ONE of the first seaside hotels in Bournemouth has gone back to its roots by reverting to the name it was given more than a century ago.

Around 150 guests, hoteliers and other business people gathered to celebrate the rebranding of the Days Hotel in Russell-Cotes Road to become the Marsham Court.

Director Rosie Wallace said the event was "a significant day in the hotel's fascinating history".

The Marsham Court Hotel opened in 1913, occupying one of two neighbouring houses on the East Cliff.

A Mr and Mrs Marsh – who had a ham curing business – originally owned the building and supposedly put together the words Marsh and ham.

By 1923, demand for the hotel's 13 rooms had become so great that the neighbouring house was bought and linked to provide 41 rooms.

In 1937, the hotel was managed by Quakers and had no liquor licence. During the war, it was taken over by the US Red Cross and used as a convalescent home for injured soldiers.

Rosie Wallace's mother, Jennie Deavin bought the hotel in 1987 when it was need of refurbishment.

She explained: "To raise the £1.5million we needed to refurbish we joined the Days Hotel group and took on their name.

"Days enabled us to completely transform our 87 bedrooms, lobby, bar and conferencing facilities and gave us new skills and procedures we will continue to use; however our guests and the local community still thought of us as the Marsham Court Hotel. So for the family, the staff and many of our loyal guests, today is a very special day."

Paul Callaghan brought the 120 members of London's Mayfair masonic lodge to the Marsham Court Hotel for the first time 26 years ago and the group has returned for its annual break every year since.

Rosie Wallace said: "People who used to visit us with their children are now returning with their grandchildren for the same, traditional seaside welcome. But we are as much about the future as the past.

"In 2014 we became the UK's first hotel to win a Gold Approved Family Friendly award and are now focusing on offering even more family holidays, new health and educational breaks and on expanding our thriving conference business."

During the party Jennie Deavin, was presented with honorary membership of Bournemouth Accommodation and Hotel Association (BAHA), by its chairman Andy Woodland.