High above Bowleaze Cove, overlooking the curve of Weymouth Bay, stands one of Dorset’s most striking seaside buildings. With its sweeping white arcs, Mediterranean flair, and sun-bleached modernist design, the Riviera Hotel still looks like something from another world. It was due to open in 1937, but the original developer went bankrupt, claiming he needed just another £1,000 to finish the job. The project was later sold, completed, and finally opened in May 1939 — only a few months before the outbreak of war.
The Riviera was soon hailed as a marvel of modern design. Its two sweeping crescent-shaped wings held around 70 bedrooms, each with the rare comforts of central heating and running water. All rooms had a sea view (if you were standing in the doroway) and were accessed by external corridors From the very beginning, it was aimed squarely at holidaymakers rather than the elite – it was a place for a working class seaside holiday, not for high society.
After the war, the Riviera changed hands several times before joining the Pontins holiday empire in 1958. The following year a large new two-stroey building was constructed behind the main hotel. Upstairs was a ballroom and bar, and downstairs was located the snooker room
Just a year later a fire in the ballroom burned a huge hole in the floor sending flaming debris into the sports room below. It was soon repaired. In 1968 another fire in the ballroom caused even more extensive damage. Again it was repaired. During the 1960s, the hotel was expanded with an additional floor to increase capacity which added around 40 new bedrooms. A floodlit outdoor swimming pool was also built.
During the late 1960s, Pontins expanded the site with a couple of two-storey chalet blocks built behind the main building, each containing 16 rooms. Even then, the Riviera remained the smallest camp in the Pontins chain, accommodating only around 300 guests. The hotel rooms had sinks but no bathrooms – guests had to use shared facilities down the corridor. The exterior corridors remained, although a lift was added giving easier access to the first floor
The hotel flourished during the Pontins era, especially during the 1960s and 1970s when it was hugely popular. It always operated on a full-board basis, with three meals a day included and served in the communal dining hall. In the early 1980s, en suite bathrooms were added to all rooms — a welcome modernisation, though it came at a cost. The rooms became a bit smaller and rather cramped as a result. In 1989 it become an adults-only resort, catering mostly to the over 60s crowd.
It was awarded listed building status in 1997 as “it epitomises the austere approach of the modernists in the immediate pre-war era”. The local paper said “Love it or hate it, Fred Pontin’s Riviera Hotel is a classic of its time. Now the concrete monstrosity, regarded as an eyesore by some, has been made a listed building.”
After 40 years of ownership, Pontins sold the building in 1999 to Hollybush Hotels, trading as Martyn Leisure Breaks. At the same time, Hollybush also acquired the Pontins camp at Sand Bay. During their ownership, it underwent a refurbishment and was converted back to being a traditional family hotel. In 2002, a new two-storey extension was added at the rear, beside the ballroom, containing an indoor swimming pool, bar, sauna, gym, and conference room – the latter also serving as a popular wedding venue.
The Riviera changed hands again in 2009 when it was purchased by the Diyafa Group, who invested a further £4 million in more refurbishments. The old full-board model was abandoned, though the restaurant was retained and continued to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner – at extra cost. Part of the renovation involved knocking down internal walls to create larger bedrooms, which ultimately reduced the total room count by around 30%.
The photos below were all taken in the 2010s and show the hotel after the major refubishment
Sadly, after a promising start the new owners seemed to lose interest. By the mid 2010s the hotel was becoming a bit rundown again, with plenty of negative reviews about cleanliness, upkeep and general neglect.
In February 2022, it was badly damaged by Storm Eunice, which tore the roof off the ballroom. Although the hotel reopened soon afterwards, the ballroom remained closed. By the end of the year, the entire hotel had closed completely. It wasn’t long before vandals forced their way inside, leaving the building in a state of ruin.
While the ballroom wasn’t part of the original 1930s design, many were still concerned about the worsening condition of the historic main structure, so in 2023 the Riviera was officially added to Historic England’s “Heritage at Risk” register.
As of the time of writing (October 2025) the hotel is still closed, and in very bad shape. Yet, in recent months, there have been the first real signs of movement After 3 years, the roof of the ballroom has finally been replaced, although unsurprisingly the damage inside is extensive. The hotel is now completely fenced off and protected by 24-hour security. It’s still owned by the same company, and recent press reports have stated that they do intend to refurbish it and reopen it.
The video below was taken in Spring 2025 and shows the dilapidated interior of the ballroom, swimming pool and other public areas.
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