Albany Lodge

Albany Lodge is owned and operated by the Macmillan Cancer Trust, a local charity based at the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital in Dorset.  The Trust was formed in 1974 to support cancer relief within the East Dorset Health District with the Macmillan Unit, the first in the country and the first to be operated in partnership with the National Health Service, opening in February 1975.

Albany Lodge was the inspiration of the late Charles Hall, the first Secretary of the Trust, who in 1985 sent four patients from the Unit to Swanage for a few days holiday respite during the Summer.  On their return the benefits were obvious; the ladies didn’t stop talking about the experience for several weeks, so the idea was born.   Albany Lodge was purchased in May 1986 and opened in August of that year.

Officers and Trustees of the Macmillan Cancer Trust.

The Hotel has 19 bedrooms, made up of Family, Double, Twin and Single rooms, all with Bathroom En-Suite,
with an adjacent Annexe containing a Twin Room and a newly furbished disabled facility.  All rooms contain colour television with remote control, clock radio alarms, and tea and coffee making facilities.
Public rooms include a luxurious Bar Lounge, and another smaller lounge with a large television, CD and DVD player, board games and various reading material.  The attractive Restaurant offers good wholesome English food and of course special diets are regularly catered for.  There is a large conservatory situated at the front of the hotel.

The hotel has full central heating, private parking, and a small attractive garden for guests to sit in situated at the rear of the hotel.  A beach hut is also available for guest’s use, which is situated on the sea front within a short walking distance from the hotel.  It is a level walk to the cliff top with many benches available to enjoy the outstanding views.

Reservations for the Hotel mainly come as referrals from Hospices, Oncology Departments, GP Practices, Macmillan Nurses, Social Work Departments and other Cancer Care Organisations.  Our success has been built on the support of health care professionals, Macmillan Cancer Support, and of course by word of mouth.

In addition to hotel staff we employ a team of qualified nurse advisers headed by a Nurse Manager, and someone is on call in case of emergency 24 hours a day.  We are not allowed to give any “hands on” nursing assistance, but we are able to give back up to the patient if they experience any problems or difficulty during their stay, either by direct contact with their own health care professional or with our local GP Practice. This facility usually gives that bit of extra confidence to the patient who would not consider an ordinary hotel holiday because of their illness or symptoms. We do have a strict criteria that guests have to be able to meet in order for them to enjoy the hotel type of holiday offered.

The hotel operates a strict non-smoking policy within the establishment for the comfort of all guests.  A covered open fronted outdoor facility for smokers is available, situated in the rear garden.

Further details are available on request.