Ventnor, above the esplanade · Hotel
A seven-room boutique hotel on the cliff above Ventnor, with sea-view rooms, a Michelin Guide restaurant and a strong reputation for breakfast.
The Hambrough is a small Victorian villa converted into one of the island's better-known boutique hotels, perched on the slope between Ventnor's high street and the esplanade. It has just seven rooms, which keeps things quiet and personal but means it books up quickly for weekends.
Rooms are contemporary rather than period — clean lines, good bathrooms, Nespresso machines, and in most cases a balcony or window seat looking straight out over the Channel. The sea-view rooms are the reason to stay, and the difference between those and the rear rooms is worth the supplement. Space is generous for a house of this size, with several rooms taking the full width of the building.
The restaurant has been the property's calling card for years. It held a Michelin star under a previous chef and continues to feature in the Michelin Guide, with a short seasonal menu built around island vegetables, local crab and lobster, and Channel fish. Breakfast is cooked to order and consistently well reviewed. There is no bar scene to speak of and no pool or spa; this is a place for eating well and then walking down to the sea.
It suits couples and small groups of friends more than families — there is little in the way of facilities for children, and the building has stairs rather than lifts. Parking is limited and on-street in places, which is worth checking when you book. Doubles generally start around £120 outside the summer peak, with sea-view rooms considerably higher in July and August.