It’s rare that I enjoy being wrong, but on this occasion I was delighted.
Call me spoilt but I’ve been lucky enough to stay in many cutting-edge hip
hotels in numerous capital cities, so when my sister and I booked into the "boutique"
Captain’s Club Hotel in Christchurch (yes, the quaint little town by the sea
on the south coast), we weren’t expecting much.
I mean, this is Dorset after all – how cool and contemporary could it be?
Especially since I’d been told it was located on the old Pontins holiday
park site…
I’d also heard that it had a nautical theme and feared the worst – would we
feel as if we had entered the set of "Pirates of the Caribbean"
with flags flying and cheesy anchors and ropes strewn all over the place?
Thankfully, there wasn’t a fishing net in sight and the hotel proved a breath
of fresh air - a far cry from tacky themed English seaside hotels.
The balance between the crisp, contemporary furnishings and subtle flavour of
the ocean created something that was just minimalist enough to be
restrained, but not cold, and it cleverly appealed to all ages.
As soon as you enter there’s an immediate overwhelming sense of space, panache
and style and with cool blue tones and smooth architectural lines. Some of
windows are round like port holes, while others reach from floor to ceiling
allowing natural daylight to stream through, even in the depths of winter.
Huge glass patio doors pay tribute to the idyllic location leading out on to a
terrace overlooking the River Stour, where boats bob and swans glide
gracefully past. Sit here long enough and you’ll feel as if you’re slowly
chugging down the river towards the sea in the distance. Yes, the hotel is
only a couple of minutes from the Solent and there’s even a cheeky little
boat – The Nauti Girl – to take you on a tour to the Isle of Wight should
you wish (around £50 a head for a party of eight).
Every room has charming river views and there’s a variety of accommodation for
couples and families with 17 state rooms and 12 two and three-bedroom
suites. Even the state rooms are beyond standard in terms of size and
detail. King-sized Hypnos beds, flat screen Philips TVs and DVDs, full
control air conditioning and heating, free water, tea and coffee, freshly
baked biscuits and sumptuous bath robes are the norm in every room, while
some have inviting suede, low-slung sofas and features like a skylight so
you can see the stars from your bed, or a telescope to see the sea or
Hengistbury Head, a major tourist attraction.
The two-bedroom suites are perfect for two couples with two bathrooms (one
ensuite) and such a large lounge/kitchen that I wished I’d invited more
friends. But children are welcomed too at this hotel and these apartments
with their well-equipped kitchens give you the independence to feel at home
with the knowledge that there’s 24-hour room service and a restaurant below
if don’t feel like cooking.
Downstairs you can kick back on one of the large luxurious sofas and listen to
live music by local artists every night. The manager admitted there had been
the odd "dodgy" one at first, but now they are carefully vetted
and it’s a treat to dine with live entertainment.
As for the Two AA Rosette river-facing Tides restaurant, special attention is
focussed on freshly caught seafood but there’s plenty of options for
meatlovers, too, including rib-eye steak with thick cut chips (£22), rump
Dorset lamb (£18) or wild venison (£17).
