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Hotel Review: Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa: Right on the water, just a few minutes from the beach, we found Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa. A small 67-room boutique hotel, it was cosy, warm and welcoming.
With 15 hotels across the UK, this was the second Harbour Hotel we had the pleasure of staying at. You can read our review of Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa here.
In the lobby of this Grade II listed Georgian building, there are cute pictures of old fashioned swimmers in a picture gallery and little reading nooks to hide with a book. It has such a lovely ambience, but still maintains a contemporary feel, with fresh colours and natural light streaming in.
We arrived and went through to the bar. Outside there is a huge terrace and barbecue area, and manicured lawns down to the water with spectacular views. The first impressions were wonderful, and the hotel very much lived up to them!
Our room
We met the friendly General Manager who took us up to our room on the top floor. The room was homely and snug and looked out across the lawns to the sea beyond.
With a beautiful view outside, and inside we were treated to a four-poster bed, some fun towel-origami and delicious chocolates. I then spied the Harbour Hotels’ signature addition of decanters of gin and sherry, which reminded me of our stay at Southampton Harbour Hotel, and although the hotels have very different vibes, they are both utterly gorgeous.
HarSPA
The spa features a pool, hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room, as well as a gym and spa treatments. They have partnered with the TEMPLESPA brand to offer treatments with natural ingredients, which I may have to come back to sample again!
With the sea right on the doorstep, you can recline on the lawns or in the pool and enjoy watching the waves, a lovely location for a hen party or retreat.
Weddings at Christchurch Harbour Hotel
Chloe showed us all that the hotel had to offer couples who were getting married. It is fully licensed, and there are four wedding areas – three rooms and a private terrace that would make a gorgeous location for photos, with the harbour in the background.
The Waterford Suite has pretty chandeliers and a neutral colour palette, perfect for bringing your character. It is light and bright and has a capacity of 100 guests. The room opens to the private terrace with a beach hut bar and then leads to the gardens.
The Lower Deck has a private bar and a dancefloor lit by fairy lights. It would be a lovely place for an evening party, with areas for people to sit and relax. It has a capacity of 120 guests or 60 for dining.
The Library would be perfect for a smaller wedding. With a maximum capacity of 20 guests, the more formally decorated room would make a great space for a traditional, intimate wedding or a private dinner. It has a huge chandelier and elegant fireplace that would look stunning draped in greenery or candlesticks.
I think it would be lovely to have your pre-wedding dinner in The Library, a ceremony in The Waterford Suite, drinks on The Terrace and your evening celebration in The Lower Deck – take advantage of all that the hotel has to offer!
Eating at Christchurch Harbour Hotel
There are two dining options at the hotel; The Jetty, a multi-award-winning restaurant overlooking the water, and Upper Deck, a restaurant and alfresco terrace. We dined at The Jetty, where they serve locally-caught seafood alongside seasonal ingredients sourced from the surrounding New Forest.
We were welcomed by the restaurant manager to The Jetty, which had a lovely buzz. Before we even looked at the menu, we were treated to some nibbles – delicious tempura prawns and some chicken popcorn, which were just amazing and melted in the mouth.
We chose the crab and seafood linguine to start, with mussels, clams, crab and prawn, which was just so fresh, and then followed it with cod with a crab and herb crust and crushed peas, and then finished with an incredible Dulcey and Dulche de Leche crème caramel with honeycomb pieces. The meal was stunning; I love eating food that’s locally sourced, and the fresh ingredients and expertly crafted menu were a delight. Signature cocktails followed at the Upper Deck before we headed back to our room.
Final thoughts
A gorgeous night’s sleep in the four-poster bed and a delicious breakfast in The Jetty made a lovely end to our stay. Christchurch Harbour Hotel is exquisite – welcoming and friendly with stunning food and beautiful views.
We would highly recommend a visit, it would make a great wedding venue, a perfect weekend getaway and a great spot for a girls’ weekend.
This is the second Harbour Hotel we’ve stayed in… I think we may need to complete the set…!
Book your wedding or luxury weekend away here
Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa
+44 01202 483434
95 Mudeford Road, Christchurch, BH23 3NT
