by The Albion, Isle of Wight
The Albion hotel, which can lay claim to some of the best sea views on the island, has been welcoming guests to Freshwater Bay since Victorian times. It is about to reopen under new ownership after a multi-million pound refurbishment. Albion will have 40 newly designed rooms, 36 of which are oceanfront, including two suites, seven dog-friendly rooms and two accessible rooms. Some have roll top baths and balconies or terraces. The Rock is her new 100-seat restaurant, which sources more than 90% of its ingredients from the island, including garlic, tomatoes, fish, lobster and meat. A free shuttle bus drops and picks up guests from local bars and restaurants. The hotel is approximately a 10 minute drive from Yarmouth ferry port.
It opens in June, taking bookings for June 19double from £99 Bed & Breakfast (minimum two nights), albionhotel.co.uk
Knipoch House Hotel, Argyll and Bute
A small, family-owned hotel group has renovated the 26-bedroom Knipoch House, near Loch Feochan, near Oban on the west coast of Scotland. The house dates from the 1600s and still has the original fireplaces and panelling; These included super king size beds and a hot tub. A barbecue and outdoor dining area will be ready for summer. The new menu features Scottish classics like cullen skin, witch hazel and venison, as well as thoughtful vegetarian dishes (smoked tofu with mango and black beans; Jerusalem artichoke and jackfruit cassoulet).
Doubles from £129 rooms only, sonascollection.com
Sleep Eco Inn, West Sussex
Over the past century, this red brick Edwardian building, a few blocks inland from Worthing beach, has served as a wash house, a library, a school and a vaccination center. This is probably the most interesting incarnation – a completely modern, no-frills, sustainable hotel for the 21st century. The Sleep Eco Inn is all-electric, with a modern heating and cooling system that it calculates saves 12 tonnes of carbon per year. The nine stylish guest rooms have high ceilings, huge windows, comfy beds, and colorful throws and cushions, but traditional hotel amenities are stripped back – there’s keyless self-check-in, a hot drinks vending machine (no breakfast), a 24/7 service digital concierge – and phone calls out to actual people.
Double from £78 one roomsleepecohotel.co.uk
Hope Cove House, south Devon
This relaxed restaurant with rooms near King’s Bridge has just re-opened after major building work, and has nine rooms, each with views across the beach and out to Bolt Tail headland. Co-owner Oli Barker was one half of the pair behind London restaurants Terroirs, Soif and Brawn, and the menu here features simple seafood and seasonal produce – dinner might be baked with salt bran. sauce vierge or lemon base with berre noisette, capers and parsley. He and his wife, Ra, aim for a “great welcoming house party” atmosphere. There is a sitting room with a log burner and a terrace overlooking the harbour, from which guests can swim, paddle board or walk along the coast to Salcombe or Bantham. The first wellness retreat at Hope Cove House takes place 6-9 June (from £650pp).
Double from £175 B&B, hopecovehouse.co
Off the coast hotel, Lancashire
Neighboring hotels on the promenade at Lytham St Annes (the Carlton and the Lindum) have been remodeled to create one brand new hotel. The Off the Coast has 98 bedrooms of all sizes, many with sea views; renovated bar and outdoor terrace; and all-day food and beverages. Highlights include the Sunday carvery and the spritz menu, which includes drinks from a classic Campari spritz to a Bakewell bellini (amaretto, cherry and prosecco). The wide sandy expanse of San Anna beach is across the road, and it’s a 15 minute drive to the bright lights of Blackpool. As part of its introductory offer, two people booking bed and breakfast accommodation can eat for free (up to £20pp).
Double from £98 B&B, inncollectiongroup.com
Sea hotel, Co. Antrim
The Sea hotel, next to the long, sandy beach of Castletown, was refurbished earlier this year. Many of the 51 rooms have sea views, and there are family rooms and two rooms. The restaurant, Marconi’s, serves food sourced within 50 miles, such as Loch Cuan mussels, and Irish charcuterie and cheese plates. It also does afternoon tea, Sunday lunch, and a monthly seafood and curry evening. Free activities include sea swimming at 8.30am daily, weekly guided beach walks, bread making demonstrations and Irish coffee masterclasses.
Double from £140 Bed and Breakfast, marinehotelballycastle.com
Tynemouth Castle Inn, Tyne and Wear
The Art Deco Park Hotel, which has been overlooking Long Sands Beach for over 80 years, has reopened after a £10m refurbishment as the Tynemouth Castle Inn. The inn has 72 rooms, many with sea views and balconies or terraces, including some family rooms and some dog-friendly rooms. The pub serves food all day, from brunch (ham and pea pudding stottie, smoked mackerel crumpet) to dinner (kiev pheasant, venison meatballs) and Sunday lunch. Other in-house dining options include Oswins fish and chip shop, and Cones ice cream parlour.
Double from £89 B&B, inncollectiongroup.com
The White Horses, East Sussex
Nothing stands between you and the sea views at this new boutique hotel overlooking the pebble beach at Rottingdean. The tired 1930s building has undergone a major makeover, with 32 elegant bedrooms and a sea view terrace restaurant serving crowd pleasers such as baked Sussex camembert, seafood chowder, fish and chips and roast lamb rump, accompanied by craft ales . and wines from local vineyards. Backed by white cliffs and down to the ground, the genteel seaside village of Rottingdean is famous for its hilltop windmill and the former home of novelist Rudyard Kipling, who wrote some of his Just So stories while living here with his family. . And if that all sounds too exciting, Brighton Marina is only a few miles away, via the famous Undercliff Walk.
Double from £95 room only, booked from July, thewhitehorseshotel-rottingdean.co.uk
Plockton Inn, Highlands
Visitors travel from thousands of miles around to sample Pluck’s delicacies. Locally known as Clocheain an Ploc, they have been caught in cages (wicker traps) in Loch Cairn sheltered in the north west highlands and landed at the village pier. This popular family inn has recently reopened following a refurbishment, with fresh bedrooms, decor inspired by the Highlands and a new-look restaurant. What hasn’t changed, however, is the delicious fresh seafood and atmosphere in the cozy bar, which serves whiskey, gin and local ales, and hosts regular quiz nights and live music.
Double from £125 B&Bplottoninn.co.uk
Malt, Norfolk
This 300-year-old former malt brewery hotel in Weybourne has changed ownership and is undergoing a £4m refurbishment. The Maltings will have 28 bedrooms, including suites with a terrace and sea views. The former granary is being converted into a split-level restaurant with picture windows overlooking the coast. It will serve regional produce, some from the kitchen garden, cooked on a wood-fired grill. There will also be a bar, games room and terrace. Guests can rent bikes to explore the coast, or book cooking classes, wine tasting or local vineyard tours. It is a 10 minute walk to the pebble beach.
Scheduled to open this summerprices to be announced, themaltingsweybourne.com
