Gardens and grounds
After a day at Gunwharf and a night on Albert Road, come home to the eight-seat hot tub and stare at the stars. Eat out on the terrace in the briny air, with Buckwell’s meat treats on the barbecue and wine from Camber’s oiling the social wheels.
But the best open spaces here are the endless esplanade and Southsea’s beach, with their volleyball, crazy golf and beach huts for hire. In the shadow of the Spinnaker, the green spaces are perfect for kites, barbies and picnics.
Living spaces
Once you’ve exhausted the shingly beach, the Emirates Spinnaker and the bustling retro chic of Albert Road, you’ll need a welcoming embrace. That’s what Southshore Place provides in spades: a huge dose of Edwardian elegance souped up with modern conveniences that only add to the charm.
If Southshore Place feels like an upmarket boutique hotel, it’s because it was once just that. But this is the hotel where you pick your own guests, which must be the ultimate luxury. Get together with family or hens to chill amid the calming colour schemes, the historic fireplaces and the squishy, L-shaped sofas.
The entertainment room sits cool, calm and contemporary with its plumped-up cushions and expansive sofa. Raid Sky Sports for footie, Sky Movies for a blockbuster, or Apple TV, Now TV or Netflix for box sets and settle back with popcorn and Prosecco. The screen’s a mere 90 inches, so you’d be forgiven for never leaving.
If there’s a match vs movie conflict, break out to the lounge. The screen’s similarly huge, the sofa’s suitably L-shaped and the Edwardian elegance just as mood-enhancing. Light the fire, grab a coffee from the bean-grinder and hop a channel or 200. Keep the entertainment coming with the 200mbps Superfast Virgin wifi.
Cooking and dining
Need space for 20 to drink and dine? No problem. Settle back around the L-shaped table beneath the high ceiling and tuck in to fresh fare from Southsea Deli and Buckwell’s Butchers, all washed down with a tasteful vintage or two from Camber Wines. Or dine al fresco on the terrace with steaks sizzling on the gas barbie.
You’ll prepare your meals in style on the induction hobs and two electric ovens. If you’d rather not exert yourselves, call up our friends from Southsea Deli for fresh, seasonal stuff from Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset and Somerset. Book a one-off meal to grab a breather or indulge in a fully catered break.
Takeaways? Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo have you covered, and we can recommend Indian Cottage, Koh Thai, or Noble House for Chinese. Alternatively, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose will all deliver. Catch the Hampshire Farmers’ Market on the third Sunday of each month.
Popping out to eat? Grab light bites at the Southsea Beach Café or the 10th Hole Tearooms. Head to Gunwharf Quays for popular chain restaurants such as Frankie and Benny’s and Five Guys. Or walk to The Merchant House, The Florence Arms or Algarve for Portuguese-American.
Bedrooms
As befits a former boutique hotel, bedrooms here are an exercise in elegance. You’ve ten to choose from and features include clawfoot tubs and four-posters. Every room has a large TV, en-suite (or in-room bath) and oodles of contemporary style that never forgets its traditional roots.
The master bedroom offers two kingsize beds and an en-suite shower, while bedrooms two and three house kingsize beds and an en-suite shower. Bedroom four is a single with its own en-suite, and bedroom five and six provide kingsize beds with en-suite showers. Bedroom seven is also a kingsize, but with a quirky in-room bath.
Bedroom eight is a single with en-suite shower and bedrooms nine and ten on the ground floor are both kingsize also with en-suite showers.
Children welcome
Maybe the main attraction for kids is on the other side of the door, where the shingle beach, the skatepark and Pirate Pete’s await. But the thrill of holiday accommodation, of bagging rooms and staying up late for a sugar-laden midnight feast never gets old.
With ten bedrooms across four floors, a cinema room, lounge and kitchen, there’s plenty of room here for traditional entertainment such as hide-and-seek. When endless searches prove fruitless, you can wheel out armfuls of books and DVDs.
More-contemporary entertainment comes in the form of TVs. There’s even an entertainment room with giant wall TV. Stock up on popcorn as small pairs of eyes boggle at the 90” screen. Pick from Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Apple TV, Now or Netflix. All bedrooms also feature flatscreen TVs.
Elsewhere, spaces are ideal for late-night books, cards or movies. Stream your content on superfast, 200mb Virgin wifi, or just twiddle thumbs on the Playstation.
What people say
Bikes, bouldering, massages and manicures
Kids can go potty with bikes and bouldering at the Peter Ashley Activity Centres or see stars at the Winchester Science Centre. Grown-ups and hens will love Gunwharf Quays for shopping, Sunsail for yacht charters, All Bar One for mixology masterclasses, and the Marriott for massages and manicures. Smiles all round.
