One of Bournemouth's top hotels is celebrating a quarter of a century under family ownership.

Hotel Miramar on Bournemouth’s East Cliff was purchased by Midlands’ businessman Bob Blakemore in February 1997 following regular holiday visits to the town by he and his wife May.

The couple set about making improvements to the Edwardian clifftop villa, known to have been frequented by author J R R Tolkien.

Bob passed away in 2001 when daughter Clare and son Chris joined their mother in overseeing the business, with Clare taking over the reins as managing director almost a decade ago.

Clare said: “It is with mixed emotions that we reach this 25-year milestone. We have constantly re-invested into Hotel Miramar to achieve our 4-star status and refurbish and upgrade all areas. We enjoy a reputation as the country house hotel by the sea, with an elegant, stylish and welcoming offer for our guests.

“I know undoubtedly that my father would be so proud of what we have achieved today, continuing his legacy for hi9h quality and first-class customer care. He was particularly enthusiastic about those elements in hospitality and would have enjoyed sharing our success."

Clare added: “Running a successful business is about so much more than investment in bricks and mortar and the fabric of the hotel, it is about having a wonderful team of dedicated and hardworking people who share our vision, take pride in what they do, and pay attention to all the tiny details. We are thankful that Team Miramar demonstrate all these attributes and genuinely care. This is much appreciated by us as proprietors, but more importantly by our visitors and guests.”

Hotel Miramar General Manager, Theo Iakimov said: “As a privately owned and managed business we can continue to offer something unique for our guests, and having the proprietors committed to ongoing investment means we should still be a thriving hotel for many years to come.”