A weekend at the seaside: Bournemouth's Urban Beach
The plush bar at Urban Beach
Wednesday, 30, Apr 2008 02:08
A boutique Bournemouth B&B may sound like a contradiction if you remember the seaside resort from childhood holidays.
Unlike its trendier southern coast neighbour Brighton, the town is not famed for glamorous hotels and nightspots.
But times are changing and nowadays Bournemouth is as likely to be associated with surfers as fish and chips.
For a start, Boscombe, already a popular surfing destination, is soon to host Europe's first artificial reef. The project, which should be completed by October, is inspired by similar constructions in the US and Australia.
Essentially, it should guarantee high quality surfing conditions for watersports fanatics and is driving regeneration in the area, with more upmarket bars and restaurants on the seafront planned.
Setting the standard for quality accommodation in this area is Urban Beach. Halfway between the beach and the high street in Boscombe, the 12-room hotel offers a laid-back yet luxurious base for a weekend away.
Owner Mark spent a year (and went to considerable expense) creating a luxurious, chic hotel - then hired friendly staff to ensure an unpretentious, relaxing atmosphere. Each room is decorated individually and comes with the expected luxuries of plasma television, power shower and bathrobes.
Each room is unique, and priced according to size. Room two, where I stayed, was very spacious and featured a gothic chandelier which gave the place a suitable air of decadence.
Downstairs is the hotel's bar and restaurant. The surfer-chic decor gives the place a vibrant atmosphere and clearly the place is popular with the locals.
But the deadly seriousness with which the bar staff prepared the fresh-fruit cocktails demonstrated that this part of the hotel is just as important as the rooms upstairs.
Outside, decking and another cocktail bar provides more space in the warmer months.
If you want to eat however, be warned: it is probably best to book a seat on a Friday or Saturday night as the place was packed.
It is certainly worth hanging around for the food. The emphasis is on local produce, simply prepared. The kitchen has a grill and can recreate the barbeque-on-the beach taste all year round, handy considering the UK climate.
I had the barramundi fish - not a native species but there is a farm in the nearby New Forest - while my boyfriend tucked into the steak. Both were very satisfying and came with crispy potato wedges.
Breakfast is another reason to stay here. The full English breakfast, with pork and apple sausages and smoky bacon, is designed to set you up for the morning (and probably into the afternoon.)
As for the rest of your day, Mark can point you in the right direction. Obviously there is the beach, which is perfect for watersports - surf lessons can be provided by the local surf shop - but for those wishing to remain dry, there are arty shops nearby in the Victorian arcade.
Further afield, the New Forest and the Purbeck hills provide some of the most beautiful landscapes in England while Stonehenge is also close enough to visit.
Urban Beach strikes a balance between urban cool and laid-back beach attitude that will attract Londoners looking for a weekend away and those looking for a grown-up seaside holiday.
Sarah Routledge