The Applewood Hotel

The building is Edwardian, 20 rooms of it, set behind a facade on Durley Road. Inside, the refurbishment reads modern chic: fresh paint, clean lines, comfortable beds, and private bathrooms fitted throughout. Rooms range from budget singles to family suites, each with ironing facilities and Wi-Fi. It is a five-minute walk to the beach. The same distance covers the town centre, Bournemouth's gardens, and the BIC, which makes the hotel a workable base for both the seafront and the shops. Downstairs, a lounge bar holds a television and board games for evenings that don't call for going out. The garden at the back is small and kept green, a quiet spot to sit with a drink away from the road. Breakfast runs light on weekdays; a full English cooked breakfast is served on Saturdays and Sundays. The hotel is run by the family that owns it, a detail that shows in the day-to-day attention to cleanliness and service rather than in any brochure gloss. Parking is free and fits every room on-site, no small thing in a town where street parking runs scarce. Reception operates from 2pm to 9pm daily. The overall pitch is straightforward: a well-kept period building, modern comforts, and a short walk to the sand.