Charming hotelier John Butterworth owns several Poole hotels and I've been lucky enough to stay in all of them.

I might have chosen his Sandbanks Hotel as a family friendly beach-front treat or the super sexy Harbour Heights on the cliff overlooking the beach and harbour but I'm going for the best of them all - The Haven Hotel on the very tip of the exclusive Sandbanks spit.

It's right at the point of Sandbanks, at the entrance to the huge harbour. Cross channel ferries glide past the terrace bar, as do luxury yachts and fishing boats. The car ferry to the National Trust's Studland beach clanks to and fro just yards from the hotel. You can watch it from your room's balcony while eating breakfast.

This is one of my favourite hotels, not just in Dorset, but in the world. It's not a Teutonically efficient, antique-filled country-house museum and neither is it a celebrity-encrusted boutique with uncomfortable chairs and cocktails you've never heard of. It's just a really good standard hotel with all the things I like in an absolutely amazing location.

Boss, John Butterworth, known as Mr B to the staff, lives right next door and pops in most days for lunch. So it's smart but not faceless. There's no corporate gobbledegook at reception. Your bill is what you expected it would be. It feels friendly - and whether or not that's just skilled fakery I don't mind - I feel welcome.

It's surrounded by swanky villas and apartments right on the sand's edge. Soccer boss Harry Redknapp lives a couple of doors away. The waves lap at the side of the hotel and from your room's balcony you can watch the car ferry chugging to and fro to the National Trusts's Studland beach across the harbour mouth.

Rooms are lovely and comfortable, well-equipped and stylish without being alienating and wacky. You won't say 'wow' but you will settle in quickly. The sea view is definitely worth paying extra for.

Downstairs there's the brilliant Roche restaurant where you can eat light fresh excellent meals right at the water's edge, either inside or out. It is easily good enough to merit its two-rosette status. There's a great bustling bistro feel here at weekends. The main restaurant is a bit formal for me but it's there if you like silver service and sitting bolt upright.

There's also a good spa in the hotel with a pool that starts indoors and goes outdoors. There's saunas and all that malarky too. Outside there's a gym, tennis court and, brilliantly, steps directly down onto the clean, safe, sandy beach.



Contact The Haven Hotel: click here

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