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Urban Beach Hotel - Bournemouth

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Chic, stylish seaside living

There’s two things about this great hotel that might surprise you – 1) it’s in Bournemouth, hardly a renowned mecca for modern and fresh places to stay, and 2) it’s not actually on the beach. But don’t let any of that put you off. The Urban Beach is a great place to spend a fresh and funky weekend in an old-fashioned seaside resort.

The sophisticated, but laid-back and very friendly, atmosphere cultivated by The Urban Beach’s owners Mark and Fiona has won praise from a huge swathe of the national press, with the Guardian proclaiming it as one of their “five best seaside hotels”. Chic rooms, with fab, contemporary décor, flat-screen tellies and really lovely bathrooms, mix with a chilled bar and bistro downstairs, to create a classy take on the beach-side surfers’ shack.

And that’s the clever bit. While the Urban Beach sits a short walk away from the busy and noisy Bournemouth seafront, you might aswell be beach-side.

Where is it?

The Urban Beach is in Boscombe, a suburb of Bournemouth, just five minutes’ walk from the sea just under a mile to the town centre. Bournemouth itself is really trying hard to shake off its inevitable seaside reputation as a breeding ground for OAPs and hen parties. Buzzing bars and clubs, plus some great restaurants are springing up all over the place, and the shopping is as good as in any city centre.

But it’s the seven miles of Blue-Flag-winning sandy beach that is the real treat – even on the busiest summer day you can find somewhere to spread out and bask in peace. And for the more adventurous water-babies, there is ample opportunity for watersports, including Europe’s first artificial surf reef. It’s being built in Boscombe and is due to receive its first surfers next year.

Where can I eat?

The latest culinary buzz in Bournemouth seems to be eminating loudly from West Beach (www.west-beach.co.uk Tel: 01202 587785), an award-winning seafood restaurant situated right on the Prom. Fresh, modern and airy, it fits perfectly in its seaside surroundings, and the locally-caught fish couldn’t be fresher. Even A.A. Gill gave it a big thumbs-up.

For something a little less of-the-moment, but equally delicious, try Pier Point restaurant in Boscombe (www.pierpointrestaurant.co.uk Tel: 01202 309238). Fresh and well-made, bistro-style fusion dishes and some of the best puddings in Dorset make for a satisfying and laid-back meal. And they’re open for breakfast, luch and dinner, so you can stay there all day and enjoy the sea views!

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This chic and stylish luxury hotel is an oasis in the bustling seaside resort of Bournemouth.