Wonderful Hospitality at The Roslin Beach Hotel

The Roslin Beach Hotel is a four-star hotel with 62 rooms situated in a lovely location opposite the beach in Southend-on-Sea. The seaside retreat was beautifully done up when we visited Southend-on-Sea last week. There was festive décor in the lobby and all other public areas and we felt rather Christmassy as we walked into the hotel. The check-in was quick and we were soon in our suite on the top floor.

The suite

The Roslin boasts 3 luxurious suites - Mulberry, The Estuary and The Esplanade. We stayed in Mulberry which had a private balcony overlooking the beach. What a lovely view! The suite was well appointed in an elegant style. The furnishings, linen, pillows - everything was of a very good quality which meant that we enjoyed a comfortable night's rest.

Some of the facilities in the suite included a flat screen digital TV, radio alarm, tea / coffee making facilities, hairdryer, iron/ironing board and free Wi-Fi.

The bathroom was spotlessly clean. Fluffy bathrobes, towels and a selection of Elemis grooming toiletries were provided.

Style - it's all in the details

I liked the attention to small details. Everything in the décor was so well thought of and beautifully executed. The streaming sunshine created wonderful shadows on the walls of the room and I fell in love with the suite a little more!

Dining

Dinner at the AA rosette restaurant was very good. We were warmly greeted by the friendly staff, led to our table and the dinner menu was explained to us. Shortly after, a selection of bread arrived and it was really good - soft, fresh and with a crunchy crust. For our starters, we ordered Cream of Jerusalem Artichoke Soup and Glazed Goats' Cheese with Beetroot, Apple and Hazelnut. The Goats' Cheese had interesting flavours and texture and I loved it. My husband was equally pleased with the Artichoke soup - it was creamy and delicious with a hint of nutty flavour.

For the main course, I chose Arborio Risotto with Butternut Squash, Watercress and Crispy Goats' Cheese. It was well-seasoned and delicious. My husband opted for the Vegetable Pithivier - an all butter pastry filled with Courgette, Brie, Tomato Compote, Broccoli and Mushroom - again a delicious dish with lovely flavours and texture.

The desserts on the menu sounded very inviting but we were already full and decided to skip the final course.

Overall, our dining experience was lovely. The waiting staff was attentive and very professional. I noticed that they made everyone comfortable, checking in between courses if anything was needed. The table was de-crumbed between courses and the staff also recommended popular dishes. The food was delicious and left us full.

Breakfast the next morning was equally good.

Ambience

The festive spirit of the season was well-reflected in the décor and ambience of the hotel. There was a relaxed atmosphere throughout and all the guests (including us) seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The Roslin Retreat

As you must have already inferred from the article so far, our stay at the Roslin was all about relaxation and enjoyment but the crowning point was my visit to the Roslin Retreat. The spa offers a wide range of luxury treatments from Elemis, St. Tropez, Biotec, Thalgo etc. The spa is staffed with highly trained and friendly therapists who ensured that all guests are comfortable and leave the spa pampered and rejuvenated.

I had chosen the Elemis Biotec Sensitive Skin Soother treatment which is a 50-minute anti-redness treatment that soothes sensitive skin. The treatment also included an oxygen infusion to encourage cellular restoration and red light therapy and calming anti-oxidants to improve the skin’s ability to repair itself. During the treatment, my therapist, Christina also gave me a neck and shoulder massage. All I can say is that she has magic in her hands. The massage was impressive as was the facial. It was 50 minutes of pure bliss. My skin was left feeling soft, intensely hydrated and dare I say a little radiant and glowing!

Out and about

The Roslin is ideally located to explore many of the popular attractions in Southend on Sea. Southend Pier, one of the most visited local landmarks, is nearby. It is the longest pleasure pier in the world! Another popular attraction is Sea Life Adventure with over 40 unique displays featuring sea life from all over the world. The ruins of the Hadleigh Castle are less than 30 minutes away. Kids Kingdom and Adventure Island (a theme park by the sea) are also nearby.

Final word

We enjoyed every bit of our stay at the Roslin. The suite was tastefully decorated and inviting. Every little detail had been thought of and well attended to. The food was fabulous. My spa treatment was very relaxing. But the real stars of the show were the staff. Every single staff member we encountered was courteous and thoroughly professional.

If you are planning on visiting and staying in Southend-on-Sea then definitely check this place out. We highly recommend it and would love to return one day.

Make a booking

Prices at the Roslin range from £65-£165 per room per night to £70-£175 per room per night including breakfast. The rates are dependent on the season and weekend supplements may apply.

The hotel also has some interesting packages like the Overnight Pamper break with includes one night in a Classic Double room (based on 2 sharing), one treatment of your choice from the Roslin Luxury Choice List, plus 20% off any extra treatments, full English breakfast and a three-course set dinner. The Overnight Pamper break is priced from £109.00 per person (based on 2 sharing).

A special Christmas offer is also available at the Roslin - Festive Afternoon Tea priced at £19.50 per person.

For more information and/or to make a booking, use the details below.

The Roslin Beach Hotel | Thorpe Esplanade, Thorpe Bay, Essex SS1 3BG

*Our stay was complimentary as part of a press stay. All views, as always, remain my own.