Premier Inn Bournemouth Westbourne Hotel

Food was fantastic and saff very friendly and helpful.

This was a treat for my daughter's birthday whilst also seeing friends who had moved down to the county. The hotel was clean and comfortable with the cooked breakfast and continental breakfast being a great start to the day. Due to a lack of staff in the hotel (and therefore at reception), it took longer at reception, and I only just managed to get back to the car to move it out of the 10 minute drop-off bay before having to move it as we had no plans to pay for the car park as side streets are free (or have 2 hours parking 8am-6pm).

We used to look forward to staying in Premier Inn but it is becoming clear from our last two hotel stays including this one that they are cutting corners and having to ask (yet again) for another set of towels having booked a double room is symptomatic of their cost cutting approach that now seems to be the business plan. The quality of the breakfast has declined markedly with far narrower choice than was the case just a few years ago, and a rather haphazard attitude from staff - for example one of the two bean to cup coffee machines had run out of beans but I saw staff walk right past this (and customers queuing to use the working one) on half a dozen occasions until I felt I had to bring this to their attention. The person who then proceeded to fill the empty coffee bean receptacle on the out of order machine didn't even look at the machine right next to it that was down to practically the last cup's worth when it would have been obvious that this machine would also stop working which it then promptly did, again causing customers delay getting coffee. There was no fresh orange juice available and the tropical juice they did have tasted very watered down.

Bournemouth is full of hotels, but if you want something within walking distance of your family's home in Westbourne, it's not easy. The Premier Inn is about it, and that's quite a walk, unless you want to spend a lot of money. The hotel is in dire need of a refurb and some more staff, but the rooms are clean and spacious and very good value for money (except in highest season). Do not expect a good view!

Checking in took half an hour as they didn’t have enough staff. They couldn’t run the bar and have staff at check in. My duvet was stained and too small to cover two sleeping adults. There’s no way to call reception from your room, you have to look up the hotel number and call through their booking service. When I did get through to reception a rude man said if I wanted a big enough duvet I should have asked for one when I booked the room. The mixer tap only allows scalding water into the bath or shower and as there’s no way to contact reception from your room no chance of getting it fixed. I haven’t braved breakfast yet but given the general penny pinching attitude and understaffing I’m not expecting a quality experience

I've stayed at this Premier Inn twice now for 6 days each stay. The receptionist Jeanette was lovely on both occassions and couldn't be friendlier. The rooms themselves are on the small side. The dealbreaker for me was the air conditioning units in both rooms - they are extremely NOISEY. There is no option to open the windows so you have to rely on the air con but the noise is very, very loud. The units gargle and gurgle all night long and switch off when they fancy. The extractor fans in the shower rooms are also very poor. The fans have power and they whirl around but they don't actually clear the steam one bit. The fan units were also filthy, in the rooms for my 2 separate stays. Even with the air con switched off, you can hear the noise from the neighbouring rooms if they are using their air con. When I say loud, I mean they are so loud they wake you up! The hotel knows their shower room air extractor units aren't up to the task as each shower room I experienced had a warning sign to not keep the shower room door open because the steam activates the fire alarm. During my first stay here there were multiple 'false alarm activations' so I presume all the rooms are as bad as the 2 I stayed in. The air con and extractor fans seem to be an afterthought at this PI. My advice is to pay the extra and stay down the road at Premier Inn Westcliff, where the air con isn't so terribly loud and the steam from a short shower doesn't linger for hours after the event. Shame on Premier Inn for ignoring the facilities like this - they are obviously aware there are damp and mould issues in their shower rooms at this hotel but choose to continue to rip customers off.

Get there early if you want to park in the car park. The car park is run by a separate company and you only get 10 minutes to find a space & check in. After that if the car park is full and you don't leave before 10 minutes you get an £80 fine. There are roads nearby that you can park free until 10am or 24 hours a little further on. When we arrived the car park was full and we waited ages at reception for someone to come, which made what should have been a relaxing stay a real worry as now we wait to see if we get a parking fine.

Totally disappointed. Lack of staff, no self check in. Very small room that needs a deep clean and bathroom refurb! Bathroom fan didn’t work and many sockets were loose/dodgy current, wouldn’t charge phone! Kettle fitted through shelf in front of mirror. Generally unclean!!

Check in was quick, staff were all lovely, room was big and very clean. We would definitely stay here again. One of the best Premier Inns we have stayed in. Only downside was not enough parking spaces to park onsite, but staff soon helped us with advice on where to park close by.