Shore Hotel.
Shore Road, Port St Mary, Isle of Man.
The seashore is not always a place of sunshine and palm trees, and a big part of the attraction at the Shore Hotel is that you might be looking out at the sun gleaming on a placid blue sea, or it might be a wild stormy day on the Irish Sea. There is something very pleasing about sitting in your warm room, or even better in the warm bar with a fire blazing, and watching the wilder side of nature outside.
The Shore Hotel is not so much a stone's throw as a stone's gentle lob from the sea. The bar restaurant has a local nautical theme with table tops formed from heavy oak planks, a wall clad with driftwood and bar rails that began their life on the deck of a ship. The lunches and dinners served in the restaurant are unpretentious but beautifully cooked. The menu offers wholesome dishes such as pan-fried king prawns, rib-eye steak and the Shore's famous chicken curry. Specials night might offer Indian tapas (well, why not?) or a seasonal Christmas offering. When the weather is fine, it's perfect to sit outside on the seafront terrace to enjoy the view along with your drink, snack or meal.
The accommodation on the first floor is beautiful. There's a choice of spacious rooms with sea views and their own sitting areas. The en-suite bathrooms are equally roomy and stylishly appointed with big baths and big walk-in showers.