Very Enjoyable Stay

My wife and I visited this hotel 22-24 July 2005. This is the first time we have visited Bournemouth and after having read the previous reviews settled on this hotel. We stayed in a 3rd floor suite and found everything was very good.The accomodation was well maintained and very clean. The staff were friendly and approachable and we found that when you booked breakfast it DID arrive in the 15 minute timeslot that we asked for. We did note in previous reviews the noise from the roads outside. Whilst agreeing there is noise from the local chav brigade we cant blame the hotel for that (surely this is a matter for the local police). We stayed on a half board basis and found Echoes restaurant to be very good indeed. The food was very well presented and the staff attentive without being intrusive.

The only downside and this is a small minus is the car parking charge of £7.50 per day. We questioned staff about this as its a little cheeky to charge for this when at most if not all hotels we've visited parking is free. The reply we received was" that all hotels in Bournemouth charge for parking". Perhaps the Norfolk could start a trend and abolish this charge im sure their guests would appreciate it.

Loved the norfolk royale

stayed at the norfolk royale bank holiday weekend and throughly enjoyed it. This is the second time of staying at this hotel and i would definately recommend it. The rooms are very spacious and the bed is large and very comfortable. The food in the restaurant is excellent and the staff very friendly. My 3 year daughter is a very fussy eater and they asked her what she liked and then just went to the kitchen and came back with different things. The hotel is in an ideal location and we will be going back shortly.

Excellent, first rate, good vfm

Highly recommended. We stayed for 4 nights and thoroughly enjoyed it. The major plus points are the overall care and cleanliness taken about all the facilities, and the excellent chef and menu. Unfortunately, the restaurant staff don't do justice to the food when promoting / discussing it - I'm not sure they really appreciate how good it is! ( I'm not related to the chef by the way ). On the negative side, the comments mentioned in other postings regarding floor boards are true, but to us this wasn't a major problem. The only negative we encountered was with our reservation - the group, English Rose, have a website for bookings that frankly doesn't work. Overall though it is an excellent hotel and we would definitely revisit.

A dining experience not to be missed

Nothing is too much trouble in this superb town centre hotel. From check-in to check-out the journey is smooth, comfortable and efficient. The Orangery restaurant is an experience not to be missed. Try the rib-eye steak and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Have a swim in the warm sensuous pool. I loved it, as you may have gathered. A sauna, a steam room a few drinks, a leisurely meal, quiet conversation in the lounge and then to bed. Wow!

Lovely short break

I booked this hotel as a short break on very short notice, but was extremely delighted. Yes the floor boards are a bit creaky but its an old building so i wouldnt expect anything else. The rooms, on the 1st floor I might add, were clean tidy and spacious. We had no problems with anything being dirty. Yes some of the decor is a little jaded but it was lovely. The food was fantastic, even providing the kids with their own extensive menu and not just burger and chips. The only very small downside was the pool. Lovely and clean but just a bit on the small side and the majority of it is very deep, so not ideal for swimming beginners.

Would recommend

I was a bit concerned after reading other reviewers, but it was a lovely hotel, OK the floor boards were a bit noisy so you could hear the people on the above floor occasionally, but otherwise really nice, clean, peaceful, lovely pool and jacuzzi, and the food was out of this world.

The bed was the comfiest I had slept in for ages in comparison to other hotels.

And the hotel was ideally situated by the town and about 8 minutes walk through lovely gardens to the sea.

I would definitely go there again.

Treated with Respect at the Norfolk Royale

I was an older female guest travelling solo. The hotel staff were efficient, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. The service was excellent, and I did not feel uncomfortable in the bar or restuarant. A very safe environment. My single bedroom on the third floor was kept spotless, and was larger than most for an English hotel. The food was good. There was a nice public lounge to relax in, anytime of the day.This was the third hotel I had experienced in Bournemouth, and the best. I can certainly recomend it.

Dorsets answer to Fawlty Towers!!

Even the 'refurbished' 3rd floor rooms are looking at bit tired. The hotel has roads on 2 sides of it, where you can enjoy the revving engines of Bournemouth's Chav brigade into the wee small hours. The place is noisy, you are either too hot or too cold, and I have experienced ripped and dirty bedding.

Don't expect the breakfast that you asked for in your room to be delivered in the 15 minute window you ticked, and on most mornings the newspaper that I ordered never arrived.

Avoid this place like the plague, there are far superiror hotels in Bournemouth.

Avoid the 1st floor

The hotel is fine on the outside and the 3rd floor is great but the 1st floor rooms are awfull(cold and dirty) and the service(managers) is not very helpfull.I dont recommend it to anybody.Bournemouth though is great.

Luxury, Charming Hotel

From the minute you walk into this hotel there is an air of luxury. Whether a standard or luxury room is reserved you know you are staying somewhere special. In the knowledge your vehicle is secure, in the underground car park, you can venture all over Bournemouth town very quickly and easily due to the hotel's central location.The breakfast, lunch and dinner is served either in the elegant dining room or the half conservatory and the food served is of top quality. Top marks to a traditionally English hotel.