Living etc

January 2009

As soon as you step inside Kemp Townhouse, you know you can safely leave your troubles behind. Whether it’s due to the friendly greeting from the owners or just the complimentary chocolates, the first impressions will set you up for the entire weekend. Like all great boutique hotels, the devil is in the detail and here everything is geared towards providing a sense of calm, elegant beauty. From the cashmere-upholstered button back chairs in the dining room through to the binoculars in the room so you can admire the view, everything has been chosen to please. While from the outside it’s a classic seaside regency guesthouse –tall, slender and bay fronted – inside all of the nine guest bedrooms are decorated in an easy, relaxed modern style. Livingetc loved the mushroom coloured walls that compliment the rich grey carpets, crisp white linen and dark wood furniture. Each room has a wetroom and the four-poster feature room has a huge freestanding bath, which was much appreciated at the end of a hard days shopping.

The attention to detail doesn’t stop there. The chef, who has previously chopped and sautéed alongside fiery chef Gordon Ramsay, has moved breakfast from the full on fry-up to offer choices including home made granola, fresh pancakes and local sausages.

Combing the five star service you’d expect from a major chain with the personal touches that characterises an owner operated boutique is a tall order, but the Kemp Townhouse pulls it off with panache.