⭐ 1/5 – Very Unwelcoming Experience
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed with our stay at Brooklands Hotel.
From the moment we arrived, the man at reception made us feel extremely unwelcome. There was no friendly greeting, no warmth and no effort to make us feel comfortable. One of the first things he asked was whether I had made sure I hadn’t accidentally booked Brooklands Lodge instead of Brooklands Hotel. His whole manner felt very offish and immediately made me feel uncomfortable rather than welcomed as a paying guest.
I was travelling alone with my young daughter, luggage and bags, and we were given Room 10 right at the top of the hotel. There is no lift and it involved climbing around five or six sets of stairs. Despite seeing me trying to manage a small child and all of our belongings by myself, he didn’t offer to help with a single bag.
I don’t expect special treatment, but basic hospitality and a little kindness would have made a huge difference. When you’re running a hotel, how you make guests feel when they arrive is such an important part of the experience, and unfortunately I felt like we were an inconvenience rather than guests.
When we eventually got to the room, there was a noticeable musty smell, so we immediately had to open the window. During the night we could also hear repeated banging and noise from the room opposite us and from below, which made the stay even less comfortable.
The location is convenient for Bournemouth beach and the town centr