Best Western The Royal Chase Hotel

Interesting, historical property. We had a spacious room with very comfortable beds. Enjoyable dip in the swimming pool! Staff were friendly.

Really nice pool, with a proper deep end open quite late, and a sauna. Breakfast was ok, and you could just choose continental which was cheaper than full English. A nice pub was located opposite and about a 15 min walk into the town center of Shaftesbury

Bit tired in olaces

Friendly staff and a well-tended lawn/ garden at the back- useful for walking the dog. The bathroom had been refurbished and was reasonable although the window looked directly onto the main carpark with no privacy blind.

We paid £200 with breakfast for one night as there was nowhere else available in the area. For that sort of money you have certain expectations, which the hotel failed to meet. The whole place needs a lot of TLC and a review of their prices. We had a dog-friendly twin room in the old wing of the hotel. The mismatched decor looked like it all came from the Wilko's closing down sale, the carpet was dirty and the wall paper was peeling off the walls and the ceiling. The frilly thing above the curtain rail was missing leaving an unpainted wooden box.

Room 5 was too warm and stuffy. I was unable to sleep well.The bathroom was very old and tired. The shower was very poor.Generally the hotel felt very old and poorly maintained.

Living in the USA we visit Shaftesbury for family. The Royal Chase is my consistent go-to hotel, and this time as usual I booked three rooms for two nights with a lot of food and beverage.1) Easily accessible location, not in town but on a main roundabout.2) Style, traditional old English hotel. The windows may be old but the rooms and bathrooms are excellently refurbished. 3) Parking. Other local Shaftesbury hotels are in town and parking is an issue. The Royal Chase has 3) Restaurant - quiet, not the most adventurous menu and my guess is a lot of from-the-freezer dishes. But they do it well, rise to the occasion of a large table and the informality is great for my needs.4) The all-female (see below) staff are consistently friendly, helpful, responsive.

Staying at the Royal Chase is becoming increasingly difficult. Touring Britain we have baggage, and at eighty-one having to make two or more trips to haul 55 pound (25 kilo) bags up tall staircases with higher steps than is usual in the USA is just too much. Yes, I might get lucky and a young housemaid may offer to help, but that is frankly humiliating. This is a problem with most English hotels too old to have lifts - but when built they had porters. To Americans universally used to elevators to say the hotel is too old for lifts but too cheap for porters is abdication of fundamental responsibilities of service and hospitality. If Best Western has not communicated this they are not earning their franchise fee.There is also an issue of social responsibility. In Shaftesbury and elsewhere in England I hear the difficulty for boys to get employment . It is not sexist to recognize that teenage girls on the whole learn service better than their brothers and the all-female structure of The Royal Chase exemplifies this. Yes, I know all about and support sex-discrimination laws, but these apply to the total staff-roll, and I suggest that employing one or two young men for their muscle would if anything defend the hotel against what otherwise seems to be discrimination the other way. Decades of worldwide travel taught me that porterage is a WONDERFUL way for youngsters to learn about interaction and service and even meet people who can benefit their future. It may not pay back in the P&L today but it may in repeat business. If nothing else I am sure the owners contribute to charities and I believe the noblest charity is payment for a job, which gives not only cash but self-worth and experience. Sincerely, John Watson, O.B.E.

Location

Hotel was not clean, room was very dirty, cheap basic linens, room too hot , dirt and stains in bathroom and walls, carpet dirty. Hotel needs upgrade asap

Lovely spacious bedroom with a bath as well as a shower.Lots of hotels don't have baths these days

Changing rooms in swimming pool were dirty and smelled unclean.Surrounding tiles to the pool were rather tired.Food in dining room edible but chicken curry was very fatty and gristly. No wonder only one other couple in there.

Location, space, parking, swimming pool.

Tired and ready for a refresh. Breakfast juice was only OK.

Excellent room, breakfast was the best we have ever had, dinner was delicious. Staff, so helpful and the gardens a treat.

No improvement necessary.

Very nice quiet hotel.Excellent dinner in the hotel.Friendly staffThe room was fine, warm, and clean. Lots of hot water.!!

Heating being a bit noisy turned the radiator off!!Sorted!!

Easy to find, good location for our needs and with good parking. A welcoming, friendly and helpful reception and restaurant staff. Well appointed room with a very comfy bed. The star was the quality of the evening meal and helpfulness of the chef of the day in personally helping with our GF options.

Very clean,spacious hotel set in lovely grounds with plenty of Parking.The swimming pool was a much appreciated addition.

That the price we paid did not include Breakfast,compared to other places we have stayed at.,so making it quite expensive for us,as a comparison.

Food was incredible! Very comforting and brilliant chefs.

Standard room was tiny. Sauna could be cleaner but family room was great.

A useful hotel for an overnight stay in Shaftesbury. A little out of town but there isn’t much choice locally. Room was what you’d expect. Staff very welcoming and friendly.

Very quiet, friendly staff.

Don't buy a pizza. Base like a biscuit and dry. Little tomato sauce. Melted cheese was not mozzerella and bbq chicken lumps! were very dry. In chef's defence it was 1st night of new menu. Needed to have some moisture. Barelly edible.

Friendly staff and close to the centre

Room in need of some care, wall paper off the walls, lamp with an electrical issue flickering

Having celebrated our golden wedding here last September, we were delighted that our niece decided to have her 50th party here. We stayed overnight and once again found everything to be exceptional. We were pleased to meet up again with Mandy and all the other staff, who continue to give first class service coupled with friendliness. The buffet was great and the room beautifully laid out. Didn't get to use the refurbished swimming pool this time sadly due to our time restraints, but everything was just as we remembered it, perfect. Hoping someone else decides to celebrate here so we have an excuse to revisit!! Thanks team

The staff were excellent. Very warm, friendly, professional and helpful. Finn and our night porter.

All was good, one improvement might be the doors made loud bangs when closing if didn't catch them.

Liked the location of hotel. Having the Electric Car Charger point.

Having a meal deal when booking is welcome.There was a 10% discount card in room to have off a meal but pre-booked!!!As we are not mind readers how could be book beforehand.

Location . Pool , bedroom & shower

Tired decoration , Reception area dowdy, lots of children using the pool