The Beach

The old, pointy-gabled Victorian Summerleaze Court Hotel hardly knows itself these days, with its cool New England style and sunny terrace above a sandy surfers’ beach. ‘I could not fault the warm and helpful welcome, and the lovely situation,’ wrote a reader this year. The bedrooms, though they vary in size and outlook, all have a king- or super-king-size bed, soft-hued decor, limed oak furniture, Lloyd Loom chairs, ‘splendid baths and showers’. One is on the ground floor; a lift serves the first and second floors. Rear-facing rooms have walk-in or over-bath showers. Superior sea-facing rooms have a Juliet balcony, while deluxe rooms have a private terrace or are extra-spacious. Be selective when you book. ‘Excellent accommodation’ but ‘my room was great on space but had no view, so could have been anywhere’, continues our reader, who found the general vibe ‘a little impersonal’ and the cooked breakfast disappointing. Things have changed, however, with the bar and restaurant now run by Elements, with people-pleasing, Italian-inspired menus. Bude’s 1930s tidal pool offers warm, safe bathing if you’re daunted by the mighty Atlantic.