Bournemouth hotel creates inter-connecting rooms for ‘3G’ families

The first hotel in Bournemouth to install hot and cold water in its rooms more than 75 years ago, has created inter-connecting rooms to meet its growing number of ‘3G’ guests.

According to recent *research, more than 18 per cent of Britons have been on what is known as a ‘3G’ holiday – a trip where three generations of the same family travel together – in the last year.

Rosie Wallace, whose family has owned the Marsham Court Hotel in Russell-Cotes Road for over 30 years, said: “We now welcome more 3G families than ever before and have created four, brand new, inter-connecting rooms as a direct response to requests from our guests.

“We have always been popular with family groups, but the number of two and three generational groups has grown steadily over the years and being able to book connecting rooms is a huge draw to both those with older children and those with grandparents, who want to be close, but retain their own space.”

A total of eight new rooms have been created from former meeting rooms and offices and take the former Bournemouth Large Hotel of the Year from 87 to 95 rooms – quite an achievement for what started as a 13-room guest house occupying one of two neighbouring houses on the East Cliff in 1913.

Rosie said: “A Mr and Mrs Marsh – who had a ‘ham’ curing business – originally owned the building and supposedly linked the two words, forming Marsham.

“By 1923, demand for their 13 rooms had become so great that the neighbouring house was bought and linked to provide 41 rooms.”

The Edwardian hotel became a mecca for the gentry, largely due to the weekly tea dances held there.

Old photographs show uniformed drivers standing patiently beside gleaming automobiles in the hotel’s garage, which is still in use, while their wealthy employers took tea or danced in the grand Terrace Ballroom.

In 1937, the hotel was managed by Quakers and had no liquor licence.

It installed hot and cold water in its rooms in 1944, becoming the first hotel in Bournemouth to do so.

And a year later in 1945 it was sequestered for use by the American Red Cross which used it as a luxurious bolthole for fatigued GIs during the remainder of World War 2.

The hotel has welcomed over a million guests through its doors since it was taken over by the Rosie’s mother, the late Jennie Deavin in October 1987, with her previous husband Chris Dixon-Box.

The new rooms form part of an ongoing, large scale, renovation programme, which has already seen the refurbishment of the main Solent Suite restaurant and the installation of Bournemouth’s largest dance floor.

Rosie added: “We are also very pleased to have created two more accessible rooms alongside the inter-connecting rooms. These feature modern wet rooms or walk-in showers, widened doors to accommodate wheelchairs and lower level sockets and light switches.”

The new rooms have been created and refurbished by Chewton Bespoke Homes, Amica and Welltex .

Ends

www.marshamcourthotel.co.uk

Media information: Debbie Granville on: 07884 657782 email: Debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk

The growth of the Marsham Court Hotel since 1913

1913 – 13 bedrooms

1923 – 41 bedrooms

1929 – 74 bedrooms

1936 – 110 bedrooms

2002 – 87 bedrooms

2018 – 95 bedrooms

*research by Sainsbury’s