Britannia House

Trusted readers this year ‘greatly enjoyed’ this ‘small and quirky hotel’ overlooking one of three marinas in a historic New Forest coastal town. Genial, ‘larger-than-life’ host Tobias Feilke has a winning, ‘direct, friendly approach’. He is also no amateur: Rhineland-born Tobias trained at the prestigious Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, then moved to Chewton Glen, New Milton (see entry) via a BSc in hotel management. He has brought something of the grand country house look to a former Victorian public house. When it comes to boutique-chic, Britannia waives the rules. The hallway is hung with a magnificent array of hats, and the interiors are a riot of swags and tassels. The Britannia Suite is positively imperial, done out in gold and black. On the ground floor, The Courtyard looks on to a small garden, while The Forest promises ‘reminders of the New Forest national park’. A dual-aspect first-floor lounge has a marina view. ‘Breakfast is communal, in the kitchen, and very friendly.’ Tobias, at the Aga, cooks everything to order, and is a mine of ‘information and recommendations’. (Geoffrey Bignell)