The Royal Harbour Hotel, Ramsgate, England, UK

The stunning view of the Ramsgate Royal Harbour Marina as seen from our bedroom window

​The Royal Harbour Hotel is a quirky 27-bedroom townhouse hotel situated on a Georgian crescent in Ramsgate.  Located across from the sea, it has fabulous views of the Ramsgate marina. 

The hotel has a very homely feel and is bursting at the seams with bric-a-brac – there is definitely a ‘more is more’ approach towards the interior design choices, making it a bit like staying at an eccentric relative’s home.  As you stroll through the hotel, you’ll see unique touches such as interesting artworks and a turntable to play their large collection of vinyls stacked in the corner of the lounge.

The quirky vintage decor in the lounge

​Within the hotel, there are three small communal areas that guests are encouraged to relax in, one of which features an honesty bar for guests who want a tipple. At the back of the house, guests will find the garden, which is a real suntrap, making it a great place to retreat to with book and a cuppa. During our visit, we noticed that many of the guests brought along their four-legged friends.

The rear garden - a hidden delight

​​Our room
Bedrooms at the front of the house are smaller and cosier with sea views, while those at the back are larger and quieter. We stayed in Room 19, a sea-facing room at the top of the house, which was a bit on the pokey side (there’s was just enough room to swing a cat), however, it afforded stunning views of the marina. As we lounged in our room, we kept the window open for a bit of fresh air and enjoyed listening to the sounds of the seagulls flying by.​

Room 19 and its nautical decor

The Empire Room restaurant
The restaurant is small and intimate – with room for 30 covers – and is quite comforting with its crimson walls bedecked with vintage prints of Empire Magazine and oriental rugs scattered across the original stone floors.   Glass table lamps adorn the tables, adding a sense of romance to the occasion.   In keeping with the anti-minimalist décor, the bookshelves in the dining room are stacked with books and a hodge podge of vintage finds. ​

Perusing the menu at The Empire Room restaurant

Guests can choose from two menus -  a set menu or an ala carte menu. The menus feature a variety of traditional British dishes such as roast cod or hake, shoulder of lamb, a loin of Kentish beef or a trio of Kentish pork.
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We had the thyme roasted loin of Kentish beef with potato terrine, crisp beef shin, roasted shallot, kale, red wine sauce (£21.00), which was rich and flavoursome and the roasted loin of cod in a crab bisque sauce served with Pegwell Bay sea vegetables, roasted fennel, local asparagus and new potatoes (£17.50), which was exceptionally tasty and was a very generous portion - perfect for those with hearty appetites!

The breakfast room at The Royal Harbour Hotel

Breakfast at the Harbour Hotel
Breakfast is served in the communal dining room each morning where guests are able to help themselves to a cold buffet featuring fresh fruits, breads, cereals, fresh honeycomb and yogurt. For guests who are really peckish, a cooked breakfast is also on offer, with options including kippers, omelettes or a full English. As guests enjoy a leisurely breakfast, they can cast their eyes on various graphic art prints that are displayed on the walls.

Thing to see and do in the local area
The hotel is located within easy reach of the railway station and is close to the beach, the seafront, the yacht marina, the ferry terminal, local pubs and restaurants as well as local shops and golf courses.
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The verdict
This is a great place to stay if you're looking for a bargain-friendly seaside escape.
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The details
For more information or to make a booking, visit http://www.royalharbourhotel.co.uk. Prices from £79.00 per night including breakfast.

The Royal Harbour Hotel
Nelson Crescent
Ramsgate
Kent
CT11 9JF
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Top tips

• Go for an evening stroll along the marina and visit the local gelataria (down the hill from the hotel) for a post dinner gelato as you watch the boats bobbing peacefully in the harbour

Best bits

• The fabulous sea views afforded from our room

Worst bits

• The stairs can prove a bit challenging for guests who are unfit or who struggle with stairs.  Request one of the rooms on the lower levels of the house if this is an issue

Our experience overall
The property: ★★★★
Food and drink: ★★★★
Staff attentiveness/friendliness: ★★★★​★​

*During our visit we were hosted by the team at The Royal Harbour Hotel. All views and opinions are my own.

A.A. Miln

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