What a pleasure it is to stroll out of one’s accommodation and almost straight onto the beach. Such joys await at St John’s Guest House, named after the impressive Grade II listed church on its doorstep.
As we parked up outside the guest house, owners Lynne and Andy warmly greeted us and cheerfully apologised for the driving rain – “Don’t worry, the rain never stays long in Weymouth” Lynne told us with a glint in her eye. She was right, as the rest of our stay featured the idyllic sunshine one dreams of for a British seaside holiday.
St John’s Church (c) Lucy Woods
Along with their daughter and faithful dog Bella, Andy and Lynne took over the guest house in 2017, and despite the challenges of the pandemic, they have flourished to create a wonderfully stylish and comforting place to stay. They were recently awarded Silver in the Best B&B category of the Dorset Tourism Awards.
Who for
Ideally suited for couples and small groups of friends, the guest house is more luxurious than your average B&B. Most beds are King size, and our room even had a light-up walk-in wardrobe.
The guest house is family-friendly, and older guests may appreciate the option to stay on the ground floor without the worry of steep stairs.
If you are planning on bringing your bicycle, Andy has purchased a secure container where you can store your kit worry-free.
Accommodation
St John’s Guest House is furnished with 10 rooms and can accommodate up to 23 guests in total. Some rooms are suitable for families, and one can be booked with a connecting kitchen/living room.
Many of the rooms have been recently upgraded, and the décor is bright and fun.
Our King room (c) Andrew Moss
Our King room was located on the ground floor and featured wonderful tropical wallpaper with equally jazzy cushions decorated with gold geometric shapes and tropical scenes with flamingos.
The animal theme expanded to all aspects of the room – our bedside tables had bee-shaped handles and the windowsill was decorated with animal statues and peacock bowls. Two glass hummingbirds dangled cheerfully from the ceiling.
I was a big fan of the walk-in wardrobe and the advent-calendar style drawers packed with different teas, coffees, sweets, and biscuits. There’s a kettle and fridge large enough to store several bottles of wine.
The bathroom was bright and a good size, with a powerful shower and lovely-smelling Plum & Abby products. I was pleased that the toiletries were refillable, high-quality and attached to the walls – much better for the environment than the oft-provided tiny plastic bottles and sachets.
Food & Drink
The breakfast room is a bright, cheery space at the front of the guest house. During Covid times you choose your breakfast the day before, ordering via their website.
Breakfast Room (c) Lucy Woods
Breakfast is cooked to order by Lynne and there are some delicious options including full English with all the trimmings, waffles with crispy bacon, poached eggs on toast and vegetarian breakfast.
I loved the giant teacups and was thrilled that my cooked breakfast came with hash browns – I am always a little disappointed when these crispy triangles of deliciousness are omitted.
As well as breakfast, guests can book afternoon tea with homemade cakes and sandwiches. If you are celebrating a special occasion, Andy and Lynne can provide decorations to spruce up the space.
Facilities
St John’s Guest House is dinky so facilities stretch as far as a communal area with a kitchen (closed at the moment due to the pandemic) and guests can also help themselves to a selection of books and DVD’s to watch in their rooms.
Communal living area (c) St John’s Guest House
One of the real bonuses of staying here is the parking – a rare thing indeed for a Weymouth B&B. As well as the main car park behind the guest house, there are also a couple of spaces at the front, and Andy and Lynne also have permits to park at the church if necessary. They are in the process of installing electric car charging facilities.
WiFi is secure, free and fast.
How much
Rooms start at £110 per night for basic doubles and £140 for the refurbished king rooms in high season, including breakfast and free parking. The family room is £175 for a family of four or £205 for four adults.
Book your stay at St John’s Guest House
It is possible to rent St John’s Guest House in its entirety, encompassing all rooms apart from the two-ground floor ones (up to 17 people). This includes the kitchen and living room overlooking the church. This would be fantastic for a group of friends or large family, and as there are self-catering facilities you can choose to make your own food or order breakfast at £10 per head.
At just £695 per night in high season and £395 per night in low season, this is an absolute bargain!
What’s nearby
The location is perfect for beach bums and anyone dreaming of a romantic stroll along Weymouth’s promenade, which is less than a 5-minute walk from the guest house. Why not rent a paddle board, delivered to the guest house, with Dorset Outdoor Activity Hire (DOAH)?
Weymouth Harbour (c) Lucy Woods
The guest house is also within a 20-minute walk of Weymouth Sealife Centre and in the other direction Weymouth’s bustling high-street and harbour.