IF you’ve never heard of The Nici – pronounced “Nicky” – where have you been?
This Miami-style Art Deco hotel opened in 2022 and brings a healthy dose of coolness to the south coast of England.
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Its chic interiors are super Instagrammable—rooms are decorated in crisp white with bold palm-print textiles and brass lighting, while ice cream pastels, glitter baubles and eye-catching artwork adorn the common areas.
But what really steals the show is the heated outdoor pool.
I was worried that I didn’t have the right swimwear (or bodysuit) to match this 30-meter showstopper.
But people don’t judge – they’re just here to have fun, and they’re of all ages.
Fun and games
Next to the beautiful pool, there is a small cinema that shows four films every day and a small games room with table football, giant Jenga and board games.
Some rooms have whirlpool baths, others have freestanding bathtubs – secure a room with a sea view and you’ll wake up feeling like you’re in the south of France!
As soon as we venture down the zigzag path to Bournemouth’s eleven-kilometer-long golden sandy beach, it is clear that we are in Blighty.
But my children Poppy, five, and Raffy, three, are happily building sandcastles before we play mini-golf at the pirate paradise of Smugglers Cove on the seafront, while daredevils zipline down from the top of the Victorian pier.
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A family ticket for 18 holes costs £33 (Smugglerscoveadventuregolf.co.uk).
We lunch on the terrace of the nearby Urban Garden, overlooking Bournemouth’s pretty Lower Gardens, and tuck into a scotch egg with smoked haddock for £9 and a garden brunch of sweetcorn cakes, avocado, potatoes, spinach and eggs for £11, while sipping zesty cocktails for £10 (Urbangarden.co.uk).
Back at Nici, the spa is a little oasis with sauna, steam room and chic pool, and I treat myself to a rejuvenating facial from Oskia, £115 for 60 minutes.
In the evening, the South Beach restaurant, with its stylish coffee table books and classic arcade games, serves succulent lobster (£38) and zesty Isle of Wight tomato salad (£6).
Pony up
We’d rather not leave the hotel, but the picturesque Bournemouth Aviation Museum delights the children, who can climb aboard countless aircraft and vintage cars.
Admission costs £10 for adults and £5 for children (Aviation-museum.co.uk).
And they love watching the wild ponies strolling through the beautiful New Forest, a 15-minute drive away.
For lunch in town, family-run The Place has an old-fashioned interior but fantastic food – we devour marinated steak with caramelised onions, homemade cheese and sourdough bread for £11, followed by creamy wild garlic tagliatelle for £20 (Theplacebmth.co.uk).
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We were lured back to The Nici and had dinner at the hotel’s new poolside restaurant, Old Harry Rocks, which features warm wood and seaweed.
The chorizo croquettes (£9) and the roast beef picanha with rocket, chimichurri and onion marmalade (£38 for two) are crowd favourites.
Also the Aperol Sours with gin, Aperol, Campari, strawberry and egg white, £12.
Weeks later, we are still dreaming of the Nici pool – even on a grey afternoon, it is wonderful.
And while the overall service at the hotel could be better, it truly offers a stay like no other.
For your information
Double rooms start from £180 per night (Thenici.com).
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