All good when al fresco

Summer days are meant to be whiled away outside 

Sit back on an open-air terrace, accompanied by good food, drinks and friends

The cooler months call for much of the same, with a few adjustments: heaters, cosy blankets and a hearty menu. Whether you’re after tranquil spots beside the water or quiet courtyards, our hotels have something to suit.

With incredible views across Porthminster Beach, the Harbour Kitchen provides a dining experience in the heart of St Ives that’s hard to beat. The aim is to celebrate the very best of Cornish flavours, working with local suppliers and producers to build menus that reflect the changing moods and climates of Cornwall. Look out for our extensive event programme throughout the summer, which includes live music and BBQs on our terrace.

With panoramic views stretching over the marina, the Solent and to the Isle of Wight, HarBAR on 6th is rightly a destination bar in Southampton. Though it offers all-day dining, the energy shifts as day turns to night: head here for breakfast with a view, a post-shopping glass of fizz or a long and lazy lunch with friends. As the sun goes down, HarBAR on 6th transforms into a vibrant bar and club, with live music and DJs, plus a packed events programme.

With exceptional views of South Sands Beach and Salcombe’s turquoise waters, feast on fine local flavours and fresh seafood at our Beach Club Bar + Restaurant and watch the world go by. The menu combines the best ingredients from the region, from Dartmouth smoked salmon to Salcombe crab, and Salcombe Dairy desserts – all expertly cooked under the supervision of renowned Executive Head Chef John Pollard. Searching for memorable sunsets and panoramic ocean views? You’ll find them from the restaurant’s wrap-around terrace.

The restaurant’s bucolic setting is one of the most stylish spots in south-west London. The courtyard beckons for an al fresco lunch or afternoon tea, with blankets provided for when the cold creeps in. Recline with an Aperol Spritz in hand and graze on lighter dishes, such as monkfish tail with wilted spinach and confit tomato or a wild mushroom tagliatelle with thyme, garlic and Parmesan. This secret garden is adorned with hanging blooms of blossom, swings and all of the Instagram aesthetic you need.

Entering the Harbour Hotel Salcombe and its restaurant, The Jetty, is akin stepping on board a laid-back yacht for a cruise along the coast. Heralded as one the UK’s “most Instagramworthy terraces” by The Sunday Times thanks to its spectacular views of the Kingsbridge Estuary, you can watch bobbing boats – especially come the pageantry of the Salcombe Regatta – as you take afternoon tea or enjoy a refreshing cocktail outside. Headed by Alex Aitken, himself a former trawlerman, The Jetty’s menu is brimming with River Yealm oysters, Poole Bay shrimps and Salcombe lobster. In summer, you can pick out your own seafood from the restaurant’s crustacean bar.

This beautiful corner of the Cornish shore is best enjoyed from Harbour Hotel Fowey’s wrap-around terrace and beautiful split-level gardens. Executive Head Chef John Pollard and his team unite fresh, locally-grown produce with farm-raised meats and wild-caught seafood, resulting in the sort of dishes people return for again and again. If Fowey River mussels, Cornish sole or honey-glazed breast of duck don’t tempt you, there’s always the team’s signature fish and chips. If you’re in the mood for afternoon tea, then you can relax in the hotel’s lower gardens, which overlook the harbour.

Chef Patron Alex Aitken created the delicious menu found at the Upper Deck bar and restaurant in the grounds of Harbour Hotel Christchurch. From its perch you can soak in views of the harbour, all the way to Mudeford Quay. All the seafood is supplied by local fishing boats, whether oysters, lobsters or the catch of the day, and local farms provide home-reared lamb, pork and beef. The large terrace has a retractable roof, meaning you can dine under the sun or stars come rain or shine.

HarBAR Kitchen, Bar & Terrace is an all-day affair: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and late-night bites. Spread out from the colourful restaurant into the lounge or head out onto the terrace, which is home to a retractable canopy and heaters. Once satisfied, loose hours in the hotel’s heated outdoor pool – right beside the terrace – which features submerged seating and stress-relieving water jets. Evening activities range from open-air parties to outdoor cinemas.

The Upper Deck restaurant at Harbour Hotel Sidmouth is open every day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. The terrace overlooks the heated outdoor pool and is a brilliant spot to take in the surrounding scenery: majestic red cliffs, Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast, and the rolling green hills of the Sid Valley. Spend an afternoon gazing out across the ocean and indulging in local seafood catches, whether scallops, Poole Bay shrimp, Salcombe crab or oysters, all selected daily by our chefs and simply cooked to make the best of their natural flavours.

The promenade remains one of Brighton’s focal points, a space to stroll and take in the attractive seafront. The folding doors of the city’s Harbour Kitchen, Bar & Terrace can be thrown open to welcome in a strong flurry of sea breeze from the south coast – and, hopefully, warming summer rays. The quirky afternoon tea pays homage to funfairs – you can see the famous pier from the terrace – and the rest of the menu runs from light bites to classic British main courses and meat grilled on a plancha. Those seeking liquid refreshment can chase down the sun with spritzers and bespoke cocktails.