"Knoll House Hotel overlooks Studland Bay with stunning views. We have just got out of lockdown and hotels are back in business, I do not know all the rules that apply I can only write about our experience. This hotel must, at one time, have been a fantastic venue, not so now. It needs an awful lot of money spent on it to restore it to its former glory. Peeling paint, grubby windows, unwelcoming reception, old fashioned rooms, no flat screen t.v. only a rather small one perched on a chest of drawers. in fact, our room and the bathroom were nothing like the ones that feature on the website. We couldn't understand this as the hotel was not full and we booked last year, if you are going to un furlough your cleaning staff then get them to clean the best rooms in the hotel with the decent bathrooms and flat screen televisions to make up for all the facilities that were no longer included, but were paid for. It appears that everyone is trying to do their best in these very trying conditions, but unfortunately this hotel does need to try a lot, lot harder. The Staff in the restaurant are, on the whole, good some are exceptional others need re training. Orders had to be constantly repeated, were forgotten or in some cases didn't materialise. So, so disappointed. The restaurant is drab, the rules are that you are handed the cutlery but you have to lay the table yourself. Some fresh flowers on the table would have been nice, not just a tea light. The food was ok, bit hit and miss but the menu was the same every night with a few add ons for the starters and desserts. The grilled fish being the best. We would not have liked to have been staying for a whole week. Breakfast was adequate, but more reminiscent of a buffet breakfast. Why can't we do decent tea and coffee in this country? The grounds were seriously neglected with regards to colour. Pots were empty, no hanging baskets to brighten the gardens why? Garden centres have been opened a few weeks now. Were the groundsmen still furloughed? The swimming pools were not available (rules). The rooms were not serviced (rules) how I missed not going back to a room with the beds made, fresh towels in the bathroom, bins emptied and carpets hoovered, especially after a day on the beach. Only found out about this through asking, would have been nice to have been told. After three months in lockdown we wanted a bit of luxury and at £350 a night for two we expected it. Sorry Knoll House it's a big thumbs down from us, despite the difficult times you do need to up your game and make this the splendid hotel it looks on the website."
