The Beachcroft Hotel.
Waking up to the sound of the sea gently crashing outside our beach hut suite was just what the doctor ordered after a hectic year. In true British seaside style, we kicked off our stay with a picnic hamper packed with continental breakfast while watching the winter sunrise from the green velvet sofa. It was a perfect way to start the day – a moment of true calm in what has felt like a crazy few months.
A little known oasis of calm on the South coast, Felpham, is home to the Beachcroft hotel and its beach hut suites. The hotel has literally bucket-loads of thoughtful family-friendly touches – from board games, buckets and spades in the rooms to the pool which you have completely to yourselves – every kid (and tired parents) dream. They even have a penthouse suite which would be ideal for a family hoping to staycation together on the South coast with two large rooms and adjoining social spaces. Beachcroft Hotel has even thought of the dogs with a number of recently refurbished suites that are specifically friendly to our four-legged friends with private courtyards.
If you fancy a little more privacy or an extra touch of luxury, the Beachcroft Hotel Beach Hut Suites are just pure magic. Both the bunk-bed room and the King-sized bed positioned on the mezzanine floor are adorned with bedding that looked so indulgent I was tempted to just hop straight in. These modern bolt holes would be perfect for a couple looking for a winter break or equally a young family. It’s quite rare to find a space that has fun for the kids as well as luxurious touches for the grown-ups. The bathroom was fantastic with a waterfall shower and bathrobes, which we of course insisted on wearing as much as possible. But don’t forget to pack your slippers and a book for full watching-the-world-go-by comfort.
As for food you have so many options. The hotel features a friendly bar area and it’s own restaurant – I couldn’t fault the cheese souffle which is no mean feat for a coastal restaurant. If you fancy something more relaxed they have a beach-side cafe or will even box up fish and chips for you to enjoy on the beach or on your terrace with a bottle of wine. My favourite foodie feature, however, had to be the picnic baskets. Our hamper on arrival was packed with fizz and fresh orange to make mimosas, a fresh seafood and meat platter, fresh fruit and even our own gingham tablecloth, perfect to enjoy out on the deck wrapped up under a blanket.
If the weather is kind and you fancy getting out of the bathrobe for an adventure, they have bikes to hire (free with the beach hut suites or £10 a day from the hotel), a local walking guide and if you’re feeling really brave you can even hire a paddleboard.A good sign of a great stay is when you leave plotting when you’d like to come back, and that certainly was the case here.
