The Marsham Court Hotel was the setting for the 2007 National Institute of Road Safety Officers annual conference. A fantastic time was had by all - the staff were friendly, helpful and pleasant, the venue comfortable and ideal for the event.

Every one of our delegates rated the hotel at 4 or 5 out of 5 for comfort and quality and I would thoroughly recommend anyone to stay here. Rooms have been recently refurbished, there is a wonderful "family" atmosphere throughout and the setting is unmatched - the views across Christchuch Bay are outstanding.

We have just returned from the Marsham Court Hotel. I cannot praise the hotel staff enough, we had a lovely room with views across the bay and dinner each night was excellent. Would highly recommend

It's hard to come by hotels with decent sized family rooms but this is one. The room was plenty big enough for the 4 of us (incl a teen and a 10 y.o.). Heating was on too high but with the windows open this wasn't a problem. Rooms were clean but the counterpains to the matresses weren't. Room was quiet. Staff were almost exclusively foreigh (as is almost everyone in Bournemouth) and were very pleasant and helpful. Breakfast was standard English and fine. Other reviewers are right that the place needs a lick of paint. Hotel is very well located but the car park is hidden away.

The only reason I wouldn't go back is because of Bournemouth itself which is a bit dreary and kids under 14 aren't allowed in the tiny number of pubs (I counted 4 ). Nice beach though.

Let's start with the one good point. We had a large room with a great sea view.

If you crave 1950s furniture with handles missing on drawers,
nothing matching, and all looking very tired, you might like your room. If you like fresh air in your room, you are going to be disapointed if you get the same room as us; all but one window was sealed.

Our bed had such a dip in the middle we each went to sleep with one hand gripping our respective side of the bed.

The whole hotel was about as dated (badly so) as you might fear.
It look's like no money has been spent on it since the 1950s.

The only food we (nearly) had there was breakfast. The hotel calls it a 'buffet'. I travel a lot and have never seen such a dreadful one; sloppy scrambled eggs, baked beans swimming in something reddish, and the overall presentation of what was offered, was rather less than unappealing.

All of which begs the question: when did the AA last visit to check on the 3* rating it appears to give this hotel?

It's never worth the money they charge or the AA rating it claims.