Hotel Du Vin Poole

Hotel Du Vin Poole suits divers who want the sea nearby without giving up a civilised evening indoors. You can walk to Poole Harbour, return to air conditioning and a deep bath, then sit down to locally sourced food rather than conduct another expedition in search of dinner.

The tone is more bistro-and-wine-cellar than resort wristband. Egyptian linen, handsprung beds and powerful drench showers make the room a useful place to recover, while the bar adds an extensive wine list and a humidoir stocked with rare cigars. A sensible choice for couples, or for anyone who regards a decent bed as part of the dive plan rather than an optional extra.

You are in Poole, on the Dorset coast, with Poole Harbour about a 10-minute walk away. Poole Beach and Hamworthy Beach are each roughly half a mile from the hotel, both about a nine-minute walk. That puts sand and waterfront within reach, although this is a town hotel rather than a property directly on the beach.

Poole town centre and Dolphin Shopping Centre are around 1 mile away on foot. Poole Park and its boating lake are roughly 1.5 miles away, while Hamworthy Park is about 1 mile away. For a longer outing, Brownsea Island Nature Reserve is around 2.2 miles away and Studland Bay about 3.3 miles away.

Poole railway station is about 0.5 miles from the hotel, around a 10-minute walk. Bournemouth Airport is roughly 7 miles away by the straight-location measure, with the road journey listed at about 18 minutes; Southampton Airport is around 31 miles away.

The Classic Double is the sensible choice for two when you want the Hotel Du Vin character without paying for space you will not use. Move up to a Deluxe Double if you prefer more room around the bed and luggage. The suites are the ones to consider when the bathroom matters as much as the sleeping area: both have a private bathroom, and the Signature Suite brings a super-king bed into the bargain.

Every room has air conditioning, heating, fine Egyptian linen, a handsprung bed and a flat-screen TV. There is also a kettle with tea and coffee, a wardrobe, a desk and free WiFi, so the practical business of drying off, unpacking and checking tomorrow's plans does not require a trip back to reception. Non-smoking rooms are available.

The bathrooms are designed for a proper reset rather than a quick rinse, with powerful drench showers, deep baths and deluxe toiletries. Room service is available, and the hotel also offers breakfast in the room. If you are travelling with a dog, designated rooms are available, but the Suite and Signature Suite are not suitable for dogs.

Bistro du Vin is the main reason to stay in for dinner. The French-style bistro works with local produce, including Dorset pork, Dorset escargot and fruit and vegetables from a nearby farm. It is the sort of menu that gives you something more interesting than a plate assembled for people who have forgotten what food tastes like after a long day outdoors.

Breakfast covers continental, full English and Irish, vegetarian and buffet choices. Breakfast can also arrive in your room, which is useful when an early start matters more than conversation. Room service is available around the clock, giving you a fallback for the occasional meal when the legs have voted against going downstairs.

The bar carries an extensive wine list, and the hotel's humidoir offers a selection of rare cigars. There is one named bar in the hotel, but the food and drink arrangement is not limited to a quick pint: you can make the evening as simple or as deliberate as the day allows.

The hotel's main non-diving pleasure is its location. You can walk to Poole Harbour, Poole Beach or Hamworthy Beach without organising a day trip, then return to the air-conditioned room when the coastal weather has done what coastal weather does. Poole Park and its boating lake give you another nearby route for an unhurried walk.

For a change of scene, Brownsea Island Nature Reserve and Studland Bay are within the wider Poole area, while Sandbanks Beach is about 2.8 miles away. These are outings rather than facilities supplied by the hotel, but they make the address useful for a couple who want one day in the water and another with their feet firmly above it.

There is also a fitness room for those who still feel the need to exercise after carrying dive gear. Otherwise, the terrace, outdoor furniture, deep bath and humidoir make a convincing case for staying put. Nobody has to win the evening.

Check-in starts at 3pm and check-out runs until 11am. The front desk operates around the clock, and luggage storage is available, which helps if your arrival or departure does not fit neatly around those hours. Payment is by card or digital wallet; cash is not accepted.

Private parking is available on site, but spaces are limited and cannot be reserved. If the hotel car park is full, Britannia Quayside Pay & Display car park is behind the hotel. Free WiFi covers all areas, and daily housekeeping, room service and dry cleaning are available.

Children of any age are welcome. Cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to the accommodation option and availability, while guests aged 12 and over are treated as adults. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Dogs are allowed in designated rooms, with dog beds and bowls available; the Suite and Signature Suite are excluded.