HARBOUR BEACH CLUB HOTEL
Check Into The Harbour Beach Club Hotel
I am not sure it is fair to judge a hotel promoting itself as a “beach club” during a cold February weekend break, even if it was very sunny. The whole concept of a beach club just seems flip floppy and fedora……..yet I felt more fleece and furry.
The Harbour Beach Club Hotel opened at the back end of Summer 2021 and you can really feel this hotel sliding back into its heyday groove, although perhaps a little slowly at times.
Located in South Sands, just five minutes drive from the trendy seaside town of Salcombe, the Harbour Beach Club Hotel is situated just a stones throw from the sea, on the site which was previously known as the Tides Reach Hotel. And whilst much of the old hotel had fallen into disrepair, the main structure remains, with modern add on buildings creating luxury sea view apartments. Selling Here!
For guests who have stayed at the sister hotel, Salcombe Harbour Hotel, you might want to consider the Beach Club as a funky younger sibling, blending retro and brutalist styling with pastel hues, a surprisingly successful fusion. The genius landscaping at the front of the hotel creates a seamless visual, promoting a beach to bar type vibe. It is intentionally informal and the chic sea facing terrace is set to be the new hotspot hangout when the usual summer crowd arrive.
Once inside the hotel, I noticed some distinct design choices, namely the ravello terrazo flooring and corrugated terracotta wall tiling, offset with fresh green furnishings and plenty of wicker, it feels beachy and perhaps echoes bygone styling. It also sends a signal that the hotel has sustainability at the core of its ethos. The bar leads into an airy dining space and it’s all incredibly laid back and easy going, maybe too much so at times.
Whilst the Salcombe Harbour Hotel is perhaps a little more upscale and grown up, there are plenty of flexible room choices at the Harbour Beach Club which makes holidaying with children a whole lot easier. We opted for a seaview junior suite, complete with spacious seating area and balcony overlooking the sea. The bed perhaps added an art deco twist to the interiors and overall the room had a quality feel. The air conditioning ensured the room was not too hot, not too cold and the firmness of the bed was just right! A good nights sleep was easy to come by.
We were lucky enough to be staying when the swimming pool and spa facilities had just opened. The ambience is fresh, airy and minimal. So minimal there are no lockers in the changing rooms and as far as I can see no space to add some in. Is this intentional or maybe an oversight`? The pool was lovely and warm and the towels are fluffy, did I expect something a little more? Perhaps. Less can be more, but I am not sure it was on this occasion. However a big parent plus is the children can use the pool throughout the day, with just two hours reserved for adult only swimming - I like how they switched that up!
As a newly opened hotel, bumps in the road are to be expected. During our visit, these bumps became evident in the restaurant and the promised turn down service for the child’s bed. I understand that hospitality across the board is experiencing staffing problems and that probably played a part. Don’t misunderstand, the restaurant staff were friendly and eager to please, perhaps just inexperienced. And whilst the complimentary in room gin and snacks are appreciated, a made up bed for a child is a pretty basic requirement.
Harbour Beach Club has all the ingredients of a fabulous beach side hotel and once any teething problems are eliminated, this hotel is a winning combination of location, style and innovation. Harbour Beach Club is leading a new breed of hotels who offer relaxed spaces whilst upgrading the overall guest experience with a “concierge” style service, facilitating sea swimming, sailing lessons and catch it and cook it cruising! This ensures guests have time to relax whilst fast tracking accessibility to local experiences, a major plus for modern guests looking to maximise precious down time.
Final Note: Whilst the hotel is located away from the main town, a complimentary shuttle bus runs on the hour. For a more fun way to travel, opt for the sea tractor which leaves every half hour during the height of the season.
