The Beach

You can drink a cocktail on the sun terrace at Susie and Will Daniel’s stay-and-play youthful, family-friendly hotel, and see when surf’s up on Summerleaze Beach below. The Victorian hotel has been made over in New England style, with natural wood furniture, Lloyd Loom chairs and relaxing ‘Fabbo and Ball’ greys and whites. The bedrooms range from rear-facing super-king-size doubles or twins to sea-facing deluxe doubles, four with a private terrace. Superior rooms have a Juliet balcony. All rooms have a smart modern bathroom. There are now two suites, one sleeping four, with lounge and terrace, the other sleeping six, with a lounge and kitchen/diner. A reader who found the meals ‘too big’ need not fear. In the bar and restaurant, and alfresco, award-winning chef Jamie Coleman’s menus comprise small, large and sharing plates, with a list for vegetarians and vegans. Typical dishes include lamb scrumpet with whipped goat curd, sea buckthorn and heritage carrots, scampi and fries with Bloody Mary ketchup, and chickpea and butternut squash burger. When the tide is out, Summerleaze’s sea-bathing pool is revealed.