HARBOUR HOTEL & SPA BRIGHTON

from Absolute Magazine Spring Summer 2022 Edition

by Absolute Magazine Group

WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT

The perfect location to enjoy the wonders of this bohemiancity and soak up the luxurious subterranean HarSPA

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EXPERIENCES

Brighton

HARBOUR HOTEL

& SPA

Brighton’s best-kept secret on the prom is too good to reserve for the tourists.

This sea-facing Victorian icon takes pride of place on Brighton’s world-famous

promenade and is within easy walking distance of both piers and just a stone’s throw away from the glorious pebbled beach. Named by The Times as one of the best hotels in Brighton, it’s the perfect location to enjoy the wonders of this bohemiancity and soak up the luxurious subterranean HarSPA.

Featuring a host of vibrant and contemporary interiors, whilst retaining many of the original Victorian architectural features, Brighton Harbour Hotel & Spa has been fully refurbished and is the only luxury hotel to reside on the city’s outstanding promenade. This makes visiting local sights such as The Royal Pavilion or browsing the bijoux boutiques of The Lanes an absolute sea breeze.

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Sit back, unwind and sip a complimentary gin or sherry from the decanter

Often regarded as the quirkiest of seaside retreats in Britain and sometimes described as ‘London on Sea,’ Brighton has been home to the rich, famous and oh-so effortlessly chic for decades, all having been drawn in by the crisp sea air and a super-vibrant artistic and cultural scene that has made Brighton an extraordinary place to live or visit. Life really is a beach, with 79 rooms brimming full of nautical, seaside charm, all featuring beautiful art deco, seaside prints, striped bedding and soft furnishings to match. Why not go all in with a front facing room for a perfect sea view, then sit back, unwind and sip a complimentary gin or sherry from the decanter as you soak up that irresistible view. Top of the bill are the seaview super-suites that overlook the sea and Brighton’s bustling Palace Pier. Large and in charge, with free-standing bathtubs, retro-inspired reclining sofa chairs and a super-king size bed to sink into. Nothing could be sweeter. When exploring the city, a deluxe double is just the ticket. These large, front-facing rooms offer fantastic sea views, super-king size beds, deep cushioned sofa chairs, super-soak rain showers and free-standing bathtubs. Perfect for resting those weary feet after pounding the pavements all day. The superior seaview double rooms live up to their name in every way, with bright, bold and beautiful rooms creating a colourful backdrop to any stay. From yourwindow seats looking out over the sea through Victorian-style bay windows and supremely comfy king-size beds to relax into, you’ll be excused if you start to feel just a little superior. The seaview glimpse double rooms are the closest of all the hotel’s rooms to the bustling promenade - great for night owls looking for a lively weekend away. The comfiest of king-size beds and drenching waterfall showers are sure to cure any sore heads. Change your perspective with an inland facing double room. Soak up the sea during the day and relax in total tranquillity in the evening. With bright and bold furnishings, deliciously comfy king-size beds and a whole host of life’s little luxuries, you’ll find that what really counts is what’s inside this inland double room. Cosy and bijou, these modestly sized inland facing double rooms are perfect for solo travellers who enjoy life’s little luxuries or those content with snuggling in a standard double bed. Beautiful in detail and style, what they lack in size they certainly make up in character. If it’s all about you, these cosy, inland-facing cabinstylesingle rooms will make you feel right at home by the sea. With a well-stocked mini bar, The White Company products and a stand-alone waterfall shower in the bathroom, it’s the perfect seaside retreat.

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HARBOUR HOTEL

Unique spa treatments that are both invigorating and relaxing

Brighton’s subterranean HarSPA Brighton’s best kept secret can be found underground in Brighton’s HarSPA, where you will be sure to find your inner peace in the inner city. Submerge yourself deep beneath the city, in the old smugglers’ tunnels with their exposed brickwork and vaulted ceilings. Take a wellearned dip in the serene, heated pool and float away into complete and utter subterranean bliss. Choose to detox with a steam, lie back in a Scandinavian hot tub or soothe your entire body with a massage while the city above jumps to an altogether different beat.

Combining holistic therapies with contemporary techniques, HarSPA has created a series of completely unique spa treatments that are both invigorating and relaxing, using only the purest, natural ingredients. From top-to-toe deep relaxing massages and super-deluxe facials, to invigorating scrubs with their very own range of exclusive HarSPA and luxury Temple Spa products, you’ll soon be in full relaxation mode. With an extensive list of treatments to choose from, you’ll be calmly soaking up the atmosphere while the world above races by. With candles flickering, a soothing soundtrack and an invigorating pool to refresh in, you’ll be forgiven for keeping your new relaxing hideaway a secret.

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Harbour Kitchen & Bar Enjoy laid-back beachfront vibes in the relaxed ambiance of the all-day restaurant and bar. With theunmistakable view of Brighton’s iconic Palace Pier in sight and a cocktail in hand, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a host of British classics and seaside favourites as you plan your next great adventure. The Harbour Kitchen and Bar’s menu features a host of British classics and seaside favourites with a delicious twist. Using only the finest of local ingredients and flavours, all sourced by Executive Chef Director, John Pollard, it’s the perfect choice for lovers of seafood and the health conscious alike. Discover a new favourite from a menu bustling with natural flavours, such as posh fish and chips, steamed mussels with Thai coconut chilliand scallops with crispy pancetta and sea vegetables. It’s a great alternative to the standard fare and includes a catch of the day and plenty of plant-based goodness, which can be perfectly paired with a selection of English wines from Sussex’s very own vineyards. But if craft beers, artisan spirits and seasonal cocktails are more your thing, then the drinks list will leave you a little stirred, if not shaken. Join the merry-go-round of nostalgia with a Brighton Pier inspired afternoon tea. Soak up the heavenly aroma of fresh doughnuts, the fluffiest of cotton candy and mini cheeseburgers that are anything but mini on flavour. Treat yourself to a delicious cocktail to make the afternoon really reach new heights. Tempted by the promise of cuisine as sumptuous as the view, Absolute Magazine’s resident foodie Tony Shattel went to discover the Harbour Kitchen and Bar got himself…

“As someone who lives in Brighton all year round I have only ventured into a handful of the many hotel restaurants that exist in the wonderful holiday destination I call home. They just don’t tend to be on my radar unless someone I know is staying at a hotel and I meet them there for drinks or dinner. However after popping in for a Friday night drink in the bar at the Harbour Hotel, and experiencing the laid-back beach-front vibes that this fantastic quirky venue has to offer, not to mention the incredible cocktails, I made it my mission to check out the restaurant, and it seems I havebeen missing out! I took my partner for a Monday lunch date. Firstly making a beeline for the bar to order a couple ofcocktails I had been raving about. Head barman George was already doing his thing, shaking up a couple of experiments in preparation for a cocktail master-class he will be hosting in the week. The venue seemed to exhume even more of the wonderful relaxed and friendly vibe I had experienced on my last visit, with staff making time to welcome us and make us feel at home. Making our way through to the restaurant, which is bright and airy and has been decorated in an offbeat seaside theme, with glorious sailor-style tattoo wallpaper along one side, white-washed wooden walls on the other, and blue velvet furniture, giving the place a tranquil feel. There is a huge open-plan kitchen to the rear of the room surrounded by a bar where you can experience the chefs table, watching the team at work creating delicious plates of food. Being a beautiful sunny day we opt to sit by the huge bay windows which are set right on the seafront between Brighton’s two piers. Theviews really are second to none in the city, and not to be missed.

Overseeing all things front of house is our waiter Sava, who is well-versed in the fine art of customer service. Friendly, yet professional, and as relaxed as our surroundings. We are left to peruse the menu and overhear him making recommendations to the table opposite from their catch of the day - a Sea Bream baked in sea-salt which he later brings out, cracking the succulent monster of a fish from the salt crust and expertly filleting it for them there and then next to the table.

Our culinary adventure begins with king scallops served in a half shell with Sauternes butter and samphire, and white and green asparagus served with a crispy hen’s egg and a parmesan tuille. Both plates of food are a delight. Wonderful plump tasty scallops drizzled a bitter sweet sauce that complimented and even intensified the natural buttery flavour of the scallops. The fresh asparagus, seared to perfection with a beautifully cooked soft boiled egg in a crispy crumb shell, garnished with a crunchy cheesy tuille that packed a salty punch. All the flavours and textures in this dish were a delight, working in harmony to push the delicious earthiness of the asparagus to the forefront. Both dishes exceptionally well presented with a vibrant pallet of colours, and incredibly tasty to boot.

Equally as impressive are our mains. My beef fillet is exceptional. Cooked to perfection to my specification (medium rare) with a crisp croquette filled with sumptuous short rib meat. The carapace of crunch sealed in the flavour of the meat which when released had my eyes rolling to the back of my head in sheer pleasure. Served with delicate buttery confit potatoes and a stunning flavoursome red wine jus that just topped it all off in the taste department. Incredible.

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The service we received was impeccable and the chilled out ambiance of this charming restaurant made us not want to leave!

My partner plumped for Cod and Crab. A lush velvety fillet of cod, with a crab and herb crust. I could not help but marvel at how the delicate fish flaked at the mere touch of her fork, and how the inspired crunchy crustacean crust really highlighted the sweet delicate flavour of the meat. Served with a silky cream mash, a dollop of tasty crab meat, elegantly scattered with peas and samphire, all drizzled in a sublime butter sauce. A lovely well rounded dish that makes it easy to appreciate how it is one of the Harbour hotels most popular.

When you visit the Harbour Hotel restaurant please do make sure you save some room for dessert. The incredibly well thought out dessert menu which consists of some luxurious and decadent sounding concoctions, was just too tantalising to ignore. My popcorn panna cotta, a dreamy creamy marvel drizzled in chocolate sauce with crunchy salted caramel popcorn scattered about. Oh my what a treat! My partner’s indulgent oozing hot chocolate fondant, unapologetically and sublimely rich and gooey, was just fabulous, the silky vanilla ice cream soothingly complimenting, with a scattering of chocolate shards adding a touch of je ne sais quoi! What a way to finish our meal! We thoroughly enjoyed everything about our dining experience at Harbour Hotel Bar and Kitchen. The service we received was impeccable and the chilled out ambiance of this charming restaurant made us not want to leave! Every course we enjoyed was consistently excellent with a huge variety of flavours and textures with a great deal of thought going into the presentation and composition of the dishes. With a regularly changing menu sourcing seasonal ingredients from local suppliers, I am really looking forward to seeing what the newly appointed and extremely talented head chef Nico will come up with next. I also seemed to have stumbled upon Brighton’s best kept secret at the Harbour Hotel. It turns out spa days can be found underground, in their subterranean HarSPA. A little bit of inner peace in the inner city. They offer guest passes at £35 per person Mon-Thurs, these include 4 hour access to spa facilities including gym, swimming pool, Scandinavian hot tubs, sauna and steam rooms. The Harbour Hotel really does have everything. I cannot believe I have not discovered them sooner!”