Captains Club
My business background in Christchurch goes back thirty years. Along with my partner we came to Christchurch to re-open Splinters Restaurant which at the time was in Church Street. This 40-cover restaurant was to be a stepping stone and a two-year project – ten years later we left to build and open the hotel. During our time at Splinters (Now home to the Priory restaurant and a residential premises) we also converted the bookshop next door into Pommery’s Delicatessen and Bistro and later sold this to the Fish Works group (It is now the Snug) which all shows the strength and variety of hospitality businesses Christchurch.
It was a brave move to build the hotel, which was to be the first of now three four-star hotels you will find in Christchurch. Although known as a historic town we decided to turn the accommodation offering on its head and we replaced the former Pontin’s holiday camp with a three-storey riverside hotel with 44 units of accommodation (Across 29 rooms and suites), an open plan bar, lounge, and restaurant – that has achieved an award of 2 rosettes for food each year since we opened the doors in November 2007. The hotel also boasts a bijou CC Spa with hydro-therapy pool, sauna and four treatment rooms in association with the produce house, ESPA.
We employ ninety-five crew members across all departments and have contributed more than £68,000,000 to the local economy in the time we have been operational.
Since the success of Captain’s Club Hotel, the Harbour group have launched the Christchurch Harbour Hotel in Mudeford and the Kings Arms Hotel in the town centre. In addition, there has been an influx of developments for both the Travelodge and Premier Inn groups. This shows that from a traditional old school style resort Christchurch now attracts both the national and international visitor.
Christchurch benefits from its location, with Bournemouth to the West and the New Forest to the East it has an amazing array of blue flag beaches and is home to the famous Mudeford spit beach huts and Highcliffe Castle.
It is a wonderful place to work, all supported by the Christchurch Town Centre BID and a thriving Chamber of Trade as well as industry bodies across hospitality.
We never consider competition to be a threat, it is healthy, and we would welcome other business into our beautiful town with open arms. Each business receives a lot of local support and there are many visitors who visit the BCP region with a trip to Christchurch at the top of their list. Christchurch has given me the best opportunity in business that I could have wished for, and I am delighted to still be here after thirty years and still moving forward.
On a side note, we also live in the town centre of Christchurch, it is a great community in which to reside, for what more could you wish? Why not come and join us.
