Perched halfway up a pretty hilltop in one of Dorset’s most exclusive addresses, Harbour Heights hotel is a stunning venue in a stunning part of Poole. Given its position, you are right to expect the beautiful views you can enjoy across Poole Harbour across to Brownsea Island particularly from the beautiful decked gardens out the back.
The perfect setting
Besides its beautiful position overlooking the length of Sandbanks Peninsula, if you’re looking for a little more than endless hours on one of the town’s most popular beaches, Harbour Heights has got that covered too. It’s just less than four miles from Poole Town Centre and just over four from Bournemouth Square. Bournemouth’s main train and bus stations are five miles away and Poole train and bus stations 3.5 miles – giving you plenty of options if you’re thinking of coming here on public transport.
If you’re flying into Bournemouth airport, Harbour Heights is a 10-mile car journey. Prospective or current students and their families can get to Bournemouth University and Arts University’s main Talbot Campus in 4 miles. Bournemouth beach and pier is just 3.5 miles along the coast, while the nearest beach, the beautiful and prestigious Sandbanks, is just two minutes away.
Nautical bedrooms
Harbour Heights may be a smaller hotel but it has a big personality. You can check in any time from 3pm and check-out is before 11am on the last day of your stay. The 38 boutique bedrooms are all beautifully appointed, each with its own elegant nautical theme and premium vi-sprung bed.
All rooms have private bathrooms with a relaxing Jacuzzi spa bath, luxury toiletries and fluffy bathrobes (on request). They also have a personal fridge, flatscreen television with satellite channels, working desk area and tea and coffee making facilities and many of the rooms have harbour views with balconies. There is a lift to all floors and WiFi is free and available in the bedrooms and in all parts of the hotel.
Room for everyone
You have a choice of rooms from the standard double with a King size bed or twin beds, the Poole Harbour double which offers panoramic outlooks over the harbour and beyond. The Poole Harbour double with balcony has French doors that open onto a balcony overlooking the Harbour. And the Harbour double deluxe is a real treat, spacious in design with double Juliette balconies.
Family-friendly stay
Children of all ages are welcome to stay at the hotel and cots / cribs can be provided for £5 per person for night for children aged 0 to 3 years. One additional child aged 4 to 14 years can stay in the room for £15 per night in an extra bed (please request at time of booking). While Harbour Heights has rooms for individuals, couples, twin accommodation and family groups, please leave your four-legged friends at home as the hotel is unable to accommodate them.
Private hire and functions
Harbour Heights Hotel provides a grand and memorable venue for your private occasion or function. A luxury suite which opens out onto your very own private terrace might just be the perfect backdrop for your event or for something extra special you could even hire the hotel’s very own 44ft catamaran!
On business
Why not impress a prospective client or hold your next inspirational team-building event at Harbour Heights? The hotel has meeting / banqueting facilities, free WiFi throughout and fax and photocopying services to make sure your event goes like clockwork.
If you’re planning a business or conference, Harbour Heights can provide a relaxing and welcoming executive setting. The hotel has two suites which can be set up to accommodate anything from one-to-one interviews to assessment centres to mass meetings for up 80 delegates.
The Hytes Suite is a large facility accommodating up to 120 people in a reception / dinner layout. The room is easy to access via the ground floor of the main hotel and offers magnificent views out across the Harbour over to Brownsea Island. The Canford Suite will comfortably accommodate a smaller conference of up to 40 guests and is set apart from the main hotel in the serene and private lower gardens.
Parking
There is limited free parking at Harbour Heights (unreserved) right outside the hotel doors. If the car park is full, you can find ample on-road parking around the hotel and on the main Bankes and Shore Roads on the approach to Sandbanks Beach. There is also a large public car park at Sandbanks Beach and a smaller facility along Shore Road.
The Harbar Bistro
While the views out across Poole Harbour are more than enough of a draw to take you to Harbour Heights, its two AA Rosette ‘Harbar Bistro’ and accomplished wine cellar bring residents and visitors back time and again. Enjoy a la carte or table d’hote dining in the smart, well-styled surroundings or step out onto the decked, landscaped terrace in warmer weather for chilled-out, alfresco dining with panoramic sea views.
Why not wile away the afternoon with an indulgent afternoon tea? Served between 3pm and 5pm enjoy freshly baked scones slathered with Dorset cream and sticky jam. Perhaps you’ll be tempted to add a selection of cakes, sandwiches or bubbles and make it a real occasion?
Experts in dining
The Harbar’s Head Chef Loic Gratadoux and his team have designed a fresh and seasonal a la carte menu around the area’s local produce that changes every day. Dinner is served from 7pm to 9:30pm with dishes such as pan-fried stone bass with a seafood and chorizo linguini and a juicy Aberdeen Angus chateaubriand for two. The sample table d’hote menu over two or three courses features tempting starters like citrus cured salmon, intriguing mains such as Creedy Carver duck breast and irresistible desserts like Panettone bread and butter pudding.
Head Sommelier Charles Van Wyk has personally stocked Harbour Heights’ cellar with a worldly collection of vintages to enhance your dining experience. Some of the varieties are rarely seen outside of their own local markets while a pick of Dorset wines proudly represents local producers.
Live music
On selected Friday and Saturday evenings from 7:30pm Harbour Heights sets the mood with live music sessions in the main lounge and restaurant area. Settle down with a cocktail from the bar or enjoy the entertainment as you place your food order.
Talented piano and vocalists including Simon Woodley and Hope Schachter play a mixture of smooth classical and modern tunes. Perhaps you’d prefer the smooth saxophone sessions from locally acclaimed jazz musicians including Claire Manners, Stephen Docherty, Ian Close and Sarah Bolter, playing traditional blues to modern soul tunes.
Food for all occasions
If you’re after a spot of lunch between beach trips or before you set off to enjoy the water the Harbar is a grand destination for a quick bite to eat or more formal business luncheon. The lunch menu changes daily and is served between 12pm and 2:15pm in the Harbar or out on the terrace.
On Sundays Harbour Heights can offer a traditional English roast dinner or some creative alternatives if you want to try something different, each followed by a choice of hand-made desserts. Sunday lunch is served between 12pm and 2:15pm.
Often lauded the most important meal of the day, Harbour Heights takes breakfast seriously. It’s served from 7am to 9am on weekends and 9:30am weekends with the hotel’s inspirational backdrop that will motivate you for the day or captivate you as you gaze over the harbour enjoying the luxury of a slower start to your day.
Leisure facilities
Harbour Heights is perfectly positioned for getting out and about and active. The hotel is just minutes from various kitesurfing, paddleboarding and other watersports providers based along Banks Road, close to the Watersports Academy at the mouth of Sandbanks Peninsula, just over a mile from Sandbanks Marina and beautiful Parkstone Golf Course is less than two miles away.
Hotel services
The front desk at Harbour Heights is manned 24 hours a day, meaning the team is always on hand to ensure the comfort and convenience of your stay. If you’re travelling for a business function or private event, give your wardrobe a spruce-up by taking advantage of the hotel’s trouser press, shoeshine, dry cleaning and laundry services.
If you arrive before check-in or you want to have one final day on the beach once you’ve checked out there is luggage storage available to stow your cases. If you’re feeling peckish or setting out early for the day why not book room service to enjoy a selected menu from the comfort of your bedroom or order a packed lunch to take out and about as you enjoy beautiful Poole, Bournemouth and beyond?
Weddings
If you’re looking for an elegant and luxurious venue for your wedding ceremony or blessing, Harbour Heights could set the perfect scene for your nuptials and, of course, the photographs afterwards. The hotel’s dedicated wedding planners will help you to shape your dream occasion from initial meeting through to when you leave on your honeymoon. If you’re getting married in a local church or even on the beach you can continue the celebrations up on Harbour Heights’ private terrace as you watch the world sail by.
Licensed venue
If you’re after a civil ceremony or partnership Harbour Heights is fully licenced to host your occasion whether you prefer the beautiful Hytes Suite with its floor-to-ceiling windows or to swap vows out on the teak-decked private terrace. Both venues can comfortably accommodate 100 guests for your wedding ceremony.
The hotel chefs will freshly prepare your chosen menu in your dedicated kitchen. For your evening function the Hytes Suite can be transformed into quite the venue with permanent dance floor and space for your DJ or band. You get private use of the Hytes bar and a private lounge and the room can accommodate up to 150 guests.
To top off the day, why not book in to the Harbour Heights’ beautiful bridal suite, the perfect place to wake up on the first day of married life together?
Whether you’re after a convenient base between Bournemouth and Poole with more than a touch of luxury and enviable views out of your bedroom window or you’re a beach lover keen to stay close to the coast’s most coveted postcodes Harbour Heights offers a serene retreat right in the heart of the action.