The city of Portsmouth – more than boats, naval barracks and Charles Dickens – is sprawled on the south coast of England, awash with stylish hotels. We navigate the drapes, scatter cushions and capacious four-posters to reveal the best boutique places to stay in Portsmouth.
The sleek black-and-glass exterior of the Village Hotel is your first hint of the very contemporary vibes found inside. Rooms are designed with chic, grey walls offset by neon prints and Pop Art scatter cushions. And the hotel embraces the modern in technology as well as style: you can download an app that will turn your phone into your room key. A stay also gives you access to the modern fitness centre, which has a purple-lit pool and lots of equipment to keep you in shape. Later, head to the in-house restaurant and bar for pub grub under the warm glow of screens showing the latest sports.
Somerset House is a part of the Mercer Collection, a luxury hotel group with seven boutique properties. Moments from Southsea Beach, this Edwardian-cum-contemporary boutique hotel neighbours the group’s gastropub the Florence Arms, a red-brick boozer selling traditional cask ales, quirky cocktails and a collage of seasonally inspired dishes. After an evening of fine dining, there’s nothing better than slipping into soft Egyptian cotton sheets back at Somerset House, one of the most comfortable places to stay in Portsmouth.
Looking for a grown-up hotel? This adults-only boutique hotel in Portsmouth with eight air-conditioned ensuites won’t disappoint. Each room is decorated with classical wood furniture and other artisan accoutrements; one even has a spa bath with glittery red tiles. Set in an Edwardian edifice, and equidistant to the nightclubs of Gunwharf Quays and the bohemian pubs of Southsea, it also has a lounge and private bar for cosy nights in. Catering to all tastes, this multi-award-winning boutique also pleases every palate with its sumptuous à la carte breakfast.
The decor at Florence House is inspired by contemporary design, but the building retains many of its Edwardian characteristics. White French wardrobes, original fireplaces and delicate pastel shades compliment colourful art deco cushions, vintage lamps and widescreen TVs. True to its roots, this six-bedroom boutique – festooned with hand-made furnishings from Southsea’s Victoriana – really makes the most of local talent. Situated on Malvern Road, it’s close to the Natural History Museum.
Light, airy and sleek, Florence Gardens is another of the Mercer Collection’s success stories. The latest addition to the group, this charming hotel on Malvern Road is a six-bedroom boutique brimming with style. Local artworks fill its interior and brighten almost every corner. From single to superior, its rooms come in all shapes and sizes and create the ultimate home away from home for a comfortable night’s sleep. There’s even a lavender-sprayed garden and patio with fuchsia-pink hanging baskets for winding down in warmer months.
Like the area in which it stands, vintage makes up a large part of the Florence Suite’s personality. Having once appeared on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed as Sea-La-Vie before the Mercer Collection took it over, this eight-bed boutique is well known in Portsmouth. Arty wallpaper by Cole & Son sets the scene in every room, and is complemented by contemporary touches that weave together comfort and style. Joined to Florence House and Florence Gardens by a pathway that snakes between them, this hotel also has a private annex for guests in want of solitude.
Now here are some unique places to stay in Portsmouth. Originally designed to defend our shores, Portsmouth’s Victorian fortresses have become five-star hotels at Solent Forts Hotels. Offering an unrivalled panorama of Portsmouth and beyond, each of these out-of-the-ordinary boutiques is set within colossal granite and iron structures where soldiers once slept. Each fort offers a rich profusion of fresh seafood, but for toasted marshmallows, liquor coffee and warm blankets around a rooftop fire pit, pick Spitbank Fort; head to No Man’s Fort for heart-pumping laser tag highs in the labyrinthine depths of the lower deck. Sitting in the salty strait of Portsmouth, each fort requires a short boat trip from Gunwharf Quays.
From chocolate, caramel and mocha to crimson, mustard and cornflower blue, every one of the rooms at Stattons is painted a different hue, while artistically designed, vibrant wallcoverings by Newmor give another dimension to the well-appointed interior. This carries through to the bar, with its monochromatic checks on the floor, lime-green areca palms on brilliant white window sills and twinkling iridescent glass bottles. Situated on Florence Road, this comfortable but contemporary boutique is just a two-minute walk from Clarence Pier, from where commercial hovercrafts take passengers across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
From a round bed and starry ceiling in the Gloating You’re Not Here room to a slate- and cerise-coloured double jacuzzi in the Giddy With Delight suite, each individually named room at the G! Boutique Hotel oozes style. Set on a quiet street in Southsea and just a five-minute walk from the cafes and second-hand shops of Albert Road, this hotel provides the perfect base from which to explore the town. After perusing the rails, why not wind down in a glass bubble chair – suspended from the ceiling of the eclectic drawing room – before venturing out for dinner?
This mad-about-gin hotel offers a range of flavour sensations, including rhubarb and custard. Exuding glamour while remaining true to its maritime roots, this Portsmouth boutique hotel on the Hard is set in a Grade II-listed Georgian building and boasts matchless views of the city’s historic dockyard and Spinnaker Tower. It’s also right next to the train station and car and foot ferries to the Isle of Wight, Spain and France. It’s all about local here, and the accessories are locally sourced as well as idiosyncratic, including the tea from nearby All About Tea.
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