The Cumberland Hotel

I think this would be a good conference venue, but I wouldn't recommend it for a weekend away. Problems that have promoted me to write this review: (1) We arrived while the venue was being used for a wedding reception so with the limited parking there was no chance of getting a park. Instead the reception staff suggested we park at the pay carparks on the road with no reimbursement & little interest from Reception. (2) Despite having booked a double room, we were informed that the room was still made up as a twin & we'd have to wait to get it made up as a double. (3) We weren't too worried that we could hear the wedding DJ as it was initially rather muted . However the band started up at 10 pm & when I rang reception at around 11.30 to find out when they were finishing up there was no answer. The band's second set started about midnight & due to there not being any clocks in the room I can't say what time they finished but I think it was around 1am. (4) We'd paid for a buffet breakfast - but this didn't start until 8am. As we wanted to head off before this time reception had said they could provide a continental breakfast via room service from 7am. This turned up 20 mins late. Combined with a cold shower (the hot water came through about 10 mins after turning the tap on full) this wasn't a great start to the day. (5) Other negatives - a very spartan room with furnishings more what I would associate with a 2 or 3 star hotel - certainly not what we were expecting from a 4star hotel with 4 star prices. Positives - a lovely pool area & I'd recommend the band

Avoid this hotel like the plague... On arriving at the hotel we were informed that we must have made a mistake with our booking as we did not have a room, despite having booked the hotel through the Cumberland's website two days previously. They then claimed that we must have booked their sister hotel, the Suncliffe, 'by mistake'. Eventually after speaking to two receptionists and the manager they admitted the fault was on their part for overbooking the Cumberland. This is simply not acceptable treatment and is misrepresentation on their part showing a flagrant disregard for our rights as customers. The Suncliffe Hotel which we had been moved to is a smelly dog-eared hotel and the room had about a foot of spare space around the bed. However, they still wanted us to pay the £160 we had agreed to pay to be in the Cumberland Hotel. On complaining they eventually gave us a measly £30 reduction because they knew that all the other hotels in Bournemouth were fully booked as it was bank holiday weekend. Again this shows a general attitude of putting maximising their own profits over any thoughts of providing an acceptable service to paying customers. Having rung around other hotels in Bournemouth we realised there simply were no other rooms available. Fortunately we then came up with the brainwave of taking the overnight ferry to France (we were due to take an early morning ferry the following morning anway) from Poole. It was great to be able to walk out the hotel without having to hand over any cash to such a terrible hotel

We recently stayed at the Cumberland for a weeks family holiday, with our 2 daughters aged 8 & 13. We were given a family room with a balcony and full sea & pool view. The room was spacious and clean with plenty of wardrobe space and recently renovated bathroom. We were very pleased with the fact that the kids had proper beds to sleep in and not the usual camp beds that we have had in other hotels. Downstairs the recent refurbishment is fantastic and the bar and lounge areas have big comfy sofas to relax in after the gorgeous evening meal. Breakfast was plentiful and varied, evening meal had plenty of choices with lots of fresh fish and all food was piping hot. The kids could either choose off the kids or adult menu and they catered for their needs if they wanted a meal without the sauce etc. There is a nice pool area and you can use the indoor pool and gym in the hotel next door and go there in the evening for the entertainment. If you go in the school summer hols watch out for the amazing fireworks on friday nights at 10 o'clock, the best we've seen. The only downside to the hotel is the parking which is limited but there is roadside parking right outside for £3 a day and alot of spaces came available during the day so you can move your car. All the staff are very friendly and helpful and we would definitely go back again next year.

Lobby/Lounge The most stunning Art Deco/Modern furnishings we have seen. Very roomy, comfortable and clean as well. Room Spacious/Clean and great storage Room Service Amazingly fast and efficient. We were very impressed. Breakfast Great variety of food and all fresh. Diner After being seating the gorgeous Red Door room we were treated to attentive service by all your staff. Our meal was perfect and the evening great. Bar Well this was the only real disappoint. The staff simply could not prepare the simplest cocktail properly. Even when ordered off the menu they were not correctly made. After sending back 2 drinks I gave up and just ordered wine. Perhaps the hotel needs to hire a properly trained bartender. Pool Bar/Food Service was very erratic, at times there were too much staff and others not enough. All were pleasant but their English was poor and when I asked for Cranberry Juice or a Jug of ice water they were not able to understand me at all. Sunday Lunch We were once again impressed by the level of service and excellent food quality. As well a great value. .

I was treated to a surprise visit to Bournemouth to celebrate my birthday, so had no idea what to expect. Was pleasantly surprised on arrival by a very nice looking hotel. The ground floor is amazing, all recently refurbished in an art deco style, the lounge bar is especially well done, and we loved having a drink or two there - drinks were a good price too, no more expensive that drinking in an upmarket pub. The lido area by the pool would be a really lovely place to spend a sunny day (if only the weather could match up to it!) . The front desk staff were good, the breakfast decent and the location is superb, just a few minutes walk from the centre of town (though if you are unfit, getting back might be hard work - it's a steep hill!). On the downside, the rooms haven't been refurbed for some time, but ours was still in generally good condition, was roomy and we had a partial sea view. The staff at breakfast were a miserable bunch generally and the chap who seemed to be in charge was somewhat unhelpful: We arrived for breakfast on the first morning and asked for a table near the window and were told they were "reserved for residents" and he then turned his back on me! I lost subtlety for a moment and made a bit of a fuss, and he mysteriously found a table for us! Also, the car park isn't big enough really - it was full when we arrived, which we solved by parking in the parking area behind the hotel next door (which is owned by the same company) which didn't cause us any problems. Road parking is controlled so if you have to park on the road, make sure you move it in the morning or you will get ticketed. None of the above were major problems, and I would certainly recommend the Cumberland - it seems to be a cut above most of the local hotels - the Cliffside next door definitely looks a little tired in comparison! Had the breakfast staff been friendlier, I would have given this the full five points!

Hotel looked fab on the website and we got a great deal via Expedia. Had booked my parents and their friends in for 4 nights - made a request for sea views as they were celebrating wedding anniversaries, however did not get these - but appreciate that it was a reasonably busy time of year for them. Refurbishment very visible downstairs - looked amazing - unfortunately the rooms were not of the same quality (respectable and clean, just not very art deco) - but there are signs up around the hotel saying that the refurb is not yet complete - it will be a highly recommended hotel once it is!!! The truely special thing about this hotel is the staff - they looked after my parents well and made sure that they had an enjoyable and comfortable stay (English is not my parents first language and they were slightly nervous before their stay). It really made my parents stay a special one - a shame that many 4/5 star hotels can't manage the same level of service!

A friend and I were travelling through England and happened upon the Cumberland... WOW! Great rates, fabulous room (we had seaside view with balcony). The vintage lounge was really cool and provided a different surrounding from the typical hotel. Our room was spacious/comfortable and the staff was accommodating. My only caution is when you are told the bar is 24 hours... it means the lounge closes at midnight but the front desk has a stash of select liquers and beer behind the counter. No woories though because sipping Bailey on our deck with that amazing view was unbeatable.

I booked this hotel through Lastminute's mystery hotel and was very pleasantly surprised!!! We had a spacious hotel room overlooking the sea with a balcony. Breakfast was very good. Dinner was ok. The bar was fantastic and beautifully decorated. The staff were excellent and very accomodating. We had to park out on road but this wasn't a problem and it was very cheap. The rooms are under going refurbishment from what I understand and our room was fine but you could hear the people walking round above us. That said, I loved the feel of this 1920s hotel and plan to go back!

i booked the hotel through late rooms. com. i booked a twin room with a sea view.. When we arrived we waited 15 minuites for our room and the front reception was very disorganised. when we eventually got to room we didnt have a sea view and we had two single beds pushed together.. it was very uncomfortable! there was never any parking in the car park so we had to park outside the hotel on the main street. we went to the bar downstairs in the evening and waited fifteen min before even recieving our drinks. we had to queue for 20 min before we could sit down to have breafast..it was like being back at school. to top it all off when we left the hotel we recieved a parking ticket.. so think twice before you book this hotel..

Booked into this hotel for 2 nights. When we arrived at the hotel the first problem we encountered was that we could not park our car anywhere. We spoke to reception who informed us that it was to bad and that they could not guarantee their guests a parking place. They told us we could park outside the carpark on a single yellow line after 6pm but would have to move the car by 8 am the next morning or we would get a parking ticket. Maybe the management should get their staff to park somewhere else. Inside the hotel the reception area is 4 star but as soon as you reach the bedrooms you will feel like you have moved into a 2 star hotel. The double bed is very small and as we are just under 6 foot both me and my wife had our feet dangling over the bed. The pillows where rock hard and the cistern in the bathroom dripped all night. we did try to get some sleep but the constant noice from other guests running along corridors and slamming doors made it almost impossible as the walls where paper this. I have stayed in hotels all over the world and do not consider myself to be a fussy person in fact this is the first time I have commented on a hotel! This is a hotel to avoid. To rub salt into the wounds as we checked out the couple in front of us asked as they where leaving could they leave their car in the car park for the day as they where going shopping. Maybe thats why the guests cant park!!!!