It’s different – very different – but is set to go down a treat.

Especially with families and ice cream lovers.

The new ibis Styles officially welcomed its first guest on June 21 after a £2m refurbishment of the former Hotel Royale on Bournemouth’s East Cliff.

The 76-bedroom hotel, which dates back to 1936, has been given a top to toe redesign with an ice cream theme throughout.

It runs through every aspect of the hotel, from the entrance foyer and its large model of an ice cream cone to the carpet, décor and furniture and furnishings.

The seven grades of rooms – from ‘Solo’ to ‘The Works’ holding up to six people – are categorised as Tootie Fruity, Mint Chocolate Chip and Very Berry with wall coverings to match.

There are also nine self-catering chalet rooms which are expected to be finished by August.

Hotel facilities include a ground floor bar, lounge, large restaurant, kids’ zone and an ice-cream station.

Food in the restaurant will range from family favourites such as pizza and burgers to knickerbocker glory and, of course, ice cream.

Ambitious hotel group Nq2 took ownership of the hotel in Gervis Road last year in a joint venture.

It already owns the nearby Mercure Bournemouth Queens Hotel & Spa in Meyrick Road which underwent a £3.5m facelift last year.

Both hotels are part of the Accor family in a franchise arrangement with Nq2.

Accor is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with 51 hotel brands including ibis Styles and Mercure.

Ibis Styles Bournemouth is the brand’s 30^th hotel in the UK.

Karl Goebel, Nq2’s Head of Operations, pictured right, said: “Our new hotel is sophisticated but playful.

“It’s especially aimed at young families and the young at heart and will be very family friendly.

“Our staff will be dressed in jeans, trainers and T-shirts with wording such as ‘We’ve got great service licked’.

“Our reception will be completely paperless and our team’s roles will be interchangeable so if, for example, a queue builds up, another member of staff can help out.”

Karl said many of the 26 staff had worked for the previous Hotel Royale.

“They are very excited, not least because they’ve seen the large amount of money we’ve invested into the hotel,” he said.

Carlo De Rosa, previously the Hotel Royale’s Assistant Manager, is the new Manager.

He came to the UK from his native Italy in 2016, starting as a Receptionist before being promoted to Supervisor and then Assistant Manager.

Carlo said: “I think the hotel looks beautiful and we’re very excited at welcoming our first guest.”

Nq2 – which is named after a constellation in the galaxy – was incorporated in 2017.

The Bournemouth-based hotel group is planning to acquire up to a further eight properties over the coming three years in an arc including Southampton, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Winchester.

Janine Powell, Nq2’s Design Director, led the hotel’s design transformation in collaboration with Accor’s Design & Technical Services team.

The investment by Nq2 has been welcomed by BH Area Hospitality Association.

Tim Seward, Chair, pictured right, said: “It is fantastic to see another hotel refurbishment come to completion and rebrand to be an ibis Styles with a seaside/ice cream theme running throughout.

“I wish new Hotel Manager Carlo De Rosa and his team all the best as they welcome people back through the doors.”