The Durley Dean Hotel stands proudly at the very top of this Durley chine and has a wonderful history as one of the first hydropathic or "hydro" hotels in Bournemouth renowned for its therapeutic regime of bracing cold showers and fresh air. Today, after an extensive £4.2 million refurbishment this 3 star Victorian townhouse hotel is ideally situated to make the most of your stay in Bournemouth whether for business or for a family holiday, but with no cold showers!

Restaurant No. 28 is at the very heart of the hotel and features a stylish and contemporary design that is both warm and welcoming. The menu is delightfully extensive, caters for all tastes and is extremely well priced. The dishes that we experienced were served and presented with considerable professionalism and panache and were much enjoyed. For example consider starting with Garlic and coriander prawns with pesto ciabatta, follow that perhaps with Pot-roasted chicken breast served with a grain mustard mash and garlic beans and you may wish to pause before indulging in a Belgian chocolate torte with a Cointreau infused cream.

The Durley Dean Hotel, once known as "Palace midst the pines" only reopened on 1st August - pop along as soon as you can to admire the excellent restaurant No. 28 and you may just wish you had reserved one of their beautifully refurbished ensuite bedrooms for the night.

For more information go to: www.foliohotels.com/durleydean
Words by Martin Spooner www.spoonersltd.co.uk