Grand Hotel Swanage

Grand Hotel Swanage descritpion

Dating from 1898, this wonderful hotel commands a majestic location, nestled in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, providing a spectacular view across Swanage Bay and Pevril Point.
Many of the rooms and public areas, where you can enjoy a drink, lunch and relax, take advantage of these spectacular views. On summer days the delightful garden is an ideal place to soak-up the sun and also provides direct access to the beach.
The Isle of Purbeck is the ideal choice for walkers, water-sport enthusiasts and golfers, furthermore you can visit places of historical interest. Along the coastline the variety of scenery is outstanding with unspoiled beaches, steep white cliffs, interesting bays and old smuggler’s coves.

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Facilities of Grand Hotel Swanage

Outdoors ：Grounds | Sun Deck

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Breakfast in the Room | Restaurant with Dining Menu

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

Reviews for Grand Hotel Swanage

Review 1：The shower was very low and inajustable, so I had to stoop to get under in. I'm not particularly tall.

Review 2：The sea views were fantastic and the room was comfortable and clean. The hotel bar was great with comfortable sofas and an open fire. The full English breakfast was also very good.

Review 3：The decor and furniture is a little dated and the swimming pool is more of a plunge pool in size. The steam room is no longer in operation.

Review 4：The location is fabulous and the staff were absolutely excellent. The breakfasts were fantastic and the views from the dining room, conservatory and garden are wonderful.

Review 5：nothing at all..the staff and service was wonderful...although the first night the restaurant was closed for a private do..didn't matter as found great trattoria in town.

Review 6：The seaview room overlooking swanage..just wonderful sunrise, sunset and full moon over the sea..easy access down to the beach and fab walk up to harry rocks in glorious October sunshine.

Review 7：Overall, it was very good but we did feel the decor was perhaps a little tired and our bathroom definately needs updating.

Review 8：The location was great, the staff were polite and friendly.

Review 9：Bath and fittings leaked, were shabby and old. Bed so enormous I had no bedside table or lamp!

Review 10：Hotel ground floor beautiful. Bar food good, restaurant food disappointing. Views quite outstanding.

Review 11：Small car park

Review 12：Room was very comfy -beautiful seaview -added bonus as I didn't ask for one ! Breakfast was lovely . Had full English both days . Nice bar area . Lovely garden for when the weather nice .

Review 13：Food bad and overpriced. Breakfast award not really justified as I got an omelette that was more eggwhite than the real thing. Seems to be made of three eggs with one yolk. No pains au chocolat or nice bread.

Review 14：the seaview, the look of the hotel. The staff did everything. Ace.

Review 15：the ginger haired bar man. who wouldn't give me wine glasses and open my wine. a bit over priced. the hotel could do with a re-fit. The lift is look a fairground ride!

Review 16：great location and view free parking friendly receptionist Good breakfast

Review 17：Weren't able to turn the radiators on in my room, although it wasn't cold it would have been nice to be able to dry my towel on it. Also the showerhead needs replacing as water only trickles out.

Review 18：The view from the breakfast room and conservatory. The breakfast was nice. Was upgraded from a single room to a double.

Review 19：Bad smell in bathroom. Request for a double room, ignored. Request for water at dinner, ignored. Request for hot milk for coffee met with derision. No customer service. Tea bags in room flavourless. Plunge pool, cold.

Review 20：The sea views.

Review 21：When you walk through the door the calm, gentle ambience greets you immediately. Then you get the warmth of the hotel meeting the stunning views across the bay and total relaxation sets in.

Review 22：Bathroom small and badly in need of refurbishment - poorly laid out and gloomy. Not cheap and given the above the value for money would have been very poor without the hotel adjusting the room rate.

Review 23：Good location with great sea views. Excellent breakfasts. Friendly and helpful staff.

Review 24：No dinner service at 20.00 dispite advertising till 21.00 because of a large party of 11 having dinner would have rated staff much higher had it not been for this parking limited

Review 25：View, breakfast staff room

Review 26：It could have been cleaner and some carpets and furniture need to be replaced.

Review 27：The view from the bedroom and restaurant over the bay is lovely. The hotel has an old world charm.

Review 28：room on top floor next to lift power room noisy every time lift used. shower door broken leaked when used. mastic coming away from bottom of shower leaked when used. air duck covered with tap and toilet tissue causing damp in bathroom. pool and spa not in use for 5 days

Review 29：good location good staff and good food

Review 30：Shortage of parking space. On one occasion I had to wait 45 minutes before eventually parking and then having to park in the road.

Review 31：Everything in the Hotel was fine.

Review 32：had to change rooms, toilet did not work. Bathroom in second room was in dire need of updating: bath stained, tiles missing, a bit of the handle on basin missing. Cover on chair soiled. Sunroom: wicker chairs bits missing, coffee table top peeling, roof needs replacing, poor. I did write a note to the above effect but did not hear from them which surprises me.

Review 33：location by the beach

Review 34：The location of the hotel was great. Views from the sun terrace and bedroom were beautiful. The staff were friendly and the service we received was very good.

Review 35：This Hotel needs a top to bottom clean, it hasn't seen one in many a year in my opinion. It's either running at a loss and they can't afford to clean it properly or they don't care either way at £119 a night it's just not on to have rooms caked in long term muck and dust. Sea view rooms need windows opened and cleaned once in a while too. Never seen so many cobwebs.

Review 36：Staff - Great, very friendly especially the two lovely ladies in the restaurant. Cassie I think her name was, excellent service.

Review 37：Dirty bathroom. Toilet wouldn't flush. (Although we were moved to another room, which was very helpful). Sheets were threadbare. Not many parking spaces. Expensive for the standard of accommodation offered.

Review 38：Great location. Very helpful staff.

Review 39：No shower gel provided. Unable to reach window without standing on bed. TV remote difficult to work and signal very poor so not watchable. Light on TV suddenly started flashing at 3 in morning! Although I booked a single room and only presenting as 1 person and giving only 1 name at breakfast the waitress then asked if I wanted to wait until my partner arrived before ordering!! It could have been very upsetting, I had in fact lost my ex husband ( who I had been caring for ) in recent months. A different phrasing was all that was required for her to ascertain the answer she wanted and would not have risked offending anyone.

Review 40：Comfortable clean room.

Review 41：For the price I payed, (over £500 for 3 nights,) the furniture is very dated. The bathroom we stayed in looked like it had not been refitted since the 60's. It had a mixer shower that was very temperamental and a old type shower curtain. I feel when the current generation no longer continue to go, the Grand may struggle sadly, unless they spend a lot of money on refurbishment. It's crying out to be updated and younger generations will not be prepared to pay that sort of big money for just views and friendly staff.

Review 42：Views are just fantastic! Staff were very friendly. Would never stay for a non sea view.

Review 43：Parking is dreadful! 12 car spaces for 30 rooms is ridiculous. Décor is a little dated and worn in places. Pool out of action for the duration of our stay.

Review 44：Location, cheerful attentive breakfast staff. Fantastic sea view from our room and the dining room.

Review 45：Wifi in rooms. Though appreciate this is not easy in older properties. Conservatory and it's roof dated, though believe this is being upgraded this year.

Review 46：Friendly attentive staff. Great views. Spaciousness. Ambience

Review 47：Reading light by bed was a bit dim overbed light would be good Strange bottom to pool-uncomfortable but did not prevent us from using pool Bathroom products smelt cheap like washing up liquid

Review 48：The sea-view , sound of sea ,enjoyed lack of spotlights which would have marred night view of sea , direct access to plunge pool from room (no need for bath robe) good sound insulation against noise from guests in other rooms ample breakfast(good choice),proximity to beach whilst also being private from general public. Plenty of hot water. Charming un fussy. Would stay again.

Review 49：Having been told there was parking had to take car to public park 10 minutes away. Decor very dated. Having booked restaurant for Sunday night, was not told there would be a very limited menu available. Breakfast kept hot for too long and almost in edible. Bed uncomfortable.

Review 50：Definitely position . Staff very pleasant and helpful

Review 51：The service is a bit slow but the friendly staff & fantastic setting compensates for this minor annoyance.

Review 52：The charm & character of the hotel -so refreshing in an age of soulless hotels. The setting is unbeatable - on the cliff top with a panoramic view of Swanage bay. Moreover you can walk down the steps from the cliff too garden straight on to the sandy beach. I have been coming to this hotel for the past 25 years & it is always superb.

Review 53：The whole hotel was rather warn and sad: old carpets, poor decor, old fashioned bathroom etc Parking was very challenging :(

Review 54：The view was amazing. Walked down to the private beach for a coffee: beautiful!

Review 55：Broken fittings - chest of drawers had top drawer missing, one of the taps in the sink was broken, bath surround was very discoloured. Breakfast ordered via room service was disappointing - order tea & toast which was delivered with flora & not the requested butter, also did not provide any plates!

Review 56：Great sea views, comfortable clean beds

Review 57：Description of "free on site parking" probably doesnt meet Trade Description Act! Hotel staff and some guests aware that on site parking is very limited. Additional free parking on very congested steep public roads is a lottery and can be at least 10-15 minutes away. This is quite unacceptable for a hotel that was chosen to avoid long walks on sore legs. What would have otherwise been a pleasant stay was painfully marred.

Review 58：Never had a single bad experience other than the poor wi-fi that I understand their problems with.

Review 59：Location to beach, views from verandah and room. Beautiful garden, good leisure club, great staff from reception, bar and restaurant, room cleaning and management. Really great relaxing hotel with terrific atmosphere

Review 60：Couldn't fully open windows at night, due to pigeons on window ledge.

Review 61：Lovely hotel, very clean, comfy beds.. Staff very polite & helpful. Food was very enjoyable..

Review 62：There is insufficient parking available in the hotel - and it is a little difficult to park nearby in the street. Our 'Double' room consisted of two single beds pushed together. Poor availability of mains power in room Poor wifi coverage

Review 63：The location of the hotel was excellent - right above the beach. The view from the room was also excellent.

Review 64：Rooms would benefit from modernisation, especially bathrooms (I struggled to bend over the little sink due to back pain..)

Review 65：Excellent location, very friendly and professional staff, great breakfast, lovely terrace with view on the sea and Swanage

Review 66：The Grand is in a superb location overlooking the majestic Swanage Bay and the town. The view is quite spectacular. The hotel has a wonderful atmosphere and the staff, many of whom have been there for years, are extremely welcoming.

Review 67：Lift was out of order & caused some difficulty as we were on 2nd floor.

Review 68：Location is excellent for view over the beach. Lots of steps down to beach but very pretty. Lovely garden to relax in and staff were very attentive.

Review 69：Lack of parking, lift not working, tired furniture in bedrooms (excluding bed). Dripping shower.

Review 70：Location, Breakfast, helpfulness of some staff. Comfy bed

Review 71：Rather overpriced for standard of hotel. Fixtures and fittings very tired and dated. Bathroom needed replacing, discoloured grouting and mould in corner of shower.

Review 72：Location was perfect, with a fantastic view of Swanage bay. Prompt service from cheerful staff.

Review 73：wifi reception poor Shower in bath very low and shower head lime scale covered so not a good jet - solved with a simple clean.

Review 74：Location and staff excellent

Review 75：failities are in bad condition, toilet is not working when we checked in. Cannot believe that for £180 per night hotel!

Review 76：Very old hotel with plenty history

Review 77：Generally the hotel needs updating. The bathrooms are sorely in need of an overhaul. 1990 style and grubby grouting and plugs that don't fit the bath. The furniture is old and dated. At £180 per night for a double room with breakfast it's overpriced for its room size and decor.

Review 78：The views are amazing from the back of the hotel and it's certainly worth asking for a sea view room but it will set you back £20 a night extra

Review 79：some of the staff,the room was in the attic and the shower was a joke but views were splended. reserved a parking space but none to be had

Review 80：the views and some of the staff.

Review 81：Lack of car park spaces. We stayed 3 nights and 2 nights we had to park 2 streets away.

Review 82：Wonderful view over the bay, easy access to beach. Friendly and helpful staff. Very enjoyable stay, would come again.

Review 83：Building is 'tired Victoriana' and our room was pretty basic albeit clean. Parking is terrible! Tiny car park is inadequate although street parking within 10 minutes walk is normally findable

Review 84：Staff were all helpful, friendly and efficient. Location is superb both to explore Swanage and also for position beside sea. Food & service were good

Review 85：It's not that I didn't like this but will. Share my views here, the hotel was beautiful but quite old fashioned, I'm in my early forties and I felt slightly out of place as the hotel seemed to attract an older generation.. My age group would love the scenario but I felt the lack of entertainment made my stay less exciting in the evening!! My four year old loved the pool.. However the hotel doesn't cater for small children activities, therefore I couldn't stay longer than a weekend which is a shame!!

Review 86：I loved the location and the staff were all friendly and helpful especially Irene the assistant Manager she was fantastic with my four year old daughter! the views from my hotel were beautiful..

Review 87：weather was hot so had to take duvet out of the cover and sleep under the cover. would have prefered a sheet. sloping ceiling in the bedroom. shower was not very powerful.

Review 88：we loved the views, the gardens, the sun beds, the private beach, the little cafe on the beach. we could walk into town easily. it was quiet and peaceful. selection of pubs and restaurants nearby was good. loved the swimming pool and the gym.

Review 89：hotel was dated and therefore I felt it was overpriced. breakfast only served until 9.30 which wasn't late enough. room was quite small with little storage for anyone staying for more than a couple of days.

Review 90：good location with access to the beach. good views across the bay.

Review 91：On site car parking rather limited. Wifi only accessable in downstairs lounge areas. Third floor rooms have low rafter issues that could be a problem for some.

Review 92：Fantastic location, good food and very friendly staff

Review 93：1 Confirmation addressed me "Dear Hadley" 2 Indifference from Reception when informed that our room was uncleaned after previous guest. 3 At £200 pn, it would have been nice to have room with a view. 4 Limited choice at breakfast. 5 Dodgy lift. Feels in need of some maintenance.

Review 94：Cloe, very attentive and polite

Review 95：Horrendous parking. Nasty shower and poor headroom in bathroom. Single lift takes 3 people - not good for elderly and disabled. Very noisy wedding on Saturday therefore no lounge to meet and talk to friends - no bar food that night VERY expensive for what is a really average hotel.

Review 96：Food was good when available

Review 97：Parking limited and WiFi spasmodic - sit by piano in the lounge for the best signal!

Review 98：The views of Swanage Bay are fabulous! The staff were helpful and friendly. The breakfasts were tasty, great scrambled eggs and proper toast, not a 'do it yourself' job. Access to private beach and The Cabin cafe is a cheery place for a cheeky glass of wine before dinner. The grandeur may have faded a little but the staff and the views more than made up for this.

Review 99：As said above, bedroom very shabby indeed. Bathroom in desperate need of updating, with broken tap.

Review 100：When we went outside to beach. There was scaffolding up at front of hotel, lots of banging and noise.

Review 101：Situation of the hotel and the helpfulness of the management. It was lovely to be able to sit in the conservatory and relax with a coffee looking over the views over the town.

Review 102：We found the hotel extremely dated, for example the lifts were smelly and very old, the bedrooms and bathrooms needed refurbishing, and the carpets everywhere had stains on them. It is such a beautiful setting, it's a real shame that the hotel has become so run down. Also, while we stayed there, a wedding reception was being planned for and we were made to feel like a nuisance at breakfast, staff seemed stressed out etc

Review 103：The best thing about this place is the beautiful panoramic views of Swanage bay.

Review 104：Service slow at breakfast & food cold! Rooms dated can do with a refurb..

Review 105：Just loved the hotel! so historic but beautiful! We had seaview room & views were amazing! Quiet location on the beach.,Staff friendly & very helpful! only minus points were for parking! as building work going on so vans tended to use our spaces! Also Breakfast ( full english) wasnt up to standard.,,ours were nearly cold every morning & bacon was hard! but a minus point on this issue..Service was slow so waited 15min fr a coffee! Rooms are basic but ok ish..Lift is tiny & slow! ( we used stairs mostly) Overall we enjoyed our stay & would go bk again ... Loved the walk into town so beautiful to see outstanding views..

Review 106：The vegetarian option on the menu could be more varied as there was a lot of goats cheese and olives! The chef was very accommodating though and nothing was too much trouble for him. There was a fault with our phone in the room which meant it rang us in the early hours so we unplugged it whilst the hotel called in an engineer to fix it. The parking can be a bit of a problem as limited space for number of residents.

Review 107：The staff all made us feel very welcome - especially Irene and her team. Naomi was also very helpful on reception and always with a sense of humour. Although the gym is small the facilities were excellent. Thank you for making our holiday special.

Review 108：Food very poor and not as good as it use to be. Although they did refund us for one of our dinners.

Review 109：Staff mostly friendly. The room was ok apart from a dripping tap. We did report it.

Review 110：Room v small and awkward shape, toilet cistern did not allow a flush with each use. Ceiling in passageway needs repair, lift filthy needs replacing. Lack of parking a huge issue especially as the hotel is advertised with parking (but not for all guests)

Review 111：The view from the conservatory Dinner very good, service v good

Review 112：restaurant staff unhelpful and rude, rooms and hotel desperately needing updating, pool is actually a shallow small splash pool, beds small and uncomfortable. Bad leak near our room water dripping all night into ice cream tubs. Over priced even at the supposedly special offer.

Review 113：Location was great, non restaurant staff friendly/helpful, clean rooms.

Review 114：The shower in the room needs to be updated.

Review 115：The view from the hotel is absolutely fantastic. You can reach to the beach directly from the garden. Good food and a lovely Jacuzzi.

Review 116：No written communication confirming room upgrade as requested on online reservation. My birthday breakfast had a black hair on the vegetarian sausage, I was promised a refused but was charged anyway. Dinner A La Carte Sunday menu (prawns) had no flavour no seasoning.

Review 117：Charming 1897 hotel, excellent views from the front sea bedrooms. Amazing walks, friendly staff. Comfortable bed. Amazing sound of sea touching the sand giving a magic feeling of the ocean. Onion cheese salade delicious!

Review 118：Menu/food didn't live up to the rest of the hotel

Review 119：View from our room was fantastic and room was lovely Excellent waitress during our bar meal

Review 120：The room was dated and small. There was mould on the shower tiles and ceiling. The skirting board needed painting and the pipe work needed cleaning . Need new bedroom furniture

Review 121：The views were excellent

Review 122：Bathroom facilities must be 30 years old.shower was pathetic. lots of mould around the bathroom. Key to door was difficult to open (room 209) housekeeping were going to fix but didn't.

Review 123：The view from the room was simply stunning.

Review 124：Curtains in the room needed to be darker or have blackout lining. We were woken by the sun when it rose (at just after 05:00) each morning.

Review 125：The view from the room and the accessibility of the beach

Review 126：Service slow reception staff grumpy and berated a more junior member of staff in front of me.... Definitely unnecessary

Review 127：Views location food friendly waiters and bar staff

Review 128：A couple of downsides, floorboards and bed creaked really badly and wifi not good.

Review 129：This hotel is in a perfect location on its own lovely part of the beach. We had a room overlooking the beach, just beautiful. Spa was nice, meal in the conservatory was very nice and staff could not be nicer, a real asset to the place.

Review 130：Nothing, we cant wait to go back!

Review 131：The staff were so friendly and welcoming. The views were to die for. The food was really lovely with plenty of choice. Nothing was too much trouble.

Review 132：As a solo traveller I was made to feel very welcome right from my late arrival (11pm check in) to my early departure (6.45am). All the staff were very helpful and friendly and the breakfasts were excellent. A very traditional and relaxed hotel.

Review 133：1. The bed was very uncomfortable. 2. Longer opening hours of the gym and spa will be good. 3. The lift is very slow and only takes a maximum of 3 people!

Review 134：Friendly staff, nice gym and spa. Same price as last year. We have a room on the second floor which has better wifi than our third floor room last year.

Review 135：Car parking very limited car and cars will have been visited by the local bird life. Price is for a hotel of newer / higher standard. Double rooms very varied in size, luck of draw. Small rooms are very small yet pay the same price.

Review 136：The location is good with great views. Food at hotel was expensive up of a good standard. Gym excellent.

Review 137：Did not enjoy being woken at 06.15 each morning by the doves outside. Also I slipped getting into the pool, and around the pool the floor was slippery when wet.

Review 138：Staff were great. Breakfast excellent. Views lovely

Review 139：Furniture in rooms terrible, very old and tatty and nothing matched, Hotel desperately needs a refurbishment. Rooms quite small for the money we paid, would have expected better. Carpet dirty and stained Car Park very small - had to park down the road. Couldn't get onto the Wifi in the room

Review 140：Fantastic View from Sea View Rooms and from the restaurant. Staff lovely and friendly Nice walk into Swanage town Gym and table tennis

Review 141：Wi-fi was non-existent except in the lounge. The pillows were poor making sleep difficult. It is still overpriced for what is on offer.

Review 142：The view and the breakfast were great.

Review 143：The room was not very good, musty smell, mold on the bathroom ceiling, condensation in the window. No parking to speak unless you get in very early!

Review 144：The views were fantastic!

The Fine Print

Check-in time is from 2pm-3pm on Sundays.Check-out time is 11am.The hotel kindly requests that you settle your bill before 10am.All major credit and debit cards can be used, except American Express and Diners. Checks are accepted only to the value of a Bankers Card. The hotel regrets that they cannot accept personal checks over the Bankers Card limit without prior arrangement.