Town House Bridport Dorset

Unfortunately, I didn't read the instructions properly when booking (they were clear when I checked afterwards) that the check-in time was 4-6 pm. Our first contact with the hosts was a phone call enquiring where we were. I explained that I hadn't noticed the timing and a very awkward discussion with long silences ensued. We were asked to call a mobile number on arrival. Another host greeted us warmly and showed us to our room. This host explained all about the room and shared their local knowledge. We found on road free parking about three minutes walk away. The bed was cosy, comfy and clean. Unfortunately, many areas of the room and the shared bathroom were grubby. This included cobwebs, dead flies in the cobwebs on windows and dusty lamps and corners in the bedroom. A dirty shower surround and cable ties repairing the shower were found in the shared bathroom. A shared bathroom is fine but in my opinion, hosts personal items should not be left out. A continental breakfast was offered at 8am. We knew of an amazing cafe in Bridport and enjoyed a later, hot breakfast. In the morning the host that I had spoken to on the phone was very friendly and wished us safe onward journey and good breakfast.

** This venue advertises on ********** that it has free on site parking, it does NOT, there is only street parking (which is not plentiful).** Nice greeting and got shown to double room on 1st floor, which was okay. Shared bathroom was okay. Window in room looking out to garden was dirty and did not appear to have been cleaned recently. Only 2 plug sockets in room, which could be accessed. Breakfast included in price was choice of cereal and toast, fruit juices and hot drink, which I arranged to have at 0715 am.

This is very like staying with friends - lovely rooms with a shared bathroom and a pleasant ambience - and the delightful Lily the dog. Unfortunately Lilly in the kitchen meant they couldn't provide a cooked breakfast, but what we had was fine. The bikes stayed safely locked away in the garden while we toddled down to the town centre 300meters away.

I have written over 2,000 reviews years covering 17 countries and I have to say that this establishment stands out as requiring a forensic criticism I am not in the business of deciding whether someone is nice or nasty but in order to run a bed and breakfast you do need certain basic rules to go by, conventions shall we say. I am left puzzling why this person has taken on this business. Was it for money? For altruistic reasons? On the plus side, the location is convenient for the high street of the amazing town called Bridport, Street parking is realistic, The bed was comfortable and the price reasonable. This is where the good points end. If you are going to convert a house into a hotel-type establishment you need to make sure that everything is in place and to have one bathroom and toilet to serve up to half a dozen guest rooms is unrealistic. What about those who cannot ascend fairly steep stairs? We were situated in the most expensive room, downstairs, a so called suite. The hostess said that the fire would not be lit (strange to say on a day in the mid-20s), and that certain possessions in the room were private. Alas it abutted onto the kitchen separated only by a pair of swing doors. It was possible to hear conversations in the kitchen and of course the same applied to over hearing those in the rented room. We felt we were not private. When our TV could not be persuaded to work we had to ask for assistance. There is a very complicated system where you need three controls apparently due to the local TV signal not being adequate. The manager said that the instructions had been written on a sheet and we should please read it. The instructions were not on the sheet. We had to get her partner in the room who said it was better to demonstrate it then putting it in writing. Even then we failed in our attempts and eventually gave up. The biggest joke was breakfast. There were two rooms vacant and two couples came down at 8:30 to have breakfast. Normally, you have two tables for two groups. We were greeted with one table little bigger than a whist table laid for four people. This would have been fine for a group that knew each other but definitely not fine for those who were strangers and perhaps wish to have their own company especially first thing in the morning. Fortunately, we got on well with the other people but had we not done so I could foresee uncomfortable atmospheres developing. The continental breakfast was minimalist with cereals, coffee or tea, orange juice, bread and butter or toast with various jams. Seven minutes in to the meal our host excused herself saying she had to go and water the garden. Other small points that add up: The banister rails were actually sticky as they had not been cleaned for some time, more than one door hinge squeaked horribly when you had to open or close it, the Yale lock in our door was loose and wobbled up and down. During the breakfast I discussed the place with our fellow guests an