An award winning Purbeck hotel in Dorset has celebrated its 50th anniversary year by receiving international recognition with its first ever Michelin Key.
The Priory country house hotel at Wareham has become the only Dorset hotel to hold a coveted One Key, and one of only 138 across the UK and Ireland to be given the honour in the awards list 2026.
There’s a warm welcome waiting in an historic setting at The Priory
Biggest achievement to date
The Priory has stood on the banks of the river Frome in Wareham for centuries, and became a hotel in 1976 after it was bought at auction by two brothers who wanted to share its peace, history and charm with guests.
Fifty years later, it is still being run by the same family and is increasingly being recognised for its exceptional experience – but the Michelin Key is the biggest achievement to date.
The accolade is the hotel equivalent of the famous Michelin Star for restaurants and recognises properties judged by anonymous inspectors to offer outstanding stays.
More than 9,000 hotels across the UK, Europe and Asia are featured in the Michelin Guide, and being included in the two percent awarded a key, to celebrate exceptional character, service, and architecture, can have a huge impact on bookings.
Afternoon tea on the lawns overlooking the river Frome is a favourite way for guests to pass the time
“Benefit to the whole community”
Managing partner Jeremy Merchant said:
“We are delighted and very proud to receive a Michelin Key, a rare honour for a small independent hotel and a wonderful recognition of the experience we strive to offer.
“The award is recognition not only for the family but for the staff who have helped establish The Priory’s reputation over five decades.
“For 50 years our family has cared for this house, its gardens and the guests who stay with us, and this award belongs to every member of the team who has made that possible.
“We hope it brings even more visitors to Wareham and the Isle of Purbeck as a benefit to the whole community.
“Alongside being named a finalist for boutique hotel of the year and in the best restaurant category by Boutique Hotelier, The Priory has also been shortlisted for hotel of the year at the Dorset Tourism Awards.
“We’re quietly delighted by both recognitions, not least because they reflect the care, character and attention to detail that we hope all of our guests feel each time they stay with us.”
The Priory is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, and the Michelin Key has been the icing on the cake
Described as a very special stay
Michelin Keys were introduced in 2023 to showcase standout hotels, with inspectors assessing properties anonymously to assess architecture and interior design, quality of service, character, value for money, and the contribution a hotel makes to its surrounding neighbourhood.
One, two or three keys can be awarded, with fewer than a dozen hotels getting the highest accolade. One key is what the guide describes as ‘a very special stay – a hotel with real personality where service consistently goes the extra mile and the experience offers something distinctive’.
The Priory has become one of just 92 properties in the UK and Ireland to receive a one key award, and was one of just 15 added to the list this year.
The hotel was named best in the South West in the Good Hotel Guide’s 2026 Cesar Awards, honoured as a top romantic hotel by the Good Hotel Guide, and has also received recognition in the Food Lifestyle Awards, Dorset Tourism Awards and Wareham Business Awards.
Marketing director Katie Hart, part of the third generation of the family which has run the Priory Hotel since 1976
“You feel like you are in a bubble”
Jeremy Merchant’s daughter Katie Hart, who grew up at The Priory and is now marketing director and part of the third generation involved in running the hotel, said:
“For the family, preserving the character of the property while continuing to improve the guest experience has been central to its success.
“The Priory has been in the same family for 50 years which is quite special in itself these days. It’s full of character and charm and even if it’s full of people it still has this peace and tranquility about it – we are just 100 yards from a high street, but you feel like you are in a bubble here.
“People come and sometimes they don’t do very much at all. They just have a long breakfast, sit down by the river, read a book next to the fire and take life really slowly, and that’s exactly the point.
“The Priory has always been about people – our guests, our team, and the family values that have shaped the way we do things. I’ve always seen how much care has gone into the hotel, it’s a lifestyle as much as a business.”
Head chef Stephan Guinebault, a champion of local provenance, has just taken the hotel’s restaurant to the finals of Boutique Hotelier’s 2026 awards
Lobster from Kimmeridge Bay
Katie added:
“Our hotel’s gardens and riverside setting play a key role in our appeal. Sometimes all you can hear is birdsong and the river, it’s absolutely beautiful and something people come back to enjoy time and time again.
“Our head chef Stephan Guinebault has been with the hotel since 2006 and his menus are built around seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to reflect a blend of classical French training and Dorset produce.
“He’s amazing, and the food here is rightly praised. Stephan grew up in the Loire Valley and has worked in Michelin starred kitchens, but what he does here is all about celebrating local food.
“If we can’t get lobster from Kimmeridge Bay, it simply won’t be on the menu, we refuse to fly it in from Canada. Most of our meat comes from Dorset farmers, and Stephan has built really strong relationships with local suppliers.”
The Priory was praised for combining centuries old architecture with contemporary touches
“Creme de la creme of our selection”
A spokesperson for Michelin said:
“We are delighted to welcome The Priory to take its place in the creme de la creme of our selection. All Michelin Guide hotels excel in design, architecture, service and personality, and the Michelin Key denotes the most outstanding experiences in our selection.
“The town of Wareham grew up around this 16th century monastery on the banks of the River Frome, which explains its unique atmosphere – a country house that’s just steps away from the town centre, with bedrooms which sport an antique feel with contemporary touches.
“In a way, it was a luxury boutique hotel before the phrase was coined, and as this family owned hotel has been continuously updated over the years, it remains a fine example of modern country house hospitality.
“Its rooms and suites, divided between the main house and the riverside boathouse, offer plenty of antique atmosphere, while the details of the decor show a contemporary designer’s touch.”
For the first time ever, The Priory features in the Michelin Guide with a One Key accolade
The Priory Hotel is looking forward to displaying its coveted One Key award
Further details
- More about The Priory Hotel
- Discover all the UK’s outstanding hotels in the Michelin Guide
