‘We are wary of accolades,’ says Gert, Hillside’s Danish owner. ‘We prefer to give people happy surprises rather than expectations. We know we are only as good as the last guest who left contented.’ The 12-bedroom, two-apartment, all-white Scandinavian boutique hotel – with classic Danish furniture and CoBrA-inspired abstract paintings – offers breakfast, dinner and a wonderful night’s sleep. Hillside’s kitchen team is proud to showcase homegrown produce from its walled garden that, together with island specialities, make the restaurant’s culinary experience stand out. All bedrooms are coolly contemporary, with colourful vintage Welsh wool throws. Hillside’s past – once the home of poet John Sterling and visited by Thomas Carlyle, as well as Dickens – is charmingly displayed in photographs and documents on the walls of one of the lounges. A one-off delight, set in the delightful time warp of a Victorian seaside resort.
Hillside’s changing private collection of stunning art and sculptures.
Freshly foraged rock samphire accompanies Hillside’s signature fish dishes.
Hillside’s home-made honey, fruit liqueurs & preserves, or take advantage of wholesale prices on carefully selected wines.
Nota Bene
Hillside’s coffee – a unique blend of artisan beans from El Savador – is roasted on the Isle of Wight, specially for the hotel.
