Purbeck House Hotel & Louisa Lodge - Swanage, United Kingdom 

We booked a one night stay at the weekend following a day of walking and were looking forward to relaxing. Stayed in Louisa Lodge which was comfortable but please change the shower mat which appeared mouldy. The grounds are beautiful and we booked dinner in the Restaurant which was really wonderful. The staff are so friendly and personable and aim to please - nothing is too much trouble.

AS a frequent visitor to Swanage I have stayed many times before in the Purbeck House Hotel but not as a first choice & I'm afraid this will be my last stay there. I paid £92 for room & breakfast with a single supplement of £20. The hotel may have found favour with some guests for its dark & somewhat depressing Victorian decor but in my opinion that does not excuse the general state of the bedroom furnishings which in my room were old victorian pine but falling to pieces. The sash windows would not open & the balcony railings were in the last throws of disintigration due to rust. Because this room was at the front of the hotel the noise from the road outside was intolerable from cars & holiday revellers until about 2am when I resorted to foam earplugs. There is no secondary glazing fitted to windows or balcony doors to keep noise & weather out. For the same price there are hotels in much quieter locations away from the center of town. Both the Pines hotel & The Grand have magnificent cliff-top views & are no more than 10 mins walk from the beach.