BotB

As this hotel will be opening soon and first night bookings are from the 21st Dec. 2015, thought I would start this thread with some pictures I snapped last night while staying at the next door Hampton.

Looks good and good chances it really will be open for guests on the 21st!

Hope these whet the appetite

The hotel is situated near the peak of the hill and as you drive up the hill this is what you would see to the left (small off street lay by with covered access to the hotel for dropping guests and bags off as well as getting a taxi:


view of hotel from Entrance by BA_pics, on Flickr

A zoom in on what I assume to be the future reception desks (to the right as you would enter the hotel):


Reception by BA_pics, on Flickr

The Hotel sign with bar and restaurant names as well as spa:


Front Sign by BA_pics, on Flickr

Detail of covered entrance area lay by:


Covered Entrance by BA_pics, on Flickr

The restaurant looks big (ground floor further to the right from reception and quite nice with views to the waterfront area....

Looking forward to this new addition to the area, should get some booming business as it will beat any other hotel in the area hands down IMO.

Discuss @:-)

wizla

Looking good so far there botb, I will deffo give this a go sometime, b-line recordings are based in bournemouth so it's just a matter of time before I will be there, hopefully in the new year.

BotB

Just noticed the hotel is now accepting reservations from tomorrow (15th Dec).

BotB

Just checked in, everything seems to be up and running ^

Check in went well and quickly, car park is same as Hampton Inn next door, so a bit of a trek downhill to hotel afterwards. Those with luggage should unload at entrance first before parking due to stairs down to hotel.

Spa up and running and free for guests ^

Exec lounge is fairly small but nice (will post pics later). 2 fridges with only Heineken for alcohol do far (17:00) so not sure if more booze comes out later.

Booked basic room, upgraded to exec. Nice room, with vacation and beach side theme. ^

Large bath amenities in room, bathrobes and slippers.

Two water bottles and welcome card.

Exec lounge on 2nd floor, so views are of road in front of hotel and best views will be from the roof top bar in 8th floor. Guest rooms on all floors. 6th floor is where I have a room.

Will try the food, spa and bar and post back with more later.

EDIT: wifi is two levels, basic for free and faster for £9.95, will ask at reception about diamond wifi situation.

uggboy

Thanks for your update, we do look forward to more of your insights incl. photos. Enjoy your stay.

Cheers & Safe Travels. ^

wizla

Yes me too.....I do enjoy your reviews mate!

BotB

only too happy to oblige...

Pictures and additional comments about Hilton Bournemouth: (post 1 of 2 due to image limitations)

King Bed Exec Room:


King Exec Bed by BA_pics, on Flickr

Nice travel themed bedside tables with luggage straps for handles…(and power point for electronic items each side ^ )


vacation theme nighttables by BA_pics, on Flickr

View into room from entrance:


view into room from entrance by BA_pics, on Flickr

View back to entrance from room:


view to entrance by BA_pics, on Flickr

Counter top of mini bar and coffee area: (with neat map of coastline):


map of bournemouth coast by BA_pics, on Flickr

Coffee boat area:


tea and coffee by BA_pics, on Flickr

Mini Fridge: (yes, one without electronic monitoring that you can actually use ^ )


mini fridge by BA_pics, on Flickr

Marine design elements in room:

Seagulls (or simply birds if you have negative connotations of sea birds!) with marine blue / green wall paint…


marine theme by BA_pics, on Flickr

Nice poster:


seaside poster by BA_pics, on Flickr

New design door security stopper (to replace the usual chain arrestor):


new security door stops by BA_pics, on Flickr

Work desk and large telly (50 inch IIRC):


work desk by BA_pics, on Flickr

Connectivity to TV from desk:


TV connections by BA_pics, on Flickr

Wardrobe space is good with a door for just shelves and drawers:


wardrobe safe shelves by BA_pics, on Flickr

Exec room has bathrobes and slippers included:


wardrobe bathrobes by BA_pics, on Flickr

Bathroom:

Sink and Vanity area: (mirror is heated)


bathroom vanity by BA_pics, on Flickr

Loo:


loo by BA_pics, on Flickr

full bathtub with shower over tub and glass screen:


shower bath by BA_pics, on Flickr

Other Hotel areas;

Elevator interior: (you are made to feel like a star )


elevator design by BA_pics, on Flickr

Hallway design and room number signs:


hallways by BA_pics, on Flickr

Walls outside elevators have different motives: (here a new forest pony):


new forest pony wall paper by BA_pics, on Flickr

cont...

BotB

Post 2 of 2 of review with pictures:

Exec Lounge:

great modern design welcome into exec lounge:


exec lounge entrance desk by BA_pics, on Flickr

Seating area niche exec lounge:


exec lounge seating 1 by BA_pics, on Flickr

other seating areas:


exec lounge seating 2 by BA_pics, on Flickr

and:


exec lounge seating 3 by BA_pics, on Flickr

and:


view from buffet back to entrance by BA_pics, on Flickr

The two fridges in the exec lounge:


exec lounge fridgees by BA_pics, on Flickr

Floor plan of hotel rooms (here 6th floor (of 8), assume others are the same):


floor plan 6th floor by BA_pics, on Flickr

You can see from the below picture that the view towards the beach (waterfront) is not available from any room or the sky lounge bar as there is a very large straight wall separating the private flats at the front from the hotel behind…you can see the windows of the 8th floor sky lounge bar in the middle of this photo. This side has no seating outside but a small walkway for smokers…the other side (facing the park and balloon) will have an outdoor seating area but this is still being worked on)…sky lounge seating is limited and you need to reserve in advance as non residents can also book and do…they do not hold any reserve back for hotel guests (my only negative of this hotel so far)…there is a booking form on the website I am told and also worth knowing that there is no food in the sky lounge bar until Feb. sometime…


sky lounge view illustration by BA_pics, on Flickr

Restaurant:

A few pics of the nice design of the restaurant:

Design element on ceiling of wooden spoons and forks:


ceiling design element by BA_pics, on Flickr

The open plan, open kitchen centre of the restaurant:


open kitchen centre of restaurant by BA_pics, on Flickr

Breakfast was outstanding, not only in choice and quality but also presentation as well as staff ^^^

The best way to welcome the morning: (note the proper cappuccino from a barista machine, not an automatic machine)


bliss by BA_pics, on Flickr

Some seating areas of the restaurant:


restaurant seating and design by BA_pics, on Flickr


restaurant 2 by BA_pics, on Flickr


restaurant seating by BA_pics, on Flickr


view back towards entrance of restaurant by BA_pics, on Flickr

The various breakfast sections in pictures to show what I mean:

Cereals:


excellent cereal presentation by BA_pics, on Flickr

Breads:


breads by BA_pics, on Flickr

Jams and spreads:


jams by BA_pics, on Flickr

Healthy option (I can only guess as it was less attractive looking!)


healthy option by BA_pics, on Flickr

Yoghurts and cold items:


yoghurts and coldcuts by BA_pics, on Flickr

Fruits:


fruits by BA_pics, on Flickr

Some of the fresh hot items:


cooked items by BA_pics, on Flickr

Other hot items (in usual covered trays):


hot items by BA_pics, on Flickr

Beverages:


drinks by BA_pics, on Flickr

Finally, a cabinet area for some fresh items but assume the chillis were not for breakfast :O


fresh goods cabinet by BA_pics, on Flickr

Sorry about the size of this thread due to the pics but hope it shows how great this hotel is and an excellent addition to the UK inventory we can choose from.

Geoggy

thanks for great pictures.

looking at a stay 1st-3rd Jan. My wife and I both diamond - sounds like booking the basic room might get us lounge access?

BotB

Yes, you'll have exec lounge access regardless of the room you book. A great hotel, hope you enjoy it as much as I did ^

uggboy

Thanks for all your superb and insightful images and descriptions, that's awesome. It's a beautiful & memorable design-led Hilton. ^

Cheers & Safe Travels. ^

wizla

Another very good review from you mate, looks amazing!.........good work .

BotB

Just to add that the Spa has a nice 20m pool ^

there is one section off the pool with jets but not a hot tub as such (as same temperature as pool water).

Also a sauna and steam room (both can fit around 4-6 people but would be packed then)...

bring a £ 1 coin to operate the lockers as the tokens the spa staff kindly provide don't work due to being a bit too small.

there are two showers and washroom facilities in the spa as well of course.

Its nice but not quite as big or varied as the Ageas bowl spa nearby, so if the spa is the reason for going, then try the Ageas instead.

Lovely to have a spa at all here in the Bournemouth hotel. ^ Staffv very helpful and friendly as throughout the hotel. ^^

Geoggy

Thanks for your help and your excellent review and photos.

Will book basic rooms and hope for the best - we only just got Diamond so this is our first stay - I take it you are confident we will get lounge access because it's guaranteed or is there another reason?

Many thanks

uggboy

When you're a Hilton Honors Diamond member, lounge access is guaranteed as per the terms and conditions, doesn't matter which room you book or receive. ^

Enjoy your stay and please report your experiences here on FT. Cheers & Safe Travels. ^