We were met at the door with a very warm welcome and the host, Tony, knew who we were...impressive! The advice he gave us, about the hotel, our room, parking, eating places was most thorough and personal to our needs. Personal details in our room, fresh water availability, mini fridge for milk etc. Excellent in every respect!!

Nothing really. We had in advance a personal call from Tony about building issues which were being sorted. However, this meant breakfast for our week was not going to be available. Tony though gave us details of alternative breakfast places, and the first one we visited was superb and we went there for our five days!

Comfortable and clean

Parking only 3 spaces which were in use also our room was at the top of the hotel so stairs were hard work

Lovely, friendly host, very knowledgeable about the local area with plenty of suggestions for things to see and do, plus restaurant recommendations if needed. The breakfast was fantastic, plenty of variety and more than enough to fuel yourself for the day. The breakfast menu is a tick-box so there's no danger of getting anything you don't/can't eat. The hotel itself is quite quirky and very nicely decorated. It's a beautiful old building with lots of history and our host was keen to point this out. The location is perfect, very central and I would have no hesitation in staying here again.

The hotel does not have it's own carpark and parking is on a nearby street. This did not affect me as I had made prior arrangements but if car parking is important to you then this is the only potential negative.

Noorami and her fellow team went above and beyond to ensure that not only did we have a comfortable stay but that we had the opportunity to experience Dorchester’s beautiful community. She provided wonderful recommendations and ensured that we had everything we needed for our stay, nothing was too much! We have decided to return to this hotel in the future to experience more of the local and surrounding areas. It is evident that Noorami has a passion for great hospitality. She has a duty of care to every guest and it is a safe and secure establishment which I find particularly important as a female tourist on my own. The breakfast was delightful both mornings, it is lovely you can choose with or without to suit your budget but I will say it is worth it! The Sri Lankan recipes are delicious too! Do not hesitate to book a room here if you are lucky enough to find a vacancy…I couldn’t recommend this charming hotel more!

Absolutely nothing, our stay was perfect!

Excellent location for exploring inland Dorset. Easy walking distance to plenty of restaurants. Charming host with plenty of ideas for things to do and tips on restaurants. Very clean with no outdoor shoes in bedrooms rule. 4 private parking spaces on first come, first served basis. In reality, this worked well and we had a place every day. Would strongly recommend this guest house, an oasis of peace in the centre of Dorchester.

Being on the High Street, the traffic might wake you up if you slept with the window open. So if this is of concern I would suggest a rear bedroom. However, the windows had secondary glazing, so with the windows closed, noise was not a problem.

The Casterbridge is an Old World hotel, with charm and atmosphere. It is located very conveniently on the main road of Dorchester. There are several excellent eating places very near by, as well as shops of different types. The property has three parking places in a car park two streets away. We were welcomed by Noorani, who is a warm and effusive hostess. She made us feel at home and gave us excellent advice and recommendations on places to visit and dine. The room was large and comfortable, with ample storage space, a spacious bathroom and a luxurious bed (we stayed in the four-poster bedroom).

The water pressure in the bathroom could have been better.

The staff were very friendly and informative of the town and the surrounding areas. Breakfast was very good, we chose to eat in the conservatory and view the well stocked garden.

The only thing we would have done differently was to have chosen a larger room, it was as it said in the literature, ( cosy). One other thing to mention is the drain in the shower cubicle is not draining away the water fast enough, so it does need looking into.

Ideal location if you want to be in the centre of Dorchester. Excellent choice of pubs, restaurants etc. Busy, buzzy small county town with good choice of shops including a Waitrose, local museums, all within walking distance. 17th C hotel has historic connections, with nicely decorated rooms, pretty rear garden with a conservatory to sit and eat breakfast. Breakfasts are freshly cooked and you are looked after in a friendly and hospitable fashion by the owners and staff.

The main road runs through Dorchester and traffic is constant during the working week but calms down in the evening and night-time. Asking for a room to the rear away from from the road would be something I would ask for next time we visit. Car parking is about 150 yds away and there are only three spaces so reserve a space in good time. Four poster bed comfortable enough but mattress a bit high for my wife who has some mobility issues.

The decor was absolutely lovely, especially the breakfast room. The hotel had real character, A nice communal library downstairs where you could relax. The host (I've forgotten her name) was welcoming and friendly and keen to advise about what I should do during my stay, and where I could go to eat. As I was travelling alone this was a real bonus.

Before I got there I got an email advising about a self check in system, which seemed to suggest that when I got there I wouldn't meet a person, but I would have to find my own way to my room. It said I would have to pick up my key from a key safe. Which actually didn't apply, because when I got there there was no key safe. I was very glad when my host appeared and welcomed me. Please don't send this email to your guests any more, as it is very off putting. The reason for paying the money for a 4 star hotel is that you are able to turn up when you like and be welcomed in to the hotel by a real person.

Charming small hotel, so beautifully decorated. Our room was very comfortable. Easy walking access to shops, town walks, and busses (we enjoyed taking the Jurassic Coaster busses to Lyme Regis, West Bay, Weymouth). Breakfast wasn't included in our booking but we added it on once there, very good value. Make sure to try the apple juice! Room had a portable fan which helped keep the room comfortable. The proprietor was very kind, offered many good suggestions for dining, sights, etc.

Our room faced the street and it was rather noisy at night with traffic until after 22:00. (We needed the window open at night to keep the air moving.) Would ask for a quieter room next time. Also no lift, we were fine with stairs but if anyone has mobility concerns or very large luggage you could have trouble.