The Priory Bay Hotel
This elegant Virginia creeper-clad country retreat has been built upon by medieval monks, Tudor farmers and Georgian gentry. The Priory Bay sits atop a small valley overlooking a stunning 70 acre estate, with spectacular views over its own private beach, six hole golf course and the East Solent. Its medley of beautiful buildings have been restored to create the unique “Country House Hotel by the Sea”, which has become synonymous with fine dining, service and luxury.
Superior rooms are in the main building, whereas the converted Tithe barns and self-catering cottages are more suitable for families. Facilities include tennis courts, swimming pool and, reputedly, the best-six hole golf course in the South of England. For an extra treat guests can choose from a range of holistic therapy treatments in the comfort of their own room.
The hotel also holds a Civil Wedding licence. The two dining rooms (fine dining and brasserie-style with alfresco Terrace) showcase superb British cuisine with a contemporary twist. Subject to weather conditions, you can land in style by private helicopter onto the lawn, or the hotel will send its own launch to Portsmouth and land you on its own beach.
The estate is a haven for wildlife, including birds of prey, owls, red squirrels and orchids. Children can wander freely in the grounds, while parents enjoy a little luxury, good food, wine and romance in this hotel, whose informality makes it feel like home.
Dogs in cottages only.
Rooms: 30
Rates
Single room with breakfast from £90;
Double / twin with breakfast from £160 Single room dinner, b&b from £125
Double room dinner, b&b from £230
Hotel reviews
02/07/2010 (2 night stay): We had our wedding at the Priory Bay Hotel on the 3rd July. It was a perfect English summers day. We cannot speak highly enough of the hotel and its staff. The location is wonderful, with one of the most beautiful beaches on the Island to walk straight onto. There is an old fashioned proper outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and six-hole golf course to keep you entertained. We had a wedding weekend l with a BBQ on the lawn on the Friday night for over 100 guests and a champagne reception and formal dinner for 150 the Saturday followed by dancing until 3. There was not a single thing we can think of that went wrong from start to finish. The manager l Fraser - was hands on from first minute to last. The attention to detail was brilliant. All the staff was helpful and friendly even at 2 in the morning, with no request being too much trouble. The food and service for both the BBQ and the reception was exceptional, and our guests all commented on the outstanding sea bass l perfectly cooked and presented for 150 people. Finishing touches included shipping in barrels of Harveyls bitter as we had many guests coming from Sussex. On the day, the hotel and grounds looked beautiful. Almost without exception our friends and family felt it was the best wedding they had been to: ôoutstanding weekendö ôperfectö ôflawlessö were some of the words used. One of our friends sent us an email two days after the wedding, and he put things so eloquently that we can do no better than quote what he said: ôWhen Sebastian Flyte tells Charles Ryder, ôJust the place to bury a crock of gold. I should like to bury something precious, in every place I've been happy. And then when I was old, and ugly and miserable, I could come back, and dig it up, and rememberö, he was talking about your weddingö. We feel the same about the Priory Bay.
Review by Tom Bourne
February 2011 : A first class hotel. I was only sorry that I was staying at the Priory Bay Hotel on business, and therefore did not have the opportunity to fully explore the grounds, or to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.
Review by JP
February 2011 : Just gorgeous. You will definitely want to return.
Review by PM
October 2010 : Top class accommodation in a stunning setting. This was probably one of the nicest places we have stayed at and was definitely worth every penny of the deal we got on late rooms. Private beach, open fires, stunning food.
Review by MG