A HISTORIC Bournemouth hotel, rated the worst in town on the TripAdvisor website, is now being turned into flats.

The Midland Hotel was bought by developer Philip Oram in a deal worth several million pounds and will be converted into 31 single bedroom units.

The property, on Norwich Avenue West, is a locally listed and dates to around 1880.

It used to draw its guests from the Midlands and has recently fallen into disrepair.

The TripAdvisor website has a 1.5 star out of 5 score, based on 50 reviews.

That is the lowest of the 136 hotels and B&Bs that have ratings, with a further eight properties unrated.

Many customers complained about the cleanliness and the fixtures and fittings. The last review in January said: “Please avoid at all costs.”

The planning application was passed by officers with no public debate required.

A Bournemouth Council spokesman said: “The director of tourism Mark Smith considered the property would require significant investment given its current configuration, poor state of repair, and sub-standard facilities, and concluded its retention as a hotel was not viable.”

The property had recently been trading as Abbey Lodge.

Philip Oram told the Echo he hoped the flats, which are aimed at first time buyers, would be open for business by Christmas.

His firm also converted the former 2020 nightclub into flats and said that development showed ‘a big demand’ for similar properties.

The Midlands Hotel was not within the council’s core tourism area and the building did not have any special protection against development.

Andrew Woodland, chairman of the Bournemouth Accommodation and Hotels Association, said: “It’s always sad to see hotels disappear.

“But if they are not financially viable and they are not adding to the bed stock of the town, they have got to be left to go.”