The Dorset

Friendly, clean, professional . Staff polite. Staff helpful

Busy pub, limited menu, good access on foot to town centre, a large pay and display parking lot over the road, also on-street parking (difficult). Parking lot has disabled places, with other spaces charged on a pay and display basis. We had contacted The Dorset for advice regarding parking, specifically the availability of nearby blue badge permit parking. We received one line that 'the last time they looked there was parking'. Rooms are upstairs, our room as far away as possible, off a small dark hall. Motion-triggered lighting, albeit delayed, in other hall and corridors. I am surprised Health & Safety did not require a stair handrail to be fitted to stairs en route. Our room was small but adequate, a low, small double bed being the only place to sit. The furniture, of inferior quality, not durable, the rail inside the wardrobe, with a motley array of coat-hangers, detaches very easily. One low-wattage bulb in a low and small lamp on the cabinet on the far side of the bed. Tea/coffee was provided, also biscuits. bottled water and a kettle (not empty). The Lazza coffee maker is slightly incongruous, taking up, along with the small tv, most of a small desk. We put the machine underneath. Our view was an adjacent part of the building. The curtains, one of which was inside out, were kept closed by securing the bottom window on the hem.Heating was inadequate, the windows and the door both need insulation. Bathroom has all basics but no towel rail.Hand towels and bath mat, had to be draped on a small radiator by the w.c. Bath towels were not replaced, nowhere to hang or dry them. The basin was big and deep. It would be useful to have a plug. There was no plug at all, merely a hole into the unknown. The shower worked adequately, despite the broken hose. Drain was blocked, water drained extremely slowly, flood threatened. Hook was missing from bathroom door. Upon arrival, we said we would be eating in the pub that evening but we went downstairs at 7pm to be told the kitchen was closed for a private party. Self-service continental breakfast was adequate - choice of cereal, croissants, blueberry muffins, jam, various teas, orange juice, yoghurts, fruit (pear, clementine, one apple). We were the first down and the random, inadequate supply of cutlery (two cereal spoons, one knife,16 large forks and teaspoons), was unwelcoming, as was an almost empty milk jug. We were greeted pleasantly but immediately asked if we wanted toast. Very nice toasted bread it was, too but should be offered during the cereal course. Pats of butter supplied with the toast were enough, just, for the toast but none for either a croissant or a muffin. No offers of more toast. Choice of jams was limited, most being packets of blackcurrant or raspberry, two packets of marmite, several of strawberry and two packets of thin-shred marmalade. That was morning 1. Morning 2, the choice was diminished by the previous day's consumption so no marmalade at all. Had we been staying longer, by day 4 we would have been down to a couple of packets of blackcurrant jam only. Our second morning was Saturday. The notice in our room said weekend breakfast was served 8.30-10.00; we marked time in our room, at the appointed hour going down, to be told that the room notice was incorrect, should have been replaced a couple of weeks ago, with breakfast 9.00-10.00. The breakfast girl was pleasantly apologetic, if off-hand, and eventually, breakfast was put out. This hotel is badly let down by its lack of attention to detail. It is clean, safe, the staff pleasant, but off-hand, not customer-oriented, room guests feel unwelcome. The rooms are all above the public areas, noisy during opening times but quiet when bar is closed. Our stay was okay but the lack of attention to detail/maintenance was irritating, distracting from what was to have been a relaxed visit. If there was a viable alternative, we would not stay there again..