21 Years Later: Sentimental Return To The Heathlands Hotel Where Once I Worked In Bournemouth England

“Don’t tell me it’s not worth fighting for” – Bryan Adams.

Tears drained naturally from my eyes when I heard this Bryan Adams song being sung in a bar I once worked in – 21 years later, in a hotel I once stayed in – 31 years earlier. The Heathlands Hotel in East Cliff, Bournemouth, Dorset, England. It was an unbelievable feeling. A spine tingle. This is a bit of a wild story…and it dates back to July 1994. The day I fell in love with sunny sunny Bournemouth. Another life changing moment, and a fool circle yet to be known. A video of that Bryan Adams cover appears at the bottom of this post.

21 Years Later: Sentimental Return To The Heathlands Hotel Where Once I Worked In Bournemouth England

1994 trip to The Heathlands Hotel

For whatever reason, in 1994 we went on a family summer holiday to Lancaster, Bournemouth, Winchester and London. In Lancaster we stayed in The Shakespeare Hotel, in Winchester it was the Wykeham Inn, in London we stayed with Aunt Jane and cousin Ashley, and on the south coast at Bournemouth, we booked into the Heathlands Hotel for 3 nights. In those days, we’d take 24 photos on a holiday on an old wind-on camera and luckily below, two photos survive and show clearly us outside the Heathlands. In life, you never ever think you’ll return to such a place, never mind work there, be the barman and later be the guest…

“Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you” – Alanis Morisette.

At the Heathlands Hotel, Bournemouth in 1994

We had 2 rooms, on the top floor – see below photo. The hotel hasn’t changed its exterior look in 31 years! I believe we were in Rooms 246 and 244…

Heathlands Hotel 1994 – our two rooms

2004 Working On The Bar at The Heathlands Hotel

It was all fate and magic really. Exactly 10 years later, I found myself living in Bournemouth and working here! I saw an advert in the local paper in April 2004. I called the number and went in for a job interview. At the job interview, they asked if I could start that night! And I said yes! It was an incredible journey. I worked there for 6 months – the busy season. I usually worked Friday and Saturday nights plus some wedding functions and some ballroom discos of a Sunday…

Jonny Blair at Heathlands Hotel Bournemouth England

Working Wednesdays: I was once the barman in the 3 star Heathlands Hotel in East Cliff, Bournemouth, Dorset, England.

We even had some local regular customers as the bar was also a public bar. Dennis and Alison became 2 of my regular customers. I worked with Mervyn from Cork in Republic of Ireland, Mags from Liverpool in England. My boss was Matt who was also studying hospitality management at Bournemouth University. Then there were the German girls – Christina, Lulu plus the Welsh, Irish, Polish, Dutch, French, Colombian (Gustavo who was nuts, spoke no English and shagged loads of the German girls) and one Iranian-German called Hamta. I actually wrote a poetry collection in that job – it is called ROOM CARD ONLY. Poems/songs on that are Room Service, Sandwich Child, Watership Ballroom, Higher…I wrote “Sandwich Child” about Hamta, and I never saw her again.

“This English life of sleepless nights, the chemists help you last. You’re just a sandwich child” – Jonny Blair (for Hamta).

Heathlands Hotel Bar in Bournemouth Dorset 2004

Working Wednesdays: Relaxing with Dennis, one of the “regulars” in the Heathlands Hotel Bar in Bournemouth in 2004

From the exterior – Bournemouth’s Heathlands Hotel in East Cliff in 2004.

2025 Sentimental Return To The Heathlands Hotel Where Once I Worked – Bournemouth – England – August 2025

And so the weirdest thing happened, 31 years later I was back here, as a guest and a customer. How it all came about was rather extraordinary and unplanned.

FOOL CIRCLE – 20 years later!

I was back in Bournemouth where I have a lot of friends and memories from living there 2003 to 2009, and where I also support the mighty Cherries – AFC Bournemouth! This time I was back for AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Up The Cherries! The day of the 1-0 win over Wolves.

This time, I was staying at Shep’s flat – Chris Sheppard. A really cool flat actually and located in East Cliff, not far from the beach. Shep himself a big traveller, proper English gent and a writer too…check out his Positivity Tornado. I stayed at Shep’s for 2 nights and we met up at Wetherspoon’s (The Moon In The Square). And Shep’s flat faces onto Grove Road, which is where the Heathlands Hotel is – I was sleeping 5 minutes walk from the Heathlands Hotel which is jointly on Grove Road and Gervis Road!! I walked past it twice both days I stayed here.

Staying at Shep’s in Wingfield Court, East Cliff

Breakfast with Shep in Wetherspoons

Writing my book in Shep’s flat

Leaving Shep’s flat after writing my book, there was a weird subliminal message on the van outside. Both parts of the numberplate.

The spooky car registration outside Shep’s flat

Walking past the Heathlands Hotel

After leaving Shep’s flat on the Monday, I was going to head straight to Southampton or Winchester. The original plan was to stay with Richard and Amy in King’s Somborne for 2 nights then head to London to meet Millwall Neil, spend a night in a prison cell bar, before flying back to Poland on the Friday. But things changed quickly. I thought maybe I should do a night as a one-off here at The Heathlands Hotel, as a paying customer just out of pure curiosity. I don’t normally pay for hotels or hostels, since I have been reviewing them on this blog since 2010, in my accommodation section. If you didn’t already know – all that stuff is sponsored. Travel blogging became massive, it changed my life. You didn’t think I’d pay for 3 nights in a 5 star pad in The Gambia or 3 nights on Madonna’s island did you?

San Pedro, La Isla Bonita, Belize

This means I rarely use booking sites like booking.com, agoda.com, hotels.com, hostelworld.com etc. At 2 p.m. I logged into Booking.com and saw that one night in a single room in The Heathlands Hotel was £50 – not including breakfast but free Wi-Fi. I needed to be online to get some blogging and teaching done so I booked it! Then I arrived to check-in! It was so strange checking in.

My booking for the Heathlands Hotel

It felt totally inspired here in 2025. I checked into The Heathlands Hotel at 3 p.m. on a Monday afternoon, an hour after booking it. This time, I decided to be a tourist, a customer. I wanted to see if I liked it from the other side. I wanted to see myself from a customer side, almost like a secret review! This day, I walked calmly through the doors of The Heathlands Hotel. In Bournemouth, Dorset, England. Immediately, I liked the staff.

My return to The Heathlands Hotel

I was checked in by a Brazilian receptionist, Bruda, she was so lovely. She was calm, she took time to chat. I’d always done that in my bar days, except when the bar was busy of course, but I’d catch up later… All staff smiled. Wild. They were just like me. They were the same as me. They worked here just like I had done. I loved that job. This was amazing. My passion would have been clear in 2004. They pay your wage, you do the job. You smile. Customer comes first. Everything was brilliant. Then I’m to go to my room. I got lost! I actually went to our original 1994 rooms first, as they were also on the second floor. I didn’t ask for the second floor – it was a coincidence that I would be back here on this floor!

The two rooms were our family stayed in 1994

I then got lost and went to Room 228 by mistake instead of 248. I even tried my keycard and of course it didn’t open! Then I realised I am in 248! Silly!

My room in 2025

My room in 2025 – Room 248

My room in 2025 – 248

Room 248. Jonny Scott Blair is staying as a paying customer in the Heathlands Hotel. Wow. Proper backpacking

. No sponsored shit here, I paid for the room and checked in. Wow. I’m in Room 248. It’s a Single room. Nobody knew I was a travel blogger. Nobody knew I usually get free stays. Nobody knew I used to work here. Nobody knew me. (Or did they? An encounter was to come). Amazing. I’m objective.

My room in 2025 – Room 248, Heathlands Hotel

I loved the room. I had a bath!!! I hadn’t been in a bath for about 10 years. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had a bath in a hotel – none of my flats had baths in that time!

Bath and shower room

I had fast Wi-Fi. Bed was comfy. Yes Heathlands Hotel. Yes Heathlands! After resting and getting some online work done, I knew I had to go to the bar for a pint. Bruda had informed me of a music night in the bar. I had no idea I would shed a tear.

Emotional return to The Heathlands Hotel

View out my window at The Heathlands Hotel

Time to go to the bar

At reception I decided to tell Bruda I worked here 21 years ago. All of the staff had changed now. None remain from 2004. I spoke to her about those crazy days. The hotel had been refurbished now, and survived not one, but two fires!!

Fire at The Heathlands Hotel

Out of curiosity I asked her for a chat to the manager on duty. The previous manager’s shift had finished and that was Gosia, that would have been cool as she is Polish. Now on duty was Antonio from Portugal. He pops out for a chat and then gives me a real trip down memory lane – a tour of the hotel. We share stories. He takes me into the Ballroom, where I wrote the poem “Watership Ballroom”.

“It’s funny how the songs you dance to are from an era you don’t belong in or understand. Watership ballroom” – Jonny Blair.

Back in the ballroom

We also visit the restaurant which has been renovated. The old staff room here is no longer. I reminisced on making toasties here for customers on room service in the kitchen all those years ago. The smell smelt similar.

Back in the restaurant

I didn’t have breakfast included nor did I ask for a freebie, but I remember the breakfasts here – typical English breakfast with beans, hash browns, bacon, sausages, eggs, bread, tomatoes and mushrooms. I did have free tea and coffee in my room though.

Tea and coffee in my room

We also went outside for a chat and Antonio and I shared some stories. What was crazy was that he knew about me, even though he obviously wasn’t working here in 2004. As a manager, they would often Google the hotel or check online reviews and he had seen my blog before and even the photo of me in the bar. It is believed that the photo of me in the bar was once used in a hotel leaflet! But we can’t find a copy or check if this really happened. I would of course have been delighted. A lot has changed in 21 years –

no smoking!!! In 2004, I used to have to wash the ashtrays – you could smoke inside then.
you have to pay to park your car here now, £5 a day
no cash payments on the bar!! Card only!! In 2004, we didn’t accept card on the bar – it was cash only!
free Wi-Fi everywhere. Nobody even asked for it in 2004
full refurb – new carpet, cleaning, repainting, rebranding
no swimming pool – back in 2004 there was a pool and staff could use it on days off

The car park, which is now £5 a day

Car parking

Now it was off to the bar, to watch the live music – a singer doing cover versions. I am introduced to Siddarth, from India, wow!! My barman! The man tonight doing the job I did 21 years earlier, and he is a great guy and good barman! Quite a lot had changed…but the bar and even the shutters on the bar were the same. He told me he gets paid about £13 an hour now, plus tips. In my day, it was £5.50 an hour!! They have different beers on tap now, some of the drink options have changed of course. I don’t see the coffee machine, no ashtrays, new seats but the sentiment remains. I order a beer!

A beer at The Heathlands Hotel 21 years later

A Tetley’s on pint is £5. I tell Siddarth I was sure it was £2.20 for Strongbow and Castlemaine back then and that we had Guinness in cans for £2.50. The beer actually tastes pretty good! It is my first Tetley’s in years and years!

A beer at The Heathlands Hotel 21 years later

Siddarth is surprised that not only did I work here, but that I did that in 2004, when he was very young. He doesn’t even think I look old enough to have worked here 21 years ago. I am sentimentally moved here. It is such an amazing feeling.

With Siddarth on the bar I worked in 21 years earlier

Siddarth was the barman I tried to be. Friendly, chatty, knowledgeable, helpful, chilled…Siddarth is also surprised that I have been to India. I told him it is one of 230 countries I was in!!!

Backpacking in India

I also tell Siddarth that at one point this was once voted England’s worst hotel and that it was a shock to hear that. I’d been working here long before that of course. Who intervened? Now it was class again. The Heathlands Hotel oozes class. Everything is running smoothly here, like I dreamed it to. Then I sit down with my pint and the singer plays Bryan Adams, followed by some Elvis and The Beatles. He also does Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline which is a Northern Ireland football anthem, so I sing along and change it to Sweet Northern Ireland.

Having a pint and listening to the live singer

I loved the oxymorons and juxtapositions too. I’d worked with people who couldn’t speak English here in 2004. True. But they worked hard. But customers criticised them. “Give me the Irish barman”, they’d say. I told my colleagues to tell them “We only have a Northern Irish barman…”. My workmate back then, Lulu from Germany cracked open a champagne bottle on an erectile night that summer. We’d often have after work drinks with Mike and Matt, two bosses. There were Manuel-type characters from Fawlty Towers too – Gustavo from Colombia spoke no English and asked me what a JD was. I partied with Christina and Mervyn a few times too.

Jonny Blair partying in Bournemouth Dorset

Irish and German on a Heathlands Hotel night out to bid farewell to Christina who headed back to Germany. A rare photo of me with Mervyn Harnett too!

I reminisce here in the bar. I feel really odd. I also feel really old. I ponder that 21 years ago as a barman, when I had visited just 12 countries, or 31 years ago as a guest, when I had visited just 9 countries if you had told me in 21 years I’d be back here having visited 230 countries, I could never have believed you. Not a chance.

The Heathlands Hotel bar in 2025

I linger in the bar then take that 21 years later photo in the same spot. Wow!

The Heathlands Hotel bar in 2025

The Heathlands Hotel bar in 2004

Ironically the difference in the photos isn’t much. The door is open and the shutters are up in the 2004 one. I suddenly feel tired and go to rest my head.

Time to sleep in The Heathlands Hotel

Now it’s a keycard, no physical key. 21 years aged me. Wi-Fi works, taps work, bed is cosy, TV works, I love it. I’m not even biased. I worked here, I’m part of the legacy but you NEED to stay here if you are in Bournemouth. I slept well, woke up, checked out and loved it…

When I walked out of the door of The Heathlands Hotel the next day, I did ponder, would I ever be in The Heathlands Hotel again? I wasn’t sure I needed or wanted to be. I was fairly satisfied that I’d been part of this history and the current workers lived the same dream.

Thank you, for your passion for life, The Heathlands Hotel, the worst and best hotel ever in England.

“My soul slides away but don’t look back in anger I heard you say” – Noel Gallagher.

Sentimental Return To The Heathlands Hotel Where Once I Worked – Bournemouth – England – August 2025:

Sweet Caroline Cover -Heathlands Hotel Bar Where Once I Worked – Bournemouth – England – August 2025

1994 trip to The Heathlands Hotel

2004 Working On The Bar at The Heathlands Hotel

2025 Sentimental Return To The Heathlands Hotel Where Once I Worked – Bournemouth – England – August 2025

Leave a Reply