The Royal at Heysham

What makes The Royal at Heysham special is the history of the building the hotel occupies, original features of which can still be seen in its current iteration. Now, there’s a bar, restaurant and 11 en suite rooms, some of which have sea views and sofas – and all of which include a flask of fresh milk and moreish biscuits on arrival. Originally, however, the building was a 16th century grain store, and another part of the pub was a former cottage famed for producing nettle beer. A multi-million pound restoration transformed it into the comfortable, welcoming hotel that it is today – part of the House Daniel Thwaites collection of unique places to stay across Britain.

Not far from Morecambe Bay, The Royal at Heysham can boast proximity to an extraordinary heritage spot: classed as a nationally important archaeological site, St Patrick’s is an early medieval chapel featuring haunting rock-cut graves and with stunning views. Further round the coast is Heysham Port, where there are ferries to the Isle of Man, and Heysham Power Station, which is open to visitors who book a tour.

At the same time, the hotel itself is such a cosy spot that you may not want to leave: there’s both an open fire and a stove, exposed stone walls, tartan carpets and a tempting menu. Breakfasts include a full Lancashire grill and oak smoked salmon, while main meals include a suite of steaks from The Royal’s grill, signature dishes such as firecracker chicken or pan fried sea bass and classics including beer battered fish. There are also, of course, Sunday roasts on offer, with proper Yorkshire puddings, crispy roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and homemade gravy. All in all, this is a gem of a hotel, pub and restaurant – the ideal spot from which to explore the area and enjoy views of some of the most striking coastline in the UK.