The Green House Hotel, just a block from Bournemouth's East Cliff, the clifftop promenade once dotted with kosher hotels, is a stucco'd, Grade 11 listed building. But its imposing Victorian façade conceals a hip, boutique-style interior fielding a clean minimalism in the lobby and rooms, aligned with a glam rock vibe for its bar.
What distinguishes the Green House Hotel from most boutique properties is its claim to be "the greenest hotel in the UK", with everything run according to five core "green" principles that include "reduce, re-use and recycle".
But that doesn't in any way diminish the luxury quotient. It has just 32 stylish bedrooms with big bed, flatscreen TV, Bose sound dock, goose-down duvets and organic bed linen. The larger rooms also feature a reclaimed, renovated Victorian roll-top bath tub.
The bathrooms - my only source of complaint - have stone basin, walk-in shower and lovely toiletries, but the energy efficient light was a bit too dim, bath towels were too small and the area around the sink not big enough for all my stuff.
In a region not famed for its food, the hotel has lured the talented chef Gordon Jones to its Green Room Restaurant. Formerly at the top-notch Royal Crescent, Bath, he cooks exquisitely using sustainable, locally sourced ingredients, with fish and vegetarian dishes on all menus.
Breakfasts are excellent, with high-end trad English, plus fresh fruit, all kinds of egg dishes and, of course, meusli.
RATE: From £115
TEL: 01202 498900
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