A stone’s throw from the award-winning sandy Alum Chine Beach stands the Riviera Hotel. It boasts spectacular views of Bournemouth and across the sea to the Isle of Wight.
With a leisure club, two swimming pools, free parking, 73 en-suite bedrooms and private apartments, conference facilities and training rooms, this hotel offers good value in style for business visitors, tourists and locals. The Conservatory Restaurant within is worth a visit in its own right. With a nod to old-fashioned glamour, the decor is a light and classy – based on the interior of a majestic cruise liner – and staff are smart and polite.
The menu offers seasonal cuisine influenced by French cooking techniques and diners will find a range of interesting and affordable dishes that will appeal to all tastes – two courses are just £21 and three courses come in at £25.
We started with cream of garden pea soup and the intriguing assiette of beetroot with goat’s cheese and orange salad, which was terrific and tangy. The poached fillet of hake with white wine and vegetable naga was creamy, skilfully cooked and well presented. My guest’s minted lamb steak was tender and complemented beautifully by the rich red wine sauce. We finished with ice cream and lemon drizzle cake with clotted cream and raspberry coulis – glorious and very naughty.
