously refurbished recently. Food very good and friendly service. Surprised it was only listed as a three star hotel - deserved more. Handy for town centre. Swimming pool a bonus.

Not sure how anyone can say anything bad about this hotel. Paid extra for an executive king, bed and breakfast, and still thought this was cheap! Room immaculate and loads of space, en suite also spacious and vet clean and well kept. Traffic heard from inside room on the road outside, but this is not the hotels fault and once you are in the comfy bed it feels almost non existent anyway. Staff friendly and breakfast was lovely too. Would definitely stay here again if we are ever in the area. Very very good value for money! Thanks all

Car park hit and miss very uneven. Check in very friendly staff quick and no fuss. Room clean good bed and hot shower. Breakfast oh dear. We ordered at same time 2 cooked breakfasts came out separately why put beans in a dish on the plate. Bacon white sausage cold and they don't know how to cook a fried egg it was slimy as here all week let's home it gets better. Would have been 5 stars if breakfast was better

Newly redecorated and very homely The Royal Chase is a lovely stop for anyone wanting a night away. They look after you from check in til check out. Would definitely return. Thank you for a lovely stay.

We recently held our wedding here. From start to finish of the planning process the staff were excellent, especially Rosie the Events Manager. The day was perfect and the staff were so helpful. Most of our guests stayed at the Royal Chase and all commented on how comfortable the beds were. We had a hot and cold buffet for the Wedding Breakfast with a Hog Roast in the evening, the food was absolutely amazing and plentiful. Breakfast was of an equally high standard. During the planning of the wedding we had a couple of meetings with Rosie and she always offered good professional advice, everything that we had asked for was there on the day. The room was absolutely amazing, Rosie and her fellow staff did us proud. We would highly recommend this venue and the staff to anyone looking a venue to hold a special event. Thank you Rosie and the Staff at the Royal Chase for making it such a memorable day for us. Mr and Mrs Faulkner

We made a reservation for this hotel from an internet site so we didn't know what to expect. We didn't check in until late but the staff in reception were very friendly and helpful and check in nice and easy. We were allocated room 30 on the ground floor a nice spacious clean and well decorated family room , with a comfy bed and a nice powerful shower. Breakfast came as a big shock I have never had a breakfast in a chain hotel like this one it was amazing, there was a plentiful selection of cereal , rolls , warm bread and your usual pastries. A chilled cabinet with yoghurts , fruit salads and a rather nice looking strawberry compote and also a selection of 3 fruit juices. Now the cooked English breakfast totally amazing top quality bacon and sausages with a great taste, very tasty indeed and its all freshly cooked to order which you just cant beat. The staff at breakfast again nice and friendly and happy (no one suffering with the morning blues in this hotel) and very professional. Check out was nice and easy and friendly. We will without any shadow of a doubt use this hotel again....its worth it just for the breakfast! thank you all at the Royal Chase Hotel so much.

We have stayed here on several occasions and the problem has always been the same; the central heating system simply does not work in the bedrooms. This time it was November and even worse, with a freezing night outside and no heating in the room. Now, either the central heating is not being put on to save money, or else it needs thoroughly servicing and repairing; the valve on the radiator went round and round and did nothing at all. All that was on offer was an electric heater by way of a substitute. That the hotel knows there is a problem was evidenced by the fact that one of the staff was busily engaged cleaning two more substitute electric heaters when we left. The bathroom was the size of a cupboard with insufficient room to swing the proverbial cat (not that we had ours with us as he prefers somewhere warm); seriously, this situation is found up and down the country - the creation of a so-called en-suite facility with the minimum of financial outlay. The whole place is somewhat tired and run down and rightly or wrongly the impression that is created is that Best Western are looking to get shot of it. So that when things break down they are not repaired - witness not only the central heating but also the Jacuzzi in the swimming pool which had ceased working some time ago and has now been filled in. When we raised the issue of the non-working radiator by way of recompense we were refunded the cost of our breakfasts. It's really a shame as the staff we encountered were very pleasant, the swimming pool is very nice, and the location of the hotel is excellent.

Having visited the historic town of Shaftesbury recently, we decided to spend a night there over a weekend. The Royal Chase Hotel is a lovely place, with a swimming pool and hot room. We had the executive room at a reduced price via booking.com. Staff were very friendly and professional. Warm welcome and helpful service. Thanks

Lovely setting for hotel, in gardened grounds, rooms were fine, if in need of just a little attention to detail, but great space and high ceilings, over looking gardens complete with owls in the morning! just lovely, Nice deep bath for a lovely soak, and swimming pool, lounge area with board games to play, very nice for the family to relax. The one thing which put a down on things was the restaurant staff attitude, long wait for food (fifty mins), and some arrived cold, taken away so did not eat together, was not offered bread while waiting, nor a top up of drinks !. There is a point of No return in a bad situation, and the family meal and evening was in tatters. The hotel reception ( Holy) was great to try and sort things. But my advise is the hotel could make so much more of what they have, by up-selling drinks, offering extras, turning off some of the excessive lighting to make things more relaxed and get just ONE great member of staff, who could do what those restaurant staff was not even trying to do. All the money spent on getting us to the hotel, advertising etc etc, was undone in a few minutes of bad attitude and lack of customer service. But well done Holy, sorry it all fell at your door to deal with. THIS PLACE SHOULD AND COULD BE GREAT, GREAT GREAT!

The room was OK about the same as a Travelodge, fittings a bit tired. Had a evening meal at the bar. Very small potions. Had fish and chips, 21 chips and a very small piece of fish for around 15.00 Was trying the place out as we hope to get a big contract locally in the area. But for the cost it was poor value. For bed and breakfast 125.00. Breakfast was stingy. Asked for two bacon and two sausages. Only got one of each and only got one cup of coffee. Asked server a few times but not really around. Only a few people in the breakfast room. After the small, fish and chips the night before I was hungry. I checked out and went upmarket for another breakfast at Maccy D.

Came to Dorset for a quick visit to see family and decided what better place to all go for lunch then where I used to work!! The Royal chase didn't do the carvery when I worked there but I can honestly say it is an amazing touch! The entire room was full! The food was beautiful too and the chef behind the hot plate was lovely! Very friendly having a chat with everyone even with the kids that were at our table! I may be bias as I love this place (it was like a home from home back in the day) but now as another customer I really enjoyed the experience!! My one and only gripe would be..... Bloody smile girls!!!!!! Sunday fun day and all that! :) Thank you for a beautiful meal! I'll be back for sure!!!!! <3

Herre goes . Firstly i am writing this rview because i care deeply about both sides delivering on their part of a bargain and also about front line staff taking the brunt when they are obviously not trained. Here are the facts..... 1 i arrived at the hotel at about 3pm and it took me about 3-4 hours to get properley parked. The hotel was being used for i) blood donations - a worthy cause but the impact is that paying guests cannot get parked because the car park is full of people popping in to donate ii) due to the pool being open to the public and guests again being the lucky to get parked. This was frustrating and would be better if set space was allocated to rhe various groups. It was pouring and as a rsult got soaked. 2. At dinner i ordered steak and chips with pepper sauce. When the sauce came i went to find someone as it clearly was not pepper sauce ...it had cheese in it and had a strong cheeses smell. I found someone who took it into the kitchen and came out and said it was pepper. I genuinelysay...it was not. I however just went along with it, scraped the sauce of my food and left the rest as it was going to be a little difficult and i did not want to feel akward. Secondly on eating the steak i had to 'get rid of about 50% of it as it was just gristle. The remains (that i spat out were left on my plate..it was obvious something was wrong) .... i did not make a second complaint until the next morning as i just didnt want the confrontation. 3. At breakfast i ordered eggs bacon tomato. The picture attached is what i rcieved ...i have never recieved such a breakfast in thirty years of staying at hotels. I complained and was told 'that was what i asked for!'.... not the sort of thing to say to a guest. I was not offered any tea. I was also not offered any toast. I ate my meagre breakfast, complained to reception as well as the rstaurant and left. The rstaurant asked 'do you want me to do something' but by then you can understand i just wanted out of there and said no and left. The thing is as a guest i was put into a confrontational position on at least 3 occassions on a one night stay and made to feel it was my fault. I was also told not to complainto the staff as they had no power but to find a manager ....so not only was a guest made to feel very awkward but then told they need to find the right staff to complain too! Typical non acceptance of rsponsibility to deliver the right goods and check they are doing that before delivering to the customer. I stay in many hotels ...from £35 a night to £500 a night. This hotel was £100 a night plus dinner at c £28. The ones at £35 a night really seem to be sensitive to peoples thoughts, as of course do the hogher end ones. Where i have had problems are the ones for £100-150 a night who then try to place blame on the individual for not complaining properley, not understanding the hotel etc and also the hotel not taking responsibility for how a guest feels and are very defensive. What i encountered was exactley that. Hotels that know how to deal with such matters do so discretely without anyone feeling akward. I wouldnt stay here ...thats all i can advise. Andrew

This is my third time staying here and it has been one of the best hotels I have stayed in, the staff are helpful and nice. And the breakfast is amazing here, there is a pool for the whole family to have a swim in and keep the family entertained, this is the perfect hotel for business, family holiday and tourists because of the attractions are nearby.

When we arrived we were told that we could not sit in the restaurant as we were not staying here, but we could sit and eat in the bar area. The decor is fair and the cleanliness is good. The lady behind the bar was helpful and even supplied crayons for my two great grandchildren. We ordered food and when it arrived it was both tasty and hot. There is a childs menu as well as a 'specials' menu. Unless you have 'quiet children' I did not feel it was an apropriate place to bring very small children here for lunch, as the room echos a little! The whole experience was fair and I would not rush back, but maybe if we do return it will be without the little ones.

very good deal through Best Western rewards and ideal location for visits to National Trust properties around the area. The hotel provided all the facilities we required for a weekend break peaceful and quiet easy to find. The freshly cooked breakfasts and choice was extremely good and staff were very friendly.

Stayed for 2 nights as I was working in the local area, and this hotel is placed very closely to the town centre. Location was ideal, however I was disappointed with my room. The decor was very dated, the room amenities looked like they hadn't been updated in many, many years! Wallpaper in the bathroom was mouldy. Nevertheless, the bedroom was clean, and the bed comfy. Staff were very friendly, and I can't fault the breakfast - the full English was delicious and a great choice of continental options were available. The hotel is undergoing renovations, so hopefully next time I stay it would've been improved!

Its always difficult to fairly review a Best Western hotel, as 'Best Western' is effectively just a sales and marketing organisation with a lot of independent hotels as members, resulting in widely varying standards. For a Best Western, The Royal Chase is quite good, although perhaps not 'very good' in comparison to some other hotels. A pleasant welcome, large comfy room and a large bathroom, wonky floors and all. The food, both at breakfast and the evening bar food, was pretty good, easy car parking and the pool looked ok, although I didn't use it. As ever, hotels like this are let down by the detail e.g. the waiting and bar staff were mostly miserable and service was only ever ok, the toast at breakfast was thin and crispy, rather than thick cut, poached eggs on toast was served one day with poached eggs on the plate and a separate rack of toast - on the second day, the eggs were presented on toast, on the plate as I would have expected, the dispenser for muesli was blocked - obviously no-one checks it. The bar was largely 'dead' apart from guests eating meals and staff were often absent in the nearby kitchen - It also suffered from a cacophony of sounds - TV playing in one corner, continual piped muzak and on one evening music from a fitness class in the adjoining function room - not conducive to a relaxed stay ! Despite this, they offered a good price for single occupancy and I may well stay again when visiting my son in nearby Gillingham.

We were between houses and booked into this hotel for a week through Booking.com as it was shown to be dog friendly. When we arrived we were met by a surly receptionist who informed us that only two rooms were dog friendly and that we should not have used a booking site but should have booked direct with the hotel who would have told us what facilities were available. The room offered was minute. We had a lot of luggage as can be expected but were told there was nothing that could be done for us. We were awoken before six the following morning with pots and pans being bashed around, a loud radio and talking. The room was above the kitchens. I complained and was told that the other dog friendly room was even smaller and already booked. I eventually managed to speak to a manager who was slightly more sympathetic and eventually agreed to move us to a wing of the hotel that was being upgraded. The room they offered was not yet upgrade so they were prepared to allow our dog in. Unfortunately we had paid upfront or we'd have left immediately. However, I would like to commend the restaurant staff who made us very welcome and allowed us to sit in the bar area for breakfast and evening meals so that we could have our dog with us. Would I stay or recommend this hotel: Never.

The hotel is in a good location and looks nice from the outside. Inside it's not very welcoming. The receptionist was pleasant enough. My room was a good size but rather shabby. The bathroom is in need of updating but everything worked as it should. The lights in the room were bizarre, and it was a puzzle to work out which switch controlled which light. The TV was good quality. It took ages to connect to the wi-fi but once I had it was fine. Breakfast was nice and the breakfast staff friendly and helpful. Some simple room service other than breakfast would be helpful for business travelers who need to work in their room.

The staff are very moody I have done this job for years and if they were my staff they would all be sacked except the two men. I have stayed in the great western hotel in Bournemouth and it's service with a smile. Would not recommend this hotel as the staff make you feel very uncomfortable and seem to like over charging customers.

From start to finish made to feel uncomfortable and not very welcome, but more than happy to try and over charge us for our stay! The problem with this establishment unlike other Best Westerns I have stayed at is staff training. Slow service, bar and reception staff seem to be void of personality and arrogant. The chef seemed to be the only person who went out of his way make you feel welcome. But the fault always seem to be the customers judging by management responses on here. Would not recommend.

Very friendly and helpful staff. Food very good quality and ample. Parking on site. I had a standard double room but it was very clean modern and spacious. Two downsides shower very basic (bath available) at breakfast beans appeared reheated in a microwave as dry Otherwise really lovely

Only stayed here for one evening whilst away on business. Receptionist was very polite and check in was quick and simple. Room was not huge but adequate for one evening. Room was very clean. Pool and sauna were of great quality, the water in the pool plenty warm enough. All staff very friendly.

Just spent a long weekend here as it was the venue for a wedding reception. The food was excellent quality (both standard breakfast, and the wedding carvery/evening buffet) The staff we extremely helpful and efficient, we asked for an extra blanket, one was delivered within 3 minutes. The pool and sauna are a lovely way to relax!

This is a nice hotel (building) with friendly staff but when I stayed there with my son it was disappointing. The hotel has a feel of being past its best and in need of investment. For example, the pool is a great asset but the changing rooms and particularly the showers are in poor condition. The staff were very friendly but there too few of them. There were just 2 waiting staff for breakfast, which led to long delays, tables left uncleared and an overall chaotic feel. The food (breakfast) was ok, but it tasted like it had been left in a hot plate; it lack taste and the toast for example was cold and lacked the crispness you would expect.

Beautifully cooked food, lovely staff and really nice setting. Everything was fresh and tasty and our party of 14 had a fantastic lunch. Even my dad (who is a very fussy eater) enjoyed it and is telling everyone how good it was. Such great value too. Well recommended.

Stayed here for 2 nights for a family wedding. The hotel is lovely and rooms were clean and comfy. The only thing that let's this hotel down is the rude reception staff. Even when we were leaving they were rude, we gave our keys in and said thank you we didn't even get a reply

Place needs a new manager...poor standards and poor attitude of most of the senior staff. On arrival noticed litter a cigarette packet on reception steps Arrived with a dog...hotel states pet friendly...but apparently that's just 2 run down room at back which they charge extra £10 for...as I'd booked a premier room dog wasn't welcome and was refused refund and was just smirked at!...I eventually was permitted to stop after near begging and offering large deposit...if the place was a palace could understand but it definitely not...touch any window ledge..shelf..dust and dirt...human hairs behind backroom door. Breakfast service was aful most items run out and no tables cleared...people kept having to ask for items and chase orders...my coffee came out in a tea cup as mugs still uncleared on tables...young staff almost in tears..no management about. The cigarette packet was still on reception steps when we left....lazy staff...poor management.. avoid this hotel

We went on a sunday coach trip from a excellent travel agent from Chippenham. We had two sight seeing tours. We stopped at the Best Western Royal Chase Hotel,Shaftesbury for sunday lunch. The carvery lunch was out of this world with many choices to chose from the menu. I thoroughly recommend this hotel to all readers and we will be returning there again in the near future as a couple.

quiet with not much around to do unless in a car bar service not able to have in rooms pool good nice gardens to relax in on a sunny day town centre good gold hill worth a visit but go to top first by church an look down for best views

I would recomend this hotel and will probably stop here again,it was clean and well run.I would not fault it and the staff we met were all helpful and polite.The room was very nice with every thing we needed.

When we arrived reception was quite busy, which may account for the absence of a ‘recognition gift' as a Best Western Diamond card holder, or it maybe they do not fully participate in the B/W Rewards programme. The hotel is situated on a very busy roundabout and main road, so traffic noise can be a problem for those rooms at the front of the hotel. Our room (4) was on the first floor overlooking the main entrance and car park. The first thing we noticed was the creaking floorboards and snooping floor which was quite pronounced. This creaking theme was also present in the beds and the seats in the breakfast room. The room looked a little dated, but when we went to plug in the small clock radio they had provided at the side of the bed we noticed sweet wrappers behind the bedside cabinet. It was at this point we noticed various bits of debris on the floor which had obviously not been vacuumed, and there was also deposits of dust and debris behind the bathroom door. We were there for three nights, and during that time the sweet wrappers and other assorted debris remained untouched, and are probably still there to this days. Management obviously don't have a procedure in place to regularly check to see if rooms are correctly maintained. Breakfast was a better experience with friendly and helpful waitresses serving up pipping hot cooked-to-order breakfasts. However I did notice staff spraying sanitiser onto the tables with sugar bowls uncovered. This is a training issue, which is easily addressed. The hotel also had an indoor swimming pool (not used), and a computer available for guests use. Despite the warm weather the hotel had taken steps to keep the hotel cool by placing portable fans in the corridors. It's only redeeming feature were the staff we encountered, who we found to be pleasant, friendly and helpful. Not a hotel we would readily revisit.

Room OK but quite dusty. Hotel has seen better days! We overheard the cleaners in the hallway (who were sitting and not cleaning) discussing how they "hate hoovering"! Not a good impression for guests! Despite being told by the receptionist that the carpet in the restaurant is hoovered every day, this was clearly not the case! The floor always looked dirty, maybe it was just old, but this was a place where you eat! Food in restaurant, despite the prices seemed to have an "out of the packet" look to them. Best part of hotel was the swimming pool and the library.

Stayed for 1 night on business trip, and was very happy with the facilities, food and staff. Spacious room, good evening meal and excellent breakfast. Did not have chance to use the indoor pool, but it looked popular.

Excellent staff, nice large rooms, nice restaurant, its located a bit out of town, surprisingly has an indoor swimming pool, good spot to stay if in the area. Its an affordable 3* Hotel and as such is 'what it says on the label'!

Stayed one night whilst in area. Room nice and quiet at back overlooking garden. Bed was wonderfully large and comfy. Restaurant food was fairly basic but good, well presented and the staff friendly and smiling.

Stopped off here on the return journey from Devon and had a wonderful few days before returning home to celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary. Weather was not brilliant but that was not any fault of the hotel! Stunning part of the country with wonderful scenic views.

I had not previously stayed in a Best Western hotel but would certainly do so again. The quality of service provided by each and every staff member really was exceptional! This hotel represents excellent value for money. I look forward to my next stay.

We visited to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. The booking was simple to do online and confirmation was immediate. We chose the hotel because of the position, facilities and because it looked special in the photos ... we weren't disappointed. The staff were all friendly and polite. The decor was beautiful and the facilities were great (swimming pool, sauna etc). There was free WiFi in all areas (a bit slow but fine). The food was gorgeous and a nice variety, especially at breakfast. Our room was huge with a lovely spacious, clean bathroom. Beautiful white fluffy towels and free toiletries. We had plenty of tea/coffee making facilities, seating and flat screen tv. There was also an iron and ironing board in the huge mirrored wardrobe. The hotel was superbly situated. .. only a 10 min walk away from Shaftesbury town centre and Gold Hill etc. Would definately recommend a stay here.

We stayed one night and we had two rooms for 3 adults and 2 children. I guess I forgot to write that we had a 10 year old daughter with us. It was ok to have a child under 12 in the room for free. The description (on Swedish booking) said that the bed was bigger than it was but we managed to squeeze in the big bed – me and our two children – 10 and 13 years old. The hotel is a bit old and needs a renovation although it is a nice hotel. It is an old abbey and you can see the traces of it. The bedroom is a good size and the beds are comfortable. The bathroom is really big with a bathtub. Nice and clean. It was hot in the room and there is no A/C but I called the reception and the kindly brought up a fen and that helped. The staff is really nice and helpful. The breakfast was good too! You can order from a menu and it is in the price of the breakfast. Good breakfast with quite of good choices.

The hotel is located in a good position in relation to Shaftesbury and is reasonably priced. Our room was nice and clean and comfortable. The breakfast was nice, apart from being what I consider to be over priced at £10 each, especially when some of our toast was found to be mouldy. I would stay here again as it is in a convenient location for visiting family.

I attended a wedding at the Royal Chase which was amazing. For every part of the weekend, wedding, eating and drinking, the staff were always willing to help and just so friendly. Would definitely recommend to others.

The wedding venue was amazing everything was well.organised and the staff were brilliant the food was 5 star Michelin quality right from.breakfast to evening meals highly recommended my room was tide clean and even though it was hot had a fan in each room

From the minute we booked our wedding, Rosie has been fantastic and accommodating. Arriving on Friday we checked into our room. It was spotless. Some of my guests also arrived the Friday and we booked a table for our evening meal. The service and the food was lovely. I had steak and it was cooked to perfection. Saturday morning we went to breakfast and I believe the waiter/waitress's had never done the breakfast shift before, but you wouldn't of known. They did an amazing job!!! Once I started getting ready house keeping came in and changed the bed and towels and asked if I needed anything. I asked if it was possible to have a fan in the room and it was brought in within minutes. Sam the manger was also fantastic and kept going out of her way for me and my guests. The meal was top quality and above our expectations, everyone seemed to enjoy it and I did notice lots of empty plates. My flowers were also taken to my room and put in vases and all my gifts/cards at the end of the night so I didn't have to lift a finger. (Even though I like to tidy up). Our wedding day was perfect and just how I imagined it would be. Thank you to each and every member of the Royal Chase team for making our special day perfect. Love Sarah and Tim Rumble

That staff at this hotel were exceptional especially the gentleman who served our breakfast, didn't know anyone could be so helpful and jolly at that time of the morning. The rooms were comfortable and the food good.

Stayed at this hotel for 2 nights, over a weekend. We were informed of a function taking place, which at this time of year July is not unusual. My husband and I had a warm welcome and were given all the relevant information. The room was basic with the usual commodities, tea, coffee making facilities, hairdryer etc. Unfortunately we found the door handle to the bathroom had a red sticky substance on it. The mugs for the tea/coffee were not washed properly so I needed to wash them again. We reported the dirty handle to reception on our way out, so when we returned it had been cleaned. The bathroom itself is in need of refurbishment as it was shabby and not in the cleanest condition. On Saturday morning at 9.30 we had a knock on our door from housekeeping asking if we needed anything? Apparently staff had phoned in sick so they had minimal staff to clean the rooms. We felt obliged to vacate our room quickly in order to get our room cleaned. Not ideal! I do not think this is a hotel to recommend, as I have stayed in a better basic, cheaper chain of hotels in the past.

I stayed here for 2 nights for a wedding at the start of July and honestly I wouldn't stay here again. The fact it had a super large bed was nice, that is the only positive really. The Internet didn't work in my room so I used a lot of my own 3G making arrangements with the wedding party etc. The bed was super soft and uncomfortable and I assume very old like everything else in the room. Everything was very beige and needs updating. The curtains look like something from Alan Partridge - all floral and 80s looking. The shower was arguably the worst I have ever used - either boiling or freezing and no in between and the lightest dribble of water came out with no power at all. The worst part about the bathroom was that the door didn't close. I did email to complain about this afterwards as it was incredibly awkward but I got an email reply stating it was simply "a bit stiff". It wasn't stiff - it ran on the carpet from the room outside as it was so misaligned. No one asked me at check out how my stay was, and since complaining I haven't even been offered so much as 10% off my next stay, not that I'll be staying again.

Good rooms, lovely pool & sauna. Wonderful restaurant, great selection on menu. 5 star breakfast, one of the finest breakfasts I've eaten anywhere in the world! Utilising quality local produce, huge choice of pastries, fruits & cereal. Very impressed! Look forward to returning again next year!

5 night stay at this hotel and our experience was good. Our rooms were fine, although quite warm but kept clean and overall very comfortable. The staff were also very friendly but breakfasts did take overlong to serve....but the dining room was never full. Reasonable choices on the menu and enough of a choice of breads, fruit, yoghurts self service. We were made to feel welcome, there is sufficient car parking spaces and immediate access to main road and not too far from town centre. Overall good experience but maybe a bit quicker in preparing and serving breakfasts. We will return to this hotel during our next trip to Dorset.

Disappointing: Reception staff inexperienced, overcharged because of bar staff bill errors, room clean but stained carpet, no air con and window would not open. "Well we would have given you a fan if you'd asked" said Receptionist! Pool clean but narrow and small. They are allegedly "refurbishing" but I only saw repainting and very dated furniture. Friendly service for good quality breakfast and dinner but incredibly slow

We spent four nights here on a group holiday. Our room was pleasantly decorated with all necessary facilities, including a generous supply of milk, biscuits and toiletries. The shower was easy to use, which isn't the case in all hotels, and the bath was not too high for easy stepping in and out. The staff in Reception and the restaurant and also the cleaning staff were all very friendly and helpful. We had a power cut one night caused by overhead lightning and the staff managed very well. As they couldn't provide a hot meal, they soon rustled up a buffet. The food was generally very good and hot with a wide choice. We would stay here again if in the area. It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk into the middle of Shaftesbury to see the lovely Gold Hill.

Very friendly staff, clean comfortable hotel, has got swimming pool Would use again, even though it is on a roundabout! Bit dated with the decor, and rooms were rather on the warm side, could not open windows fully. Restaurant had nice white table cloths, a real treat these days

Stayed here for one night in a superior suite. Was pleasantly surprised by how lovely the newly decorated room was, loads of space and lots of extras such as fruit bowl, bottled water, dressing gown and slippers. Bathroom very modern with separate bath and shower. Breakfast was delicious with large continental selection and freshly cooked full English. Coffee was excellent.

We stayed at this hotel as part of a coach party of 31 visiting gardens in Dorset for two nights last week. We found the hotel very accommodating; the staff were all very kind and helpful. The rooms were clean and comfortable. It was hot weather and those staying in first floor rooms above the front of the hotel suffered from being too hot. Apparently the hot water supply there also heats the radiators. The building's listed status makes it difficult to change this. But fans were provided to guests in those rooms. We had breakfast and dinner at the hotel and once again found the food very acceptable for a 3* hotel. Compliments to the chef(s). The water in the swimming pool was a bit too warm for a proper swim, but was very relaxing. Coach access was a bit problematical using the the access marked entrance. In fact the other unmarked access proved much easier. A number of us had some problems accessing the free wi-fi, whilst others had no problems. But the staff were very helpful in sorting it out. Some of our group did manage to get into Shaftesbury, but we didn't manage it. Another time perhaps? I would definitely recommend this hotel for group visits.

Our first experience of Best Western and not a good 'advert' for the group. Not very inspiring/friendly reception, very narrow staircase to get upstairs and difficult to carry suitcases. Room was a good size and the beds nice and comfortable. The upstairs passages had some fans on the floor going full blast because of the warm weather. Rooms have no aircon. which we, as visitors to the UK, have difficulty accepting for the prices being charged. Bedroom was too warm for us. Ordered a morning paper (sat.) of which only a part was delivered. Although reception deducted the cost from our bill we were given the impression that our honesty was in doubt. Quite adequate breakfast with pleasant staff. Nice to be waited on at table.

Nice hotel within walking distance of Shaftesbury town centre. Deluxe room was well appointed though suffered from being located right over the entrance to the hotel. This wouldn't so bad if it weren't for the fact that people tend to spill out of the bar into the courtyard outside making it very noisy in the evening. Didn't try the restaurant.

Nice hotel with a lovely pool. Staff were friendly and polite. Hotel was clean and the room was large. The hotel were good enough to let me know in advance that a wedding would be taking place there on the Saturday night, but as I was attending a wedding in another location on the same night it didn't affect my stay. Adequate parking and a nice quiet town. Near to Stonehenge but you would definitely need a car.

For the price we paid for a night in the hotel for two people, the quality of the hotel was not to a good standard. We were greeted by an 'unhappy' receptionist who required a large amount of persuasion from ourselves to assist us in booking a cab to take to us to a wedding. Her words were 'Doubt you will get a taxi with lots of weddings', she was obviously psychic. We got to our room to find our door wedged open and a 'Wet Paint' sign on the door. A workman who was working hard and doing a good job of repainting all the doors informed us that the rooms were not ready (Even though the receptionist told us they were). The rooms were very spacious and the beds were very comfortable. The bathroom needed updating. If you think the pool is for just hotel guests, think again as members of the public pay to come and use it, therefore never a nice relaxing dip, just a constant avoidance of children. Not much needs to change to bump this hotel up to a great stay.

We stayed for 2 nights last week. Its approach from the large busy roundabout looks like a Hotel in need of a paint job, however the inside was being refurbished, so maybe on the way. The reception was very helpful and our room very large, could have done with a mini bar though. The restaurant menu is very staid and not particulary adventurous. Only fish was Battered cod and looked massive, (far to much) only chicken was hot nashville spicy chicken. usual steaks etc, my steak was very good but the menu needs livening up. there were only two other tables occupied so it seemed a little bleak. Breakfast was very poor, on the buffet there was a few cereals and yoghurt plus 3 nearly empty containers of juice. The breakfast menu was Ok the cold meats an local cheese was fine. the bread served was just a slice of white bloomer. The most outrageous thing was that a full english breakfast cost en EXTRA £10. The Hotel advertises as breakfast included, so charging this amount for, a sausage, egg, bacon etc. is not a way to do business. I would say the constituent parts of cold meats and cheese would have cost the hotel more than a fried one to produce. Also at about 6.30 pm on wednesday it sounded like Fat boy slim was having a party directly under our room. The whole room vibrated, it turned out to be a keep fit class in the conference room underneath. It strikes me that this hotel doesnt know whether its a private hotel or a leisure centre as the swimming pool was also open to the public.!!!! All in all not the best hotel in the world, nor the best hotel in shafsbury!

There was a wedding taking place the weekend we stayed - but this posed absolutely no problems for us. Convenient for the lovely town of Shaftesbury. No complaints about service or breakfast. The room was comfortable but a bit pokey.

From the time we arrived the staff were friendly, helpful, and hospitable. The room was clean with good facilities although as the weather was very warm a mini-fridge would have been a bonus for liquids. On request, I was supplied with a fan to cool the room. The bed was very comfortable. The breakfasts and dinner were very good - generous, varied, nicely-cooked and on hot plates (not so everywhere) and the waiting staff were excellent. The location of the hotel is very convenient and accessible to Shaftesbury and other locations. The helpfulness of the staff was the best experience, and being unable to open the lower half of the south-facing bedroom window was the most negative thing for me.

Our room was lovely and very clean and comfortable. The breakfasts were very good and had many different choices. Service in the restaurant was really good, we would particularly like to mention Shaney, who definitely goes above and beyond with her customer care. One or two downsides I'm afraid - when we last visited the hotel (6 months ago) the wifi was brilliant, this time we were told of a new server that we may have to download cloud.but we were unable to use the Internet for the entire stay ( not really a problem for us but I would not be best pleased had I been working!) also I'm afraid we were a little disappointed with the quality of the food in the restaurant in the evening. The menu is limited in that it is set and there were no specials on , my husbands fish on the first night was not good at all.

only stayed 1 night but wish we could have stayed longer. the room was lovely and large, clean up to date, and far exceeded our expectations. we also used the restaurant for dinner. the menu had a few nice twists and portions were large. But more importantly, Extremely tasty. The only downside was the position of the towel rail in the bathroom which was far too close to the sink and could burn bare skin.

The room was excellent and very comfortable. Breakfast was also lovely with very fine and varied choice. The ambience of the bar could have been improved by the absence of television or background music otherwise great.

Good location, clean friendly hotel. Hotel pre warned us upon booking of wedding on the weekend of our visit. They advised us our room was in a quiet place, we did hear anything. Thank you. Surprisingly good meal in the restaurant Sunday evening, my husband and I had the Spanish lamb, it was excellent! Fantastic customer service from Shaney a little star!

This hotel offers an excellent choice of breakfast foods, all hot items being cooked to order, and then brought to your table. Also, hot drinks were brought to your table. What a treat. All too often, even in far more expensive hotels, one has to serve oneself to all food from a buffet arrangement, and then queue at the hot drinks machines. All this in order to give us, the paying customer , more "choice", ie to save the hotel money on staffing costs. I have to serve myself all the time at home, so when I am away, I want to have food placed in front of me! Regarding the selection of foods on offer, to my delight, my favourite breakfast was on offer- porridge and haddock. Not to everyone's taste, but certainly to mine. Along with the very strong, very hot black coffee, a very good start to the day. There was also a very good selection of other hot foods, cereals, fruit, pastries, breads,yogurt. Staff- friendly and helpful. Parking- fine, but I imagine it could be a little crowded during busy periods. Rooms- comfortable, but decor and furnishings a little dated. My bed was extremely comfortable. Shower room- recently refurbished. One complaint- please upgrade your lavatory paper, not something to economise on! For the price, excellent vaue for money. A medium sized hotel with a swimming pool in a beautiful part of the country.

We stayed one night to attend a local wedding reception. We found the staff helpful, food good (had dinner and breakfast), room clean and water pressure in the shower was excellent. We also used the pool twice which was nice. The bed was extremely comfortable and pillows very good. For the price we paid (£73 for a family room B&B) I had not had very high expectations and was very pleasantly surprised by how good everything was. I would definitely recommend this hotel.

I stayed in Room 3, which has a plaque on the door proclaiming it the Mulberry Room or something. When I asked the receptionist why my room had a name, but none of the others did, she told me it's because it's a deluxe room. "Really?", I said, trying not to sound amazed. The room has recently been refurbished, apparently. Unfortunately, it's looks like somebody has looked at a few pictures of boutique hotels online and tried to do something similar with stuff they found at a boot sale and the remaindered section at B&Q. The white plastic kettle and 1980s LCD clock/radio are giveaways: this is a basic B&B with a fancy frock on. On the plus side: the building itself is quite lovely (from the outside), the staff are friendly enough, and it's not overly expensive. Oh, and I couldn't get the shower to turn off. It's one of those tab/shower fitting combos, and is obviously getting on a bit. One of the maids told me that you need to use a towel to get a better grip on the valve and give it proper welly. "They've been meaning to fix that for a while...." she said. Which pretty much sums the place up.

I have called into this hotel on several occasions for sandwiches & coffee en route to the south coast and have been served by an attentive & pleasant male waiter on each occasion. Not so today. At 1120 we drove up just as a coach party was departing. We searched out a waitress and asked if we could order refreshments to be told that the kitchen was closed and would open between 12.00 and 1400. They had no refreshments and were unable (and quite obviously had no inclination) to make sandwiches for the three of us. Nil service for passing customers, nor presumably, for hotel guests. Worthwhile bearing in mind; these are hours akin to a pub rather than a hotel. Disappointing.

We stayed here for one night. Arrived at 5:30 in the evening. Quick, fuss-free check in. After leaving our bags in our room & 'freshening up' we went straight to dinner. Next morning had a swim before a filling breakfast. - All staff we met were very friendly & helpful - Everything we needed was on site & close to our room - very convenient: restaurant for evening meal (from 6pm) & breakfast, library/reading room to borrow a few books for bedtime reading, swimming pool for 8am swim before breakfast - The food at dinner was good quality & good value - Lots of choices for breakfast, again very tasty. The cooked breakfast was very good, notably the scrambled eggs, sausage & mushroom, & very good (mini) croissants. - Clean room (on 1st floor). Not huge, but adequate.

Enjoyed an overnight stay,friendly staff.nice simple good size room,the bathroom needs updating!.nice an clean had a good nights sleep room was lovely an warm . Breakfast was plenty,an cooked well,pool an sauna is a bonus.

We visited this hotel back in August 2015, and came to visit again in March. It remains a thoroughly decent hotel, with friendly and helpful staff. Still a little frayed around the edges. Still too many locals using the swimming pool. But overall a good experience, with clean, comfortable rooms at a decent price. We would certainly use the hotel again.

All staff made us feel very welcomed. Superior room was outstanding, and well worth the extra. The menu choice was really good. The hotel is ideally situated for exploring Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. A walk up Gold Hill is as good as any cardiovascular workout.

Two of us stopped here as we were working in the local area. Rooms were of good quality and the beds were lovely and comfortable. Evening food was decent and the breakfast on the morning was superb, overall not a bad stay at all and would return again.

My wife and I stayed here for a friends party. Parking was difficult, but managed to find a space in the muddy areas. Booked in okay, room was okay, however when we came to use the shower, well ridiculous is the word. It looked like it had been recently installed and looked very modern, however there is little to no pressure in that the shower head just about dribbles water, when you transferred to the hand held unit you manage to get a small amount of water . We did inform the woman at reception but being a Saturday she looked rather bewildered at what to do. Having spoke to other guests they also experienced similar problems, so why oh why is it that a hotel chain as big a Best Western can install new shower units but fail to ensure there is sufficient pressure to make them work. Having decided to have and pay for one of the better rooms it felt rather disappointing to have such bad showers Also , other areas that the management might want to look at, At 0600 hrs the radiators start to knock as the hot water enters them( rather annoying at that time of the day). Lastly you may want to look at the breakfast as who ever buys the bacon should get better quality and also ask the cook/chef to actually cook it not give it 2 mins in the microwave. .

Freindly staff and the guy who was around at 6.50am did all he could to keep me happy after I was surprised breakfast dose not start until 7.30am by making me a coffee and some toast. The receptionist never told me anything about the on site pool and the rooms are very dated and need a makeover urgently

We held a party for my fathers 90th birthday, and have nothing but praise for the organisation and staff on the day and before. All our requirements were catered for and it was enjoyed by everyone and of course the main man. Staying in the hotel for the night allowed us to remain for the evening and the rooms were very good clean and comfortable. Breakfast was good and made a fitting end to the party weekend.

We had a very relaxing stay at this hotel. Is in a great location for visiting Shaftesbury and surrounding areas. Easy parking right outside, and receptionist extremely helpful....in fact all staff were friendly, helpful and looked smart. My husband liked the beer in the bar which is very nice to relax in. Food was excellent, reasonably priced and good size portions. Can recommend the fish and chips, cheeseboard and house red wine. Likewise breakfast spot on, so nice to have it freshly cooked to order. Room was nice very clean with plenty of hot water for showers and baths. Will be returning.

Good location for visiting Shaftesbury only a short walk into town, the hotel is well presented, room was clean and well presented, we were disappointed with the breakfast arrangements, waited to be seated for 3-4 minutes, there were tables which had not been cleared, no Orange juice available,,so decided to forget breakfast and check out, would stay here again though but would of expected the service to of been better.

We reserved 2 rooms for 4 adults for a special birthday treat with breakfast and dinner included, on arrival we were a little disappointed with location (directly on a roundabout) and exterior, (a little shabby), we were greeted by very friendly and helpful staff, 1 room on the ground floor was basic and the other on the 1st floor was very nice although the bath took 20 min to fill and had a very poor strength shower, the water also was just hot enough. Dinner on the 1st night we were greeted and served by friendly staff, the food was nothing special but Ok, although not very busy the wait between courses was very slow. Dinner on the 2nd night we were 1st to arrive in the restaurant and ordered our starters and main course, the 2 prawn cocktails were bland, no sauce and looked different, (not recommended), although the soup was good, our mains of steak, home made burger and 2 x beer battered cod took ages to arrive, the steak was very good, the burger was acceptable but the fish and chips were very bad, the batter and fish was under cooked and we did not eat, the homemade chips served with all courses were great the 1st night but tasted as though they were reheated on the 2nd night, they were hard and not nice, we all left them, when we told the waitress our dislikes she said she would pass the information to the chef, we were not offered another meal nor did we receive an apology. Breakfast for both days was fine if you want continental style, but for a 'full english' go elsewhere, the bacon is tasteless and the eggs whether poached or fried were served hard, in all we wish we had not booked the inclusive food deal, if we had been in a different restaurant we would not have paid for the breakfast or the 2nd nights dinner. Swimming pool is small but nice and warm but can get busy as it is open to non residents too.

Excellent Value booking direct using BW website and BW membership scheme Easy to find, ample (free) parking,Free Wi-Fi that works throughout the hotel My room was very comfortable, spotlessly clean and thankfully had an equally clean bathroom (as opposed to a Shower Cubicle) As the Hotel's Leisure Centre shares it's reception with Guest this could cause delays but this is a minor inconvenience Hotel Bar area is rather more "functional" than relaxing with tables etc arranged in a uniform manner which is probably very efficient but does not promote a relaxing drink(appreciate this a personal opinion ) Entertained guests to dinner, again, restaraunt is functional rather than welcoming, food was acceptable rather than exciting but certainly nothing to complain about. Check-out was the only minor issue (hotel had three attempts at presenting my bill before we arrived at a conclusion) Again, a minor issue, In short would not hesitate to use again but would probably choose to eat out?

friendly, clean hotel with decent sized pool, décor interior/exterior a bit tired. overall good stay. Staff friendly & helpful Food excellent, short walk into Shaftsbury. Although we did not have Sunday roast, appeared very popular & busy with locals.

In great need of refurbishment, extremely dated. Staff ok, however over priced meals and sad, tired decor. I have stayed in lighter, brighter, cheaper budget hotels half the price of this one. Did not see any sign of a lift, during my stay but saw an elderly couple struggling with the stairs.

I have to admit to being a little concerned reading a review just before our visit in January, but I can only assume that the "shooting party" had unrealistic expectations or were extremely unlucky. Our stay could not have been any better. The staff were all very pleasant and helpful, the hotel had a good selection of food and drinks on offer and breakfast was excellent. We also made use of the pool and sauna which was very good. I would have no hesitancy in recommending this hotel to anyone wanting to stay in or around the area.

All the staff I encountered were smart, attentive, helpful and friendly. The decor in the room I occupied was tired and in need of redecoration. I thought a little more attention could have been given to the cleaning. The interior of the wardrobe was dusty and the tiles in the bathroom were grubby. I slept well as the bed was comfortable and there was no noise at all. Wifi worked well. Breakfasts and Evening meals were very good. The swimming pool and sauna were a real bonus. Overall, I had a most enjoyable stay and will definitely return if in the area. Excellent value for money!

I personally organised a days game shooting close to Shaftsbury as I do most years but was unable to get accommodation at my usual hotel in the town for my 9 guests due to the hotel being booked for a private function over the weekend. I booked the Royal chase through booking.com, I was contacted by the hotel quite quickly to inform me that there maybe noise from their functions currently booked, at this point I asked if we had access to a communal bar for us all to meet in and if they had any type of gun safe on the premise, I was informed yes there was a communal bar and that regretfully they had no safe.... this not a problem as we were all in possession of our own shot gun certificates and that we would take our own precautions to their safe keeping. My guests arrived prior to myself and were informed that we were not permitted to enter the building with the shot guns, please note they were safely carried and secured in there appropriate cases as they by law should be carried. My guests had to educate the staff on reception to the required responsibility of their luggage. During the stay we were all made feel VERY unwelcome as a shooting party, due to their lack of knowledge and understanding of the laws and process required to even obtain and own a shot gun never mind to carry one in public. As a group we enjoyed the bar area of the hotel along with the restaurant with actually good food from the kitchen, however we were evicted from the bar and lovely warm fire during our afternoon drinks to enable the hotel staff to greet a wedding party, this I was extremely upset at as again we were made to feel unwelcome and uncomfortable, this was not informed to me on my booking. I clearly made my dissatisfaction to the manager as I checked out and paid quite a large bill, to which I received an argument from the lady demanding that she have her argument put across to me ! To finalise, I would certainly never stay at this establishment again and would highly recommend any group to look elsewhere. The staff are quite rude, untrained to work in the industry that they are choosing to work in and certainly need training for the service industry !! The hotel group should have at least a manager to be familiar with shot gun / firearms laws being positioned in the countryside within the centre of a great shooting area. Very unimpressed.

The noise levels from the disco are just not acceptable for paying guests. Very poor attitude to customer service from the majority of the staff . Would never stay here again. Best Western you seriously need to train your staff in how to handle customers.

We held a 70th birthday lunch for 30 people. It was excellent we had a room to ourselves, next to the library. The staff were excellent throughout our visit, from front of house, bar and the waiter service was excellent. Nothing was to much trouble. The food was served hot and enough for all. We had the room extended for after dinner coffees, teas etc and it was great venue.

We arrived from Manchester on Friday 11th December, so after a 6 hour journey we were glad to get to the Hotel. On arrival, there was nowhere to park. We had to leave the car in the middle of the car park and were advised by Reception this would be ok. Half an hour later, after my partner had gone out with the keys, they asked me to move the car. The food I ordered to the room was disgusting, pretty much inedible. The breakfast we ordered the next morning was also disgusting. Poor quality and tasted old. I would on the other hand highly recommend The Grosvenor Arms in the Village, a little more expensive but there is plenty of parking and nice food. Don't stay here, unless you really have too.

Friendly and helpful staff, excellent breakfast, comfortable room. Very quiet bedroom despite Christmas party and a wedding in the hotel during our stay. Large, clean room, plenty warm enough and plenty of hot water. Décor slightly out dated.

Well positioned in relation to Shaftesbury, friendly staff and very happy with character and style of the hotel. Only critical comment made to reception was that the carpet had not been hovered under and behind the bed (lovely bed by the way!) and the power shower was too powerful for the showerhead, resulting in a lot of fun trying to stop water from getting out onto the bathroom floor. But overall we thought the hotel was lovely and excellent value for money.

We stayed in room 15, I would not recommend it as you get the noise from the kitchen extract system and staff early in the mornings. The weather turned cold and the radiator did not work, the room got very cold, I also pointed out that the rooms could do with a better clean as there were cobwebs on the light and disused soap was left in the shower. The staff were great however they cannot may up for the down sides, the hotel is undergoing a refurbishment but not enough money is being spent so it still looks old and tired.

We stayed here on a deal after staying here in 2013. This time we took our little dog which was fine. They have two dog rooms which are ok (we had room 15) but I wouldn't want to stay for too long as the room was quite small and there was an air-conditioning unit outside the bathroom window. Having said that, it is nice to see a hotel offering accommodation for dogs. The breakfast was excellent and the staff were friendly and helpful.

This was our first experience at a Best Western and unfortunately I was quite disappointed. The hotel itself looked lovely from the outside - quite grand looking but on the inside it was very different. Whilst I cannot complain about the cleanliness of the hotel or the polite staff the hotel itself was very dated in décor and for want of a better word - bland. The hotel has a pool which we thought was good as we like to have a relaxing swim in the afternoons. We arrived back to the hotel after a hectic Saturday driving around the countryside and visiting little towns and made our way down to the pool. When we got in the water was quite cold and where there looked to have been maybe a sauna or jacuzzi I'm not sure was just a bit of a plastered wall and some metal fencing which made the whole place look awful and really run down. The pool could have definitely benefited from being warmer - maybe some nice green plants and some loungers around the pool all would have helped to make this place look more up-market! We were also disappointed with the breakfast, on Saturday morning we asked for the smoked salmon and scrambled egg only to be told that they had no salmon - OK fair enough if they had run out then that was that but to not bother to get any for the next day when they could have popped to Tesco's up the road to ensure they had some for their guests I thought was not good customer service. We did complain when checking out on the Sunday morning and the receptionist agreed that it was not acceptable especially as it is offered on their menu but that was all we got - an apology. Had we of paid around the £60-65 a night mark for this hotel in its current condition I think that we would have accepted its short comings but the fact that we paid £85 per night I do not and would not stay here again or recommend it to anyone whilst it remains in this way. Hotel chains have their flag ship hotels and this is clearly not one of Best Westerns and it definitely needs money spending on it to bring it up to a much better standard and to make it worth the money charged to stay there.

First off I like to start with the good, the staff were great, helpful, attentive and friendly also the car parking was ample. Now to the room, on arrival the window was open which in November made the room cold and it also allowed for 5 ladybirds to find there way on the net curtains but after shutting the window and disposing of the bugs all was ok. The bed was very comfortable, the TVs had a good selection of channels and tea and coffee facilities was acceptable. The bathroom looked liked it had not long been decorated and was very clean, however, being a man it was awkward for me to stand up for a wee due to a glass shelf which was in the way so had to stand at an angle. The shower pressure was a joke and the water was warm not hot warm. I must say that this might be me being picky as my partner didn't think it was as bad as I'm making sound, it was a 1night stop over so didn't expect 5 star luxury but....

Two night stay, Friday & Saturday B&B. Staff very attentive. Clean room. Breakfast hot and quick despite a lot of guests. Room was very clean and everything worked. We were warned that there would be a late function on the Saturday night but we never heard a thing from the event or the other guests. Use of the bar during the event was not a problem as there were enough hard working staff who even took my drinks out to the garden for me.

The pool is freezing and the poolside facilities poor. Bathrooms need updating but rooms were clean and comfortable and the staff friendly enough. Nothing stood out as great, hence the average rating.

My husband and I booked this hotel not completely knowing how close we would be to Shaftsbury centre , we were attending a family wedding in the centre . Good sized car park, which is a bonus in Shaftsbury, check in was quick , receptionist helpful and friendly . We booked well in advance for a double room with breakfast. I was disappointed with room size, very small in comparison to other rooms for the same price, never have understood how they can charge the same for an inferior room. However, good complimentary refreshments and toiletries. Very noisy shower but water nice and hot. Food very good with plenty of choice and the breakfast was excellent. All the staff were very friendly. We stayed in a central hotel in Shaftsbury back in March and found that to be very pricey for the meals and drinks. The Royal Chase was just a pleasant 10 minute walk away and would definitely be the hotel of choice for a future stay .

The hotel is on the edge of town around 15 minutes walk to the high street. The rooms are a good size but not well loved. There were cobwebs and a broken bed wheel in our room. Basic tea and coffee making bits and a good tv. Bathroom ok with ok shower. Again just a bit tatty. The pool was very chemically and the sauna broken. Me and my son both came out of the pool with red skin from the chlorine. Breakfast was good with ample range. When asking to leave the tomato off my wife's breakfast we were told 'just leave it'. Service was efficient but without a smile. I wouldn't rush back here.

From the parking to the reception everything is agreeable with this middle of the road hotel which boasts a swimming pool yet I'm quickly alerted to the out of action steam room as advertised at the reception desk. The staff are friendly and concise and I was directed to my room, room 12, on this occasion. A clean room and along with the corridors felt newly decorated to a good standard yet lacked any real style. Arriving late after work caused concern as the bar area was shut down. However a ring of a bell at the reception desk prompted a swift appearance from the night porter who served us happily into the small hours. I found the bed very comfortable with a quilt that wrapped me up a treat like it was feathers, though I'm not sure it was. The shower in this room was awful the trickle of water was a good temperature but not enough power. No bath here didn't concern me though many folk like one so take note that there's no alternative. Breakfast was poor on the continental side without much real choice. As far as the cooked breakfast is concerned the menu indicates that there is an extra charge and it feels slightly like a deterrent. So braving the question I asked for two poached eggs on brown toast. They were delicious and cooked to perfection without any questions regarding the extra payment. I didn't try the pool though it looked small and was perhaps a token to elevate this Best Western's 'star rating'. I'm sure you'd find prettier places to stay in this stunning landscape though as a business style hotel I'm sure it'd accommodate your needs with a few conference rooms to boast of and attentive staff.

I stayed at this hotel for 2 nights in September 2015 while working in the area. The building looks attractive when you arrive, but the reception area is not obvious and the entrance hall looks a bit cheap and drab. I had to stand and wait for ages to check in as the receptionist was dealing with another couple, did not acknowledge that I was there and seemed unaware that I was standing right in front of her. I was finally given a key to my room, but after locating it along a long corridor, I found that none of the electrics in the room were working and none of the lights would switch on (including the bathroom light). I returned to reception to query this, and the receptionist was very sceptical but accompanied me back to the room to try the lights for herself. Realising that I was right, and the lights really were not working, she said that they would have to get an electrician in, and she then returned downstairs to get a key to another room. I was finally settled in to a small room overlooking a rear car park, with a spotlessly clean bathroom (although AGAIN the bathroom over-mirror light was not working, and although I reported this to reception as well, it was not fixed during the two days that I stayed there). Breakfast was unappealing with very slow service, bad coffee, and jam and marmalade in strange little miniature Kilner jars which were sticky all over the outside and were obviously topped up every day without being washed. As there was almost nothing I wanted to eat at breakfast, on the second morning I brought my own breakfast. I avoided evening meals at the hotel as the menu looked equally unappetising. On the plus side, the indoor pool is great for relaxing (or doing laps if you feel energetic), the bed was very comfortable and the wifi in the rooms works well. Overall I would not stay here again unless there was no other option. The staff are not very attentive and the food leaves a great deal of room for improvement.

The staff were very helpful throughout the hotel and throughout our stay. The hotel was clean and tidy, amenities we good. Menu was great, a good range to choose from both for breakfast and supper and the food was very nice. The bar was well stocked although it would have been nice to have a little bit more beer choice to choose from.

Excellent (recently renovated) room and bathroom - shame about the lack of water pressure for the shower Good choice of food in the restaurant, which was well presented and very tasty Service in the bar was hit and miss, as the hotel could do with more staff (in all areas). However all the staff were very friendly and helpful

We booked this hotel for a few days relaxing in Dorset on the basis that it was Charming and Quiet. Charming? - Maybe: the location is certainly good and the building would have been elegant in its day but is now in need of a fair bit of investment. Quiet? - Probably, most of the time, but not when there is a wedding party! We were fortunate that our room was away from the bar/reception area but we could not use the bar, tv or shared areas as it was noisy until late. Breakfast on the Sunday was shambolic as there were insufficient staff to cope with the numbers. On the plus side, the breakfasts were excellent, the staff were very friendly and the pool was relaxing (although the steam room was out of order). We would probably stay here again but I would first check whether there was a wedding party.

The hotel is clean and quiet, the staff are friendly and helpful. The breakfast was nice with plenty of choice, I would stay there again as very pleased with everything. The hotel is situated on a roundabout very handy for visiting most areas.

Great room - particularly large and airy in older part of hotel. Interesting and tasty food, very well presented. Has its own leisure pool to help unwind after a days work. Within easy walking distance of Shaftesbury town centre with the Abbey gardens and Golden Hill {famous from the Hovis adverts)