The Riviera Hotel and Holiday Apartments occupies a prime, peaceful spot overlooking the water over Poole Bay and the tranquil woodland path and tropical gardens through pretty Alum Chine on the Bournemouth and Poole border. This independent and friendly hotel has been owned by the same family for over 50 years and welcomes back happy guests time and again.
Idyllic location
The hotel is just a four-minute walk from Alum Chine beach and a mile along the seafront from Bournemouth Pier. Its location puts it in easy reach of Bournemouth town centre (two miles away) and Poole (five miles). Bournemouth train and bus stations are less than two miles from the hotel and Bournemouth Airport just over five. If you’re coming here for Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), it’s just a mile’s stroll eastwards along the prom while Bournemouth Square and Gardens are just a couple of minutes further. If you’re travelling by car you can park at the hotel for free, a real advantage in the prime holiday season!
Inviting bedrooms
The Riviera Hotel has 69 bedrooms, all en-suite with complimentary toiletries. The rooms offer tea and coffee-making facilities, a flat screen television with Freeview channels and writing desk with lamp, plus telephone, hairdryer, a wake-up service / alarm clock and a radio. Many of the bedrooms have a balcony with sea views (£10 per night supplement), while others overlook the leafy Alum Chine walkway down to the beach. Guests can access free WiFi in the bedrooms and in all public areas of the hotel.
The Riviera has a selection of double and twin bedrooms, plus three types of family room to accommodate groups of three, four or five. Children of all ages are welcome to stay and are included in the price of a family room if they are under 14. If you need any accessories like cots, highchairs, toddler steps, bed guards or toilet seats to make your stay easier, please ask at reception.
A maximum of two small dogs (50cm or less) are also allowed to stay in your room for a charge of £10 per dog, per night. So, book them in and prepare yourself for long, leisurely walkies along the prom! Stag and hen groups, however, cannot be accommodated. Check in is from 2pm and you can check out any time until 10:30am on the final day of your stay.
Guests with mobility problems should be advised that the property is on a hilltop so the ground floor bedrooms have steps to the public areas. If you need to avoid stairs please ask for a non-ground floor and use the lift.
Leisure facilities
While you may only have eyes for the beach, the Riviera Hotel and Holiday Apartments also has an impressive range of leisure facilities available for residents including a 10m x 4m indoor swimming pool, an appealing ‘R’-shaped seasonal outdoor pool, a hot tub / Jacuzzi and small studio gym and fitness centre with cross trainer, treadmill, exercise bike and dumbells with weights bench.
The fitness centre and spa is open daily from 7am to 9pm. Locals can use the facilities as part of a membership package and day passes are also available to non-residents who want to use the facilities as a one-off.
If you’re travelling with children, they can let off steam in the hotel’s games room, which is kitted out with a pool table, table tennis, Nintendo Wii, table football, board games and toys.
The hotel’s Coast Spa and wellness centre offers luxury spa and pamper treatments and packages such as manicures and massages why not cosy down in the relaxation room– a real treat whether you’re here on a seaside holiday with the family, attending a private event or staying on business. Unique Boutique situated at the spa offers hair and beauty services too, ideal if you’re celebrating an event or trying to impress.
Coastal dining
The Riviera’s Cunarder Conservatory Restaurant has an AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence and its sea views are equally impressive. The restaurant is open every day to residents and the public for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast (continental or full English) is served weekdays between 7:30 and 9:30am and on Saturday and Sunday between 8 and 10am. The hotel also provides a full gluten-free breakfast menu with separate buffet table.
A two- or three-course Table d’Hote menu is served for dinner Monday to Sunday between 7pm and 8:45, offering a modern European take on traditional British dining. You’ll find dishes such as grilled scallops thermidor for starter, slow cooked west country blade of beef for main and home-made lemon tart with Dorset clotted cream for dessert. There is also a selection of pizzas available from The Bridge Pizzeria. The Bridge Bar and Grill is open all day for snacks and light meals such as home-made pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and salads. You can also order an indulgent Afternoon Tea from midday to 5pm, ranging from a simple cream tea to the Ultimate Tea with Buck’s Fizz and bubbles, tea and coffee, sandwiches, cakes and scones!
Self-contained apartments
If you want a more independent holiday, the Riviera has twelve self-contained apartments overlooking the outdoor pool or the woods of the Chine. These holiday apartments sleep one to six people and are available all year round, either for self-catering breaks or as part of a fully-served hotel package.
The apartments have one double bed and a sofa bed, a wardrobe, telephone, hairdryer, radio and ironing facilities plus a private bathroom with toilet, shower, bath and free toiletries. There is a dressing room, a dining area and lounge with large flat-screen television and DVD player and sofa and a kitchen with microwave, toaster, oven, fridge and kitchenware.
Check-in for the apartments cannot be guaranteed before 4pm due to the longer change-over time required, but guests are welcome to use the hotel luggage storage and leisure facilities if they arrive any earlier. There is free parking on the forecourt for apartment guests and a lift to all floors although please be aware there are ten steps up to the front door. Please note, dogs cannot be accommodated in the holiday apartments.
Reception and guest services
The Riviera’s front desk is manned 24 hours a day and on call to ensure you have a relaxing and enjoyable stay. Whether you want room service or an iron and board, luggage storage or dry cleaning and laundry, they’re on hand with advice and assistance around the clock.
Groups and conferences
The Riviera Hotel and Holiday Apartments welcomes groups of guests of any number from 10 to 200 people with free coach parking. Whether you’re in a walking group or bowls team, a golfing tour or dance holiday the hotel can help you plan the ideal getaway.
The hotel is a popular venue for conferences and meeting and can accommodate groups of delegates from 8 to 200. Whether you’re putting on a corporate event, interviews or an exhibition, the experienced team are on hand to make sure it goes smoothly. The beachside address gives ample opportunity for visitors to take a quiet stroll between sessions and all delegates are given free access to the hotel’s leisure club and spa facilities.
The Riviera function rooms provide natural daylight and air conditioning. They come with free WiFi, projector and screen, free parking, television, flipchart, whiteboard pens and pads, PA and microphone. Ask at reception if you require photocopying or access to a fax – they’ve thought of everything you need for a slick and professional function.
Parties and occasions
If you’re celebrating an occasion The Riviera Hotel can make it extra special whether you’re planning for two or two hundred guests. The staff can help you select the perfect function space, style it to your event and plan the menus as well as make sure it all goes to plan. Perhaps you’re planning a private dinner, a cocktail party or banquet. The Riviera can provide the ideal function room for a small party or grand event, whether baby shower or prom, some with beautiful sea views overlooking Alum Chine.
Your special day
Given its extensive function facilities and blissful location it’s no surprise that the Riviera Hotel is a popular choice for wedding celebrations. The hotel’s ceremony rooms are licensed for civil weddings, civil partnerships and blessings for parties of up to 180 people or you might want to come here after your vows for your wedding breakfast or party.
The Britannic Suite can fit up to 50 people for a cocktail reception and 30 to 40 for a boardroom style meeting or private dinner. Choose the Mauretania Suite to entertain up to 150 people for dinner or 200 for a drinks reception. The Cunarder Restaurant is also bookable for private lunches of up to 220 people.
Whatever your reason for coming to the Riviera, you’re guaranteed hospitality expertise and great views. Alum Chine is conveniently placed for Bournemouth and Poole plus the boutique shops and restaurants of Westbourne so why not consider the Riviera for your next beachside break?