The Grosvenor Arms
The Grosvenor Arms descritpion
This Georgian building is in Shaftesbury town centre. It is now a stylish hotel with free Wi-Fi and large rooms with luxury beds, flat-screen TVs, coffee machines and iPod docks.
The Grosvenor Arms maintains original features combined with modern décor. Its individually decorated rooms have handmade beds, and a contemporary en suite bathroom, some with separate showers and roll-top baths.
There is a bar with open fireplace, as well as a courtyard terrace. The Grosvenor Arms' stylish restaurant serves breakfast every day. A modern menu is also available for dinner service from Monday to Saturday. Guests will also enjoy alfresco dining or enjoy pizza or pork shoulder cooked by the wood-burning oven.
Located just 2 minutes' walk from Shaftesbury Abbey, the hotel is a short stroll from many restaurants and shops.
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Facilities of The Grosvenor Arms
Pets ：Pets are allowed. Charges may apply.
Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar
Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not needed).
Services ：Laundry | Meeting/Banquet Facilities | Fax/Photocopying
General ：Newspapers | Non-smoking Rooms | Facilities for Disabled Guests | Hypoallergenic room available | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)
Reviews for The Grosvenor Arms
Review 1：Having to wait an hour for breakfast to be served even though there were few people and I had arrived 15 minutes after breakfast was meant to be available. No apology from management although the young waitress was most apologetic. The lack of a lift after first floor was most inconvenient.
Review 2：The attitude of the staff and the location
Review 3：Not enough lighting in the room, ie no main light. Also the bed was not very big. Thought it would have been a bit more impressive. The TV wad tiny too.
Review 4：Stay was pleasant. Clean tidy room with good facilities. Also provided with parking permit which was a great weight off our minds.
Review 5：Variable staff - some really good others seemed unhappy to be at work. The attention to detail is poor in the rooms. A TV so small we used a 5.5" iPad instead. Fungus in the shower and lighting poor. No full length mirror and very noisy as our room was on the stair well. Parking is not on site but not too far away. The two of Shaftsbury has deteriorated significantly since we last visited. Too many charity shops, medium quality cafe's. None helped by the fact that the museum was closed. Sadly off our list of places for a break in the future.
Review 6：The restaurant and service is all good, great selection too. The public areas have all been well refurbished at some point.
Review 7：Mould on bedroom window frame and shower door frame. Step in corridor near bedroom had no highlighting on nosing and was easy to trip over. No car parking at the hotel itself.
Review 8：Location in centre of Shaftesbury. Friendly and helpful staff. Excellent food and restaurant service.
Review 9：Some traffic noise understandably from front facing rooms, but almost goes away late night to early morning.
Review 10：Lovely hotel, rooms are superb. Good restaurant. WiFi excellent everywhere, bar and lounge areas pleasant.
Review 11：We collected two car-parking vouchers for the car-park behind the Co-op over the road. Both my son's car and mine were parked next to each other and the Vouchers were clearly visible on the windscreen. The following morning, we each had a £50 parking ticket affixed to our cars' windows. Upon explaining our dilemma to the lady in your reception, it was pointed out that whoever gave us the Vouchers should have explained that they were only usable in one part of the car park and not the other (i.e. long stay versus short stay). We were told to expect a call from Peter - we are still waiting!
Review 12：We were impressed by the style of the furnishings and decoration.
Review 13：Room comfortable with great bed and bedding - but very cool, hard to regulate temperature. Great new shower room - but impossible to avoid water soaking the floor! Almost perfect - just needs some tweaking!
Review 14：Lovely restaurant and bar with great food. Excellent location. Staff efficient and some very friendly. Almost perfect!
Review 15：Food not quite as special as expected. No car park but the public carpark is just a short walk away. Not sure about the fancy drinks machine - the tea tasted of whatever had been used previously.
Review 16：Professional, helpful. Central location. Pleasant public areas. Room was comfortable. The toiletries were extemely nice and the towels were lovely - big and fluffy.
Review 17：my only moan is that the bathroom was a little tired and needed redecorating but otherwise the room was really nice.
Review 18：The Grosvenor is a great place for a weekend away, the food was great and the staff really friendly and helpful, it's also so well placed for local pubs, shops etc.
Review 19：Car parking! No onsite car parking - had to walk across the road, down the street & to the far end of the Long Stay car park to utilise the free car park pass. Biggest problem was the weather - raining cats & dogs - not ideal! No one mentioned the need to return the car park pass either at check-in or on departure....and then I had a phone call. Ended up putting Dorset Council Car Park Pass in post to avoid a £20 fine! Not impressed.
Review 20：Room very clean & comfortable, food fine, staff very pleasant. A lot of stairs to get up if you are on second floor, so please be aware of this. Staff do offer help with bags etc which is most helpful
Review 21：Coffee m/c, prefer kettle. Frugal on tea and biscuits. Car parking was free but not adjacent to the hotel.
Review 22：Location of hotel was excellent . Shaftesbury was well worth a visit with lots of shops and country walks.
Review 23：A small thing.... A shelf in the bathroom for personal toiletries would have been appreciated. Also, bedside lamps were very large and were switched on/off via a wall switch which wasn't easy to reach from the bed.
Review 24：The room was attractive. Reception staff lovely. Fresh, modern decor.... very appealing. Food was good, too.
Review 25：Our breakfast was included in the price of our room and was very disappointing. The food was just ok and the service was slow and confused. We found this surprising given our wonderful experience in the bar. I am sorry to say it was the same the second morning as well.
Review 26：We enjoyed our stay and have no complaints with the staff or the room. We also had drinks and a light lunch in the lounge/bar. The service, food and drink were excellent!
Review 27：No shelves in bathroom to take personal items. Pillows and duvets made us very hot even though weather was on cool side, September.
Review 28：great staff helpful and cheerful. food fair to good.
Review 29：Room vast and chilly. Asked for and received spare duvet. They need some textiles and a big picture in room 2! Main courses in restaurant a bit too rich - butter cream wise
Review 30：The bar - great whisky sour The breakfast spread - great nutty granola and plain yoghurt . But all other choices too - for those who like kippers etc etc etc
Review 31：were told we would have a king size bed but it was two singles pushed together. Quality of food was good but not excellent. Steak was overlooked and pizzas a bit dry. Also had a constant but from the bathroom fan even when switched off.
Review 32：Nice bar area with fresh cakes each day. Lovely quiet town with beautiful views and local walks. Nice country pubs but otherwise not much else to do. Very friendly staff and nice clean comfortable hotel. Not too big and not to small.
Review 33：Very small TV in our room. Staff very polite and friendly however found the standard of their uniform very casual.
Review 34：Lovely hotel, very modern and nice decor. Lovely food at dinner, decent sized portions. Great location, 2 min walk away from local shops, pubs, cafes and the famous Gold Hill. Friendly staff. Great prices at the bar considering hotel prices usually expensive.
Review 35：The draft coming through the corridor windows on the second floor was causing the corridor door to constantly open and slam shut. This woke me up at 4am, and I struggled to get back to sleep.
Review 36：Staff were very welcoming
Review 37：Service was ok but could of been better No lift .
Review 38：The hotel is in a prime location in the lovely town of Shaftsbury . The decor through out is gorgeous and the bed was extremely comfortable . The food was yummy and the atmosphere was great .
Review 39：Evening meal menu choice limited, need to include a salad choice. Also many items on menu not available. Breakfast options also limited. Wine choice limited as many items on wine list sold out.
Review 40：Quality if facilities
Review 41：Our only gripe was that we would have preferred a kettle in the room rather than a tea/coffee machine but perhaps that's personal choice. It takes time to make two cups of anything.
Review 42：The hotel decor was lovely and it had a good ambience. We liked the courtyard setting, the bar area and restaurant. Had a good evening meal and the staff were friendly and attentive. The gentleman on reception on arrival Sunday afternoon was very helpful and even had our room ready earlier for us. Overall we enjoyed our stay and the service from the staff was excellent.
Review 43：breakfast only being served from 7.30. very poor service in restaurant for lone diner. basically ignored throughout, never offered a drink. specials not pointed out etc
Review 44：location
Review 45：Given a front room with poor air conditioning. Was 34 degrees most of the time. Left window open while at breakfast. On return two pigeons had flown into the room.
Review 46：Nicely furnisshed, friendly staff. Deduction from bill because of problems mentioned aside.
Review 47：I absolutely hated the coffee machine and not having a kettle to make tea with. The salad I ordered in the restaurant was tiny and very overpriced. Internet switched off at 12midnight. Strange.
Review 48：The quality of the room and the helpfullness of the staff. The comfortable bed. The cocktails in the bar and the decor downstairs
Review 49：TV too small we both are deaf & need subtitles but tv placed long away from bed so subtitles were too small to read so we gave up with TV which let us down badly. Also 2 light bulbs not working. Quilt cover were not made up properly
Review 50：Breakfast was very good
Review 51：No lift to the second floor Parking not on site
Review 52：The warm welcome The extremely comfortable bed The excellent dinner The conservatory for early evening drinks
Review 53：Night manager unavailable and no one on reception so had to let ourselves in on our wedding night, find keys and room! No apology given and no check in greeting so missed out on breakfast and free wifi Shower was dirty in the tray
Review 54：Bed was very comfortable and clean Location right in centre of Shaftesbury Lovely large shower
Review 55：Parking was a little awkward, but this is due to the situation of the hotel rather than any fault on their part
Review 56：Surprisingly good food.Previous reviews had described it as an over-rated pizza place, but we had a lovely evening meal and a commendable breakfast
Review 57：Nothing
Review 58：It was beautifully decorated and comfortable - the restaurant in particular was fun and quirky - with wonderful drawings of animals on the walls making it a really original and fun place to eat - the staff were exceptional!
Review 59：We had an excellent welcome on arrival and Reception were keen and helpful. The room was very comfortable and the beds were too! The menu was varied and well cooked and we enjoyed entertaining friends there.
Review 60：The main course of the meal was disappointing.
Review 61：Efficient friendly staff, lovely room overlooking courtyard, with fabulously comfortable bed and beautiful bedding, also delicious breakfast.
Review 62：In my opinion very pricey but don't let that put you off. Also hate having two beds together as Superking Size.
Review 63：Good location, excellent staff and a GREAT breakfast!
Review 64：Too much butter or oil was used on kippers and salad. Lots of stairs and distance to our room. Restaurant service was slow.
Review 65：Pleasant environment and good location
Review 66：The rocking tables in the dining room, the lack of powder sugar at breakfast, the lack of serving spoons for the cereals. The diiner menu did not have enough traditional food, the wait for service for dinner was too long. For a hotel at this price, the dining room facilities were poor.
Review 67：The room was well furnishedand the staff very helpful. The quality of the food ingredients was excellent.
Review 68：Just a very small thing - thought the lighting a bit too low level in the bedroom - not great for reading.
Review 69：Spacious comfy room and delicious breakfast.
Review 70：The building, the location, the comfortable room and en suit. The square with its water feature in the centre of the building was charmingly picturesque. The bar spacious and comfortable
Review 71：Choice and quality of food, also very poor value. Flippant very young unprofessional staff. Very poor parking arrangements 200 mts from hotel
Review 72：bedroom
Review 73：Both for dinner and breakfast, the restaurant staff were offhand and not well trained. Seemed there was no leadership. At breakfast we had to point out broken glass around the cereal and bread station to be cleaned
Review 74：The room was excellent, junior suite, with great bathroom and comfy beds with really good bed linen.
Review 75：Dinner in the restaurant was disappointing, from the ambiance (ideal for breakfast room) to the staff not pointing out the specials board , the one choice I made was not available , and the Pizza was rather ordinary. Breakfast was excellent.
Review 76：Restaurant can't decide if it is a pizza parlour (nasty loud bell telling staff an order from the bar has come for pizza, which disrupts staff AND diners) or a quality restaurant. We would skip the restaurant in future. My wife had excellent steak, mine was rubbish, not eaten and not paid for. The meat buyer should look for a new job. If we go back to the town, we will go back to the hotel - but we'll NOT eat in the restaurant. Pity. Very nice breakfast, top marks for that!
Review 77：Lovely room, lovely hotel, great location, staff work hard and generally. Very nice breakfast, top marks for that! PS room heating in room 2 could have been warmer, but not a major issue except mid winter.
Review 78：Nice welcome, very clean room and overall very pleasant. I would recommend anyone who wants to stay in center of town. Room over looking courtyard with bath and shower which was spotless. Bar nice, evening meal excellent and so was the breakfast. Free parking 2 min walk away.
Review 79：very small room, very noisy from 05.00 tried to upgrade & they took the mickey, suggesting we could if we paid another £150, (we were staying 2 nights)
Review 80：Good position in the town and a friendly welcome from the receptionist. Our room was warm, with a coffee machine and a large comfy bed. The bathroom was spacious and featured a good shower and a deep bath.We enjoyed a lovely meal in the restaurant with locally sourced ingredients. We will certainly return here to enjoy visiting some of the nearby attractions.
Review 81：We stayed in room 8 which was a little small and a bit on the cold side, but the weather was very cold outside as well. The restaurant did lack a little atmosphere and was also a little cold near the windows, but the weather was bitterly cold outside.
Review 82：The food was very good as was the bar area, all the staff were excellent and very helpful. The entertainment by the St Mary school singers was an added bonus.
Review 83：A few minor things that did not spoil our stay. To make the stay perfect. Room a little small. No surfaces in Bathroom for toiletries. Only an overhead shower. No shower hat in the bathroom -( available at reception). Lighting beautiful but low difficult to read sitting up. A little essential damp and paint repair near shower needed. At times no one at the reception.
Review 84：The ambiance of the bar, lounge and restaurant areas. A friendly informal feel but tastefully furnished. The food; interesting dishes well cooked. Well placed for both local sites (e.g. Gold Hill) and for general Landscapes.
Review 85：It was not important to me at all but there was no option for room service and no mini bar. It would be nice, as the hotel provides use of a lovely coffee machine, to have fresh milk in the room - not a criticism, just feedback.
Review 86：From the moment I arrived at the hotel I felt looked after as an individual. The staff were attentive and could not do enough for you, making sure you knew the hotel facilities with a mini tour. The room was beautiful and nothing was too much trouble.
Review 87：Only one minor point, our Bathroom needed a shelf for toileteries, either above or below wash basin.
Review 88：Warm Hotel on Bitter Cold Days, Warm Comfortable Lounge & Bar, with Good Beers & Selection of Wines, Warm Friendly Staff, Excellent Food, Excellent Location for our needs, Loved the Hoteal and Excellent Value for Money
Review 89：Food was overpriced Some dishes were not very good, but breakfast (included) was excellent
Review 90：Spacious room Helpful staff Beautifully decorated Good parking and excellent location in the heart of town
Review 91：All good, apart from 2nd day's breakfast. Food was very slow in coming due to some mix up. Luckily we weren't in a hurry to leave
Review 92：Great location for exploring Dorset Comfortable and big rooms
Review 93：Breakfast finishes at 9.30 - earlier than most and not leisurely. Two dogs in the room next door and I'm deeply allergic. That would have been a deal breaker if I had known pets allowed.
Review 94：Much bigger and better than pictures suggest. Style driven, very spacious rooms, high standards all round.
Review 95：Very poor light in the bathroom. Could hardly see myself to have a shave. If you were a woman then no chance with make-up.
Review 96：Very smart inside and staff excellent. Best breakfast I have had in a long time!
Review 97：The room was a bit noisy in the early hours of the morning....and couldn't turn the heating down ....room was really hot through the night
Review 98：Loved the lounge/ bar area....barman made a coffee just as wanted.....excellent!
Review 99：The staff were friendly from the moment we arrived and the suite we had was comfortable and well appointed. The bar was welcoming and we enjoyed a good snack lunch. In the evening we dined in the restaurant where the food was excellent.
Review 100：Bed was really sqeaky and lighting in the room was a little poor.
Review 101：Stunning decor and furnishings. Very clean. Food outstanding and locally sourced - even had gluten-free sausages for breakfast. Nothing was too much hassle. Situated in the middle of a quaint town. Room verh20 clean and well furnished. Bed very comfy.staff very friendly.
Review 102：Delux double room a bit plain for the money & lacking in accent furniture,The tv was tiny ( size of monitor) mounted high on wall. No robes.
Review 103：Lovely lively bar & barstaff, cosy restaurant. Paid to upgrade to a junior suite which had lovely roll top bath.
Review 104：Young staff not trained/motivated to engage well with guests. Breakfast choice meagre and staff lacking in self motivation and direction from above.
Review 105：Excellent dinner Stylishly quirky decor Lovely bed linen Nice welcome on arrival
Review 106：my room was comfortable, well appointed with tasteful modern decor; it was also very quiet, I loved the bathroom and especially the shower design. The menu was 5* and the food excellent. parking at the town carpark across the road was no problem and is provided free of charge. I highly recommend this hotel.
Review 107：Fell short of what I was expecting from a hotel charging those prices. I don't think I am the type of guest they aim to cater for; won't be returning.
Review 108：Very pretty dining room.
Review 109：The wifi was down the 2 nights we stayed,but was due to be repaired as we left so we can't comment on usual availability.
Review 110：Comfortable room and reception were very helpful
Review 111：Noisy room next to main road junction. Firm mattress.
Review 112：Very attractive décor and layout throughout. Great ambiance in restaurant. Very good food. Excellent staff, all very pleasant and helpful. Adjacent to stunning town views.
Review 113：The wifi didn’t work for the 3 days we were there and it seemed nobody planned to fix it. One staff member confided that they were actually using the free wifi from the bank across the road. So my last morning there, I stood at the entrance of the hotel with my tablet in my hand, so I could make travel plans and make contact with my family. No notice was posted notifying us that the wifi wasn't working. The room was also very hot and the window only opened about 4", seemingly to keep the pigeons out. They were nesting just outside the windows, waking us early and decorating the conservatory with their droppings.
Review 114：I liked the location and we had a spacious room.
Review 115：Greeting on reception wasn't overally friendly and we seemed an inconvenience because we checked in early. Staff in restaurant took ages to get some toast and the breakfast could have done with a top up
Review 116：Lovely hotel in a lovely village. Very modern and restaurant was nice. They moved things around so we could check in early as we were going to a wedding
Review 117：Breakfast service could have been much better, several staff around, but slow and not anticipating clients needs, eg. Serving spoons missing from cereal jars; meats, yoghurt, & fruit not topped up; no cereal/tea spoons on tables; had to ask for tea twice.
Review 118：Great receptionist, very helpful with quick (late) check-in, taking us to our room, & booking of taxi. Super decor and comfort in newly refurbished room. Breakfast room lovely, and food freshly cooked and hot.
Review 119：The breakfast was under cooked. The fried egg had not been cooked properly, which left the egg white under cooked. The fried bread, for what there was of it, was over cooked, so that when you placed a fork into it, it shattered into many pieced.
Review 120：overall very good with friendly staff. The food lacked a choice of ordinary menu, not all guests wish to eat the menu on choice. We have travelled the world and as such are Plain eaters, there was no facility for this.
Review 121：Bathroom beautifully refurbished, however, not so good from a functional point of view, the deluge shower had a glass with no door, hence, a wet floor to share! Also having only a deluge shower gave little option on washing your hair ! A wall mounted hand shower would have been a nice option.
Review 122：The hotel had recently undergone a major refurbishment, very tasteful, creating a relaxed, clean and friendly environment. Staff all polite and helpful.
Review 123：Genuine care and concern for guests The subtle combination of up to the moment interior design and beautiful Georgian building The welcoming atmosphere created by staff.
Review 124：We loved everything about this hotel and can highly recommend it!
Review 125：This is a fabulous hotel - the food is superb, the staff are extremely welcoming and the decor is incredible. We had an amazing time!
Review 126：Lack of car park
Review 127：Excellent staff - thanks
Review 128：Car park not on hotel site - but not a major problem.
Review 129：Staff very helpful with all requests and very friendly.
Review 130：Reception staff seemed new? Helpful but confused by booking system.
Review 131：Clean room, quiet with a lovely big bathroom.
Review 132：It is too expensive.
Review 133：The location is outstanding and the whole ambience of the hotel is first-class.
Review 134：Excellent staff. Great room. Great restaurant and breakfast. Overall - a great hotel.
Review 135：Food good but not outstanding.
Review 136：Lovely, well equipped rooms and communal areas. Gin cocktails were excellent!
Review 137：no hot water at 8a.m. and tricky coffee/tea machine in bedroom
Review 138：breakfast
Review 139：The shower was very complicated and there were no instructions on how to operate it.
Review 140：Beautiful room, lovely food and great service.