dark chocolate fondant

When I fist visited The Gallivant back in 2013, I was amazed to find such a dreamy beach destination just over an hour’s train ride from London.

My first stay was for the Rye Scallop Festival and I was delighted to head back there for a more romantic getaway and check out the hotel’s brand new look.

Nestled in the seaside village of Camber, The Gallivant is inspired by the coastal motels you might find in California, but with a very British feel. This tranquil 20-room retreat has become a popular bolthole for weekending Londoners and with Camber Sands on the doorstep, there are plenty of pooches in residence.

We arrived on a cold and wet Saturday (not like the photos above suggest) after exploring the nearby town of Rye and were shown to our gorgeous Garden Room. These newly-renovated rooms outside of the main building are super-deluxe with design features that you might not expect in a beach hotel.

Our spacious wood-panelled room was designed in Maine-style colours with accents of teal, soft grey, marble and gold. It felt so homely with travel-inspired ornaments and interesting books adorning the shelves, free streaming wifi, a Nespresso machine and a kettle with a selection of Luponde teas and fresh milk.

I remembered from my first stay at The Gallivant how heavenly the bed was and this Hypnos king-size bed covered in 300-count linen sheets didn’t disappoint.

One of the best thing about the Garden Rooms are the open-plan bathroom with a fabulous roll-top bath, marble sink, walk-in rainfall shower, luxurious towels, bathrobes and a set of full-size Noble Isle bathroom products to use during your stay. It was a treat to watch TV and listen to music on the blue-tooth speaker from the comfort of an enormous bathtub.

In the evening we dined in The Restaurant – a stylish dining room with a Scandinavian/New England feel, overseen by Oliver Joyce and Kevin Bennett (previously at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Chapter One and Buckingham Palace). The tempting menu features ingredients locally sourced within 10 miles of the hotel, so it’s the perfect place to enjoy fresh seafood and Romney Marsh lamb.

I started with Scallops, cauliflower purée & beignets, cumin and coriander, which were perfectly cooked with complementary flavours. Steven tried Confit chicken terrine with pickled mushrooms, a satisfying dish with rich notes of prunes.

I followed with Venison loin, glazed chestnuts, brussels sprouts and quince purée. The medium-cooked venison was tender and juicy with a meaty jus and I loved the wintry accompaniments of sweet chestnuts, colourful sprout petals and crispy silvers of parsnip.

Steven also enjoyed his Braised Romney Marsh lamb rump and braised shoulder, rarebit, cauliflower cheese and beets. The succulent local lamb was served in a creative way with many different textures at play – the crispy croquettes were particularly tasty.

Both dishes were very accomplished and a joy to eat, but with petite portion sizes, you’ll want to add a side dish or two. We shared a side of yummy Butternut squash and sage mash and it went very well with both dishes.

Because the starter and main courses were quite light, I had some room left to indulge in the Dark chocolate fondant, honeycomb and malt ice cream. The fondant arrived freshly from the oven and it was simply divine – warm cake on the outside with a molten, oozing centre. I loved the velvety malt ice cream and the honeycomb and chocolate pebbles added a delicious flourish.

Steven finished with the Banana and caramel parfait, lime curd, coconut cream and rum jelly. It was a lovely, exotic dessert that added a bit of sunshine to a rainy evening. We accompanied our desserts with a glass of sticky, honeyed Moscato d’Ochoa (Spain) and had the luxury of rolling back to our room.

Breakfast at The Gallivant is a leisurely affair, so leave plenty of time to graze on all of the morning delights. The high quality breakfast buffet is full of sweet bites including home-made granola bars, natural yoghurt with fruit compote, sticky cinnamon buns, home-baked madeleines and even blueberry panna cotta.

If you’re in the mood for something heart before a day at the beach, there is a good selection of cooked dishes such as Eggs Benedict, The Full Gallivant and waffles.

A trip to The Gallivant wouldn’t be complete without a wander around the nearby historic town of Rye. Stroll around its cobbled streets, shop for unique pieces at its independent boutiques or refuel over lunch at The George or a gourmet hot chocolate at Knoops.

I’d been raving to Steven about the beautiful Camber Sands beach, but unfortunately the continually wet weather kept us away from the dunes. However, that cloud has a silver lining, as it means another excuse to revisit The Gallivant on a guaranteed warm day in the summer!

For more information and booking, visit: www.thegallivant.co.uk

Chérie City was a guest of The Gallivant

Photos by Chérie City and The Gallivant

Christchurch Harbour Hotel in tranquil Dorset is the perfect retreat for some summer sun and relaxation. The hotel overlooks a picturesque harbour and is just a short walk away from the Mudeford Quay Ferry Landing. From there, you can easily access the stunning sandy beach at Hengistbury Head, lined by colourful beach huts.

Christchurch Harbour Hotel is conveniently just over two hours away from London by train and a short 5-10 minute taxi ride from Christchurch railway station.

We arrived just before lunchtime and after an hour’s walk around Mudeford, our room was ready and waiting. Our Deluxe Four Poster Bed Room is one of the hotel’s newest rooms and boasts a postcard view of the harbour. The expansive, beach-chic room is bright and beautifully designed in a soft colour palette of white, oatmeal and nautical blues.

Room features include a 26-inch flatscreen TV with DVD player, Nespresso machine, kettle with a selection of teas and biscuits, fresh fruits, complimentary bottled water, minibar, ironing board and free wifi.

The king-size bed was very comfortable and covered in high quality, crisp linen. With only the gentle sound of the waters, the fresh sea air and luxurious bed, we had the best possible sleep that evening.

The highlight of the room is the fabulous roll top bath. The bath is well positioned for enjoying the view from the window or watching TV – I couldn’t resist watching Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love from the comfort of the tub.

The petite, pristine white bathroom features an over-sized sink, a powerful rainfall shower, luxurious towels and face clothes and bathroom amenities by Gilchrist & Soames. There are also fluffy white bathrobes and slippers for use in the room and the spa.

The room doesn’t have air-conditioning, but a desk fan is provided and the two window open to let in the sea breeze. The room temperature was fine during our visit on a warmish day, but I’m not sure it will be comfortable in high summer.

For dinner we went downstairs to the Upper Deck Bar & Restaurant (the hotel’s other restaurant is The Jetty). The restaurant was already busy with hotel guests and locals and we were shown to one of the best tables in front of the window, overlooking the harbour.

After ordering, our waiter brought a bread basket to the table and served us a few slices of delicious freshly-baked white or brown bread, topped with sea salt. For drinks, I highly recommend a refreshing Virgin Elderflower Mojito, which was served strong and sweet, so that it didn’t become too diluted in the crushed ice.

Being so close to the sea, I had to start with Seared Scallops, Sticky Pork Belly and Cauliflower Mash (£11.50). The scallops were soft, plump and had a fresh sea taste while the pork belly was slow-cooked and tender. The smooth cauliflower mash had a strong, creamy taste and added flavour to the scallops.

Steven went for the Chicken, Crab, Sweetcorn and Ginger Broth with Prawn Toast (£5.95). The broth was thick, fragrant and full of meat, with prominent flavours of lemongrass and ginger. The crunchy, oily prawn toast was a perfect accompaniment.

My 8oz Ribeye Steak From the Plancha (£21.50) was succulent, nicely charred on the outside and cooked medium as requested. The chunky, home-made chips were flavoursome and crispy – I only wish there were more than three of them! The béarnaise sauce was light and filled with torn fresh tarragon and there was an abundance of juicy cherry tomatoes and salad garnish.

Steven ordered the Fillet of Cod with a Crab and Herb Crust, Mashed Potato and Crushed Peas (£21.50). The plump fillet of cod had a clean, fresh taste and the crunchy crust of flaky crab and fresh herbs added extra flavour. The mashed potato was smooth and buttery while the the crushed peas and creamy sauce made the dish more indulgent.

For dessert, it had to be my usual favourite – Dark Chocolate Fondant with Pistachio Ice Cream (£7.95). The dark chocolate fondant had a soft cake texture on the outside and was perfectly goey and molten under the surface. I loved the pistachio ice cream and even the swirl of cream was infused with fresh vanilla. I accompanied the fondant with a glass of Sauternes Garonelles 2008/9 (£7.95), which was sweet yet drier and less sticky than other dessert wines.

Steven’s Sticky Toffee Pudding (£6.50) was a comforting classic – dense, rich, spongy and smothered in a buttery toffee sauce. He paired it with the suggested cocktail, a short and strong Old Fashioned (£8.50).

We finished our meal with a pot of fresh mint tea and brownie petits fours on the terrace, enjoying the stunning views. The terrace of the Upper Deck is rather romantic at night, with soft lighting and lounge music in the background.

In the morning, breakfast is served in the Upper Deck, with a simple continental buffet and a selection of hot dishes to order. We both started the day with the Full English breakfast, served with a pot of strong English Breakfast tea and toast. The cooked breakfast was excellent, with high quality meat and a perfectly-cooked poached egg.

After breakfast, we spent a long morning in the hotel’s excellent spa. The Harbour Spa is beautifully-designed with a cool, urban feel and it was very well maintained. The sauna, salt room and steam room are all powerful and effective while the stylish swimming pool is at just the right temperature for an enjoyable few laps.

The well-equipped gym is also within the spa area and the jacuzzi is super hot, with leg and neck water jets to massage the body. The spa also offers treatments using ESPA and Thalgo products and the prices are very reasonable.

After checking out, we soaked up the rest of the sun with a pot of fresh mint tea on the comfortable loungers on the terrace, before heading back to London.

Christchurch Harbour Hotel is a fabulous haven close to the beach yet with enough facilities at the hotel to keep you entertained. The staff are friendly and accommodating and the Harbour Spa and dinner at the Upper Deck were the highlights of our stay. It’s definitely the place to leave your stresses behind and emerge feeling refreshed and well-rested.

Rooms at Christchurch Harbour Hotel start from £235 for dinner, bed and breakfast per night on weekends, based on two people sharing a double room. For more information and booking, visit: www.christchurch-harbour-hotel.co.uk

Chérie City was a guest of Christchurch Harbour Hotel

Photos by Chérie City (Upper Deck and Harbour Spa by Christchurch Harbour Hotel)

Revisited: The Gallivant Hotel in Camber

Christchurch Harbour Hotel – Dorset