By Katie Wilson
Dalby Square was once one of Margate’s grandest areas, home to dozens of hotels at the height of its tourist heyday. Now new life is being breathed back into it courtesy of new boutique hotel offering, Margate House.
This beautifully restored townhouse is spread over five floors and has nine delightful rooms for guests. You’ll find it in the up-and-coming area of Cliftonville, just a few minutes’ walk from the pastel-coloured Old Town.
After buying the rundown property in lockdown, owner Will Jenkins has transformed it way beyond its former glory. As Margate’s newest boutique hotel, in our opinion, it is the coolest and most stylish. Guests will also be pleased to know it’s one of the most affordable hotels in Margate.
Here’s what happened when The Boutique Handbook checked into one of their suite-sized Large Rooms for the night and didn’t want to check out…
Read next: How to spend a weekend in Margate
MARGATE HOUSE HOTEL REVIEW
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Margate House is just off the seafront in Cliftonville’s Dalby Square, close to Walpole Bay. You can walk there from the train station along the seafront in around 15 minutes if it’s a nice day. If you’ve got a fair amount of luggage, we’d recommend getting a cab from the station as some of the walk is up a hill. Alternatively, there is free on street parking or public car parks nearby if you are travelling by car.
As the hotel is meant to have a ‘home away from home’ feel, there is purposefully no reception area when you walk in. Instead guests are greeted by friendly staff in the communal Drawing Room, which doubles up as a bar, and offered complimentary drinks on arrival. You are even given a WhatsApp number to get in touch should you need anything.
Sip on a drink of your choice as you sink into the white boucle armchairs in the window that wouldn’t look out of place in Soho House, or the dusky pink sofa which matches the custom-made paint that adorns most of the walls at Margate House.
Your eyes are immediately drawn to the unique artwork, particularly the shouldn’t-work-but-it-does topless figure above the exposed brick fireplace. This gem comes courtesy of contemporary artist Henrietta Dubrey and has been sourced, as much of the decor has, from Margate homeware and lifestyle store L’absurde. Everything you see is available to buy (if you can afford it).
THE ROOMS
The house originally had 12 bedrooms, but this was reduced this to nine, which all sleep two, as there are plans to add a restaurant and speakeasy bar on the lower ground floor in the near future.
There are three small rooms, three medium and three large. Whichever you choose, all have the same stylish but quirky feel. Even the smalls come with king-size beds and rainfall showers and are designed as luxury crash pads. Mediums come with a bit more space for lazy weekend lie-ins.
The large room we stayed in is meant for couples’ weekends. They also double as great pre-party spaces if you’re in town for a big night out. Size-wise, it is definitely suite standard.
As well as a super king-size bed with statement headboard and candy-striped cushions, large rooms have their own seating areas with partial sea views, perfect for aperitifs. If you WhatsApp reception, they can organise minibar drinks for you.
Bathrooms are chic with dreamy rainfall showers and toiletries courtesy of Margate natural skincare brand Haeckels, who make products out of locally sourced seaweed. The same company introduced a community sauna in nearby Walpole Bay, where you should head for a dip in warmer months, that is free to use.
When we returned to our room after a night out, we loved there was a little card that said ‘Night, Night, Sleep Tight’. In-room snacks include retro favourites, such as Tunnocks teacakes and Love Hearts sweets.
FOOD AND DRINK
There is currently no on-site restaurant, so breakfast comes in the form of fresh pastries and orange juice delivered to your door in the morning. There are Nespresso machines in the rooms, but if you want a bigger coffee staff can make you one downstairs.
Should you want a hot breakfast, Margate House has partnered with the recently opened The Good Egg down the road and can organise deliveries to your room for an extra charge.
OVERALL VERDICT
Margate House is the coolest boutique hotel to open in Margate. It’s also one of the most affordable options, so you can stay by the sea in style without breaking the bank.
Prices start from £115 a night
Book a stay at Margate House hotel here
Read next: How to spend a weekend in Margate
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