insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 20 - October 2016 | Page 88

GETAWAYS UNDERSTATED BRILLIANCE AT THE BRIGHTON HARBOUR HOTEL As a Brightonian (by way of London, maybe, but I have a 10-year pedigree), it’s very rare I get the chance to stay somewhere in my own city and look upon what it offers as a visitor would. And, as a writer, I’m often loathe to use the word cool - it’s dug it’s way deep into casual slang; its meaning now akin to ‘OK’, which has stolen a bit of its shine. By definition, ‘cool’, as an adjective, means ‘fashionably attractive; impressive; excellent’, and the brand new Brighton Harbour Hotel fulfils each one of these descriptions with bells on. It’s made me want to move away, just so I can come back and stay. B Y P O L L Y H U M P H R I S There’s always such a sense of anticipation when something new opens in Brighton. It’s a small city, so anything appearing on its popular ‘scene’ is spied upon during development by locals, then usually leapt upon in a sea of excitement the minute the doors are open. Which is where the Brighton Harbour Hotel is cool once more: first the restaurant, The Jetty, opened (flick to p52 to read more about this; the food’s so good it got its own page); then, leisurely, followed HarBAR, the hotel’s modern, friendly bar; and now, the hotel above – a treasure chest of 79 bedrooms, each with a stylish interior that brilliantly belies the buildings 19th-century exterior – is open for us to rest our weary heads. As embodies the relaxed signature style of the Harbour Hotel group (there’s a few in the pack, including Chichester), the Brighton Harbour Hotel has been developed to relish bit by bit and is instantly relaxing from the minute you enter the bright reception area. The staff are welcoming and smiley - a feature so often missed by other hotels who appear to confuse the term ‘luxury’ with ‘uptight’; the walls are decorated with textured wallpaper and quirky prints and paintings; and the atmosphere is upbeat and jovial. Don’t be fooled into assuming this equates to lacklustre effort, however. Everything from the entire staff (who read like a who’s who of many of my favourite haunts in Brighton and beyond), to the finishing touches in each bedroom, a staggering 35 of which offer spectacular views across Brighton’s iconic seafront, has been expertly planned and executed. It’s a well-oiled machine already, confident in its position as a destination hotel that’s as suitable for couples and families as it is for businesspeople, or groups of friends. The rooms are gorgeous; a lesson in how to do luxury linen in style, and with all of the finishing touches you’d expect from somewhere so chic. Each is decorated in a consistent shade of either blue, pink, or red, with contrasting splashes of colourful artwork and fashionable geometric-print furnishings, and beds so comfy you won't want to leave are made up of plump duvets, Oxford pillows and Egyptian cotton sheets; clean white bathrooms with power showers are stocked with White Company toiletries; and flat screen TVs are standard. Forget free WiFi (which, of course, is provided), they even throw in complimentary decanters of gin and sherry in every room. Speaking of drinks, I’m pretty sure I’ve found my spiritual home in HarBAR. I’m always a bit wary of the words ‘cocktail bar’. As any lover of a quality mixed drink will testify, cheap spirits and a bit of sickly sweet fruit juice do not a cocktail make, and there’s a fair few unwarranted ‘cocktail bars’ in and around Brighton merely peacocking to unruly hens. HarBAR is about as far from that as you can get. The recent recipient of Brighton’s ‘Best New Bar’ at the Brighton Bartender Awards, it’s slick, but not in an ‘oh god, I’m so underdressed’ way, and the only 88 thing better than its design-led interior – think curved stools, art deco lamps and a beautiful marble-top bar – is its expert mixologists. I thought I’d found ‘the one’ in the vodka-based ‘Made in Chelsea’ from the classics menu until my wandering eye fell head over heels for the specialist copa gin and tonics. All of them. I haven’t even told you about the spa, but that’s only because it was still being constructed when I stayed. I can assure you it will be as phenomenal as the rest of the hotel though and I know we are to expect two floors comprising ESPAladen treatment rooms, a gym, a mood shower, hydrotherapy pools, and a whopping 17-metre by four-metre swimming pool. Ooh, and a rooftop relaxation zone with an infinity pool too. Slap bang on Brighton’s buzzing seafront, this brand new hotel just oozes, well, cool; in every proper sense of the word. Brighton Harbour Hotel 64 King’s Rd Brighton East Sussex BN1 1NA 01273 323221 [email protected] www.brighton-harbour-hotel.co.uk @BrightonHHotel /BrightonHarbourHotel