Muddy Stilettos


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-location">THE LOCATION</h2>



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<p>A weekend at a Luxury Family Hotel on the Dorset coast? The kids couldn’t get out their crabbing nets fast enough. Tucked just behind&nbsp;Chesil Beach&nbsp;and five miles from&nbsp;Weymouth,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moonfleetmanorhotel.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Moonfleet Manor</strong></a>&nbsp;is one of five gems in the&nbsp;<a href="https://luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luxury Family Hotels</a>&nbsp;portfolio – and a dreamy escape on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic Coast. Set amid rolling hills with smugglers’ coves, fossil beaches and thatched villages all within reach, it’s as much an adventure playground for grown-ups as it is for little ones.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe"><strong>THE VIBE</strong></h2>



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<p>Kids are king here and within seconds our brood – aged 14, 12 and nine – had been whisked off with offers of cookies, a cinema night and glitter tattoos. Think Enid Blyton meets Soho House. Arrive on a sunny day and you’ll find kids barefoot on the lawns, badminton flying, parents sipping rosé on the terrace and tepees pitched for impromptu hide-and-seek. </p>



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<p>Inside? Chic lounges dressed with Pooky lamps, velvet sofas and squishy cushions – and not a whiff of ‘don’t touch’.  Chalkboards announce the day’s mischief (guinea pig feeding! glitter tattoos!) while teens disappear to the Play Barn and littlies are scooped up for crafts or marshmallow toasting. </p>



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<p>There are tons of board games to keep the kids entertained, but you’ll also find plenty of quiet corners where you can curl up with a book. We also appreciated that all the classic parenting pinch points have been considered. Little ones getting itchy feet at the table? You’ll find Dobble and Uno to hand in the dining room. When our trio got fidgety, we set them off on an adorable mouse trail, which kept them busy for a good 20 minutes and bagged them a sweet treat as a finale. &nbsp;</p>



<p>The outdoor space is just as fab as the interior, with hydrangeas in full bloom and a large, level lawn with views over the water. It’s heaven for kids, with a big sandpit, climbing frames, badminton nets, football goals and even the odd wild rabbit hopping about.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-child-s-play">CHILD&#8217;S PLAY</h2>



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<p>Honestly? You may struggle to drag them away. There’s a giant indoor&nbsp;Play Barn&nbsp;(trampolines! bowling! climbing wall! arcade games!) plus the&nbsp;Four Bears Den&nbsp;– a lovely Ofsted-registered crèche offering two blissful child-free hours per day – a sanity saver for frazzled parents. Add a baby-listening service, Bugaboo buggies, blackout blinds, bottle sterilisers and the legendary “milk butler” (warm milk, delivered in minutes) and you’ve got parenting paradise.</p>



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<p>The indoor pool isn’t flashy but it’s very functional and cleverly split into three sections, so toddlers can paddle and bigger kids can do lengths without dodging inflatables. The tennis courts offer sea views, and you can spend hours spent competing at ping pong and squash. Parents were fully embracing their inner 10-year-olds – and frankly, we were here for it. We arrived with plans to hit the nearby beach, but nobody wanted to leave the hotel. </p>



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<p>The enormous Play Barn is an eye-popping space filled with trampolines, arcade games, ping pong, football pitch, climbing wall, slack lines, dinosaur-themed mini golf. You&#8217;ll find a squash court and even a full blown bowling room, complete with funky lighting and double lanes. Phew. </p>



<p>It was great bonding time for our brood, and we really cherished being able to shrug off the stresses of adulthood and join in their fun. When it all gets too much, there are plenty of sofas to collapse onto too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pillow-talk">PILLOW TALK</h2>



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<p>Rooms blend beachy calm with family-friendly charm. We stayed in&nbsp;<em>Ringstead</em>&nbsp;– a generous suite named after a nearby bay, with a separate kids’ room, Jack &amp; Jill bathroom with the sweetest touches, like towels shaped into rabbits and turtles, mini dressing gowns and jars of sweets for the kids. The room also came with a Yoto player and even a crabbing kit should we venture to nearby Weymouth harbour. Adults are treated to Bramley toiletries, local chocolate and a Nespresso machine, plus those all-important blackout blinds. Stylish but comfy, it nails the balance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



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<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/locations/moonfleet-manor/dining/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">restaurant&nbsp;</a>hits the holy grail: foodie enough for adults, fun enough for fussy eaters. Think dreamy burrata pizzas, crispy cod, steak tartare, and a top-tier cheese soufflé. Kids get their own menu and pint-sized mocktails in grown-up glassware. Breakfast? Spot-on. Pancakes, Eggs Royale, proper fry-ups – all delicious, though more visible GF labelling wouldn’t go amiss (staff are great if asked). You can dine in the restaurant, terrace or lounges, and while there’s no formal bar, the table service is slick and relaxed.</p>



<p>The food treads a careful line between family-pleasing and foodie-leaning. Freshly-baked pizzas came piled with burrata and goat’s curd, the kids’ burgers were generously sized and our battered cod was deliciously crispy. The children also loved the mini cocktails, which came in cut glass tumblers and looked every bit as celebratory as our adult versions.</p>



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<p>Between us we devoured steak tartare, a dreamy cheese souffle, chicken souvlaki and a standout fish and chips with mushy peas. Breakfast was a relaxed mix of buffet and table service: think pancakes topped with Nutella, eggs Royale, and a full English that really hit the spot. More visible gluten-free labelling on the menus would be a bonus, although the staff were only too happy to help when we asked. </p>



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<p>We also loved the fact you can dine in the restaurant, on the terrace or in any of the lounges, which made meal time super relaxing. While there’s no traditional bar, table service is slick, especially throughout the lounges.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-friendly"><strong>DOG-FRIENDLY?</strong></h2>



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<p>Absolutely. Piper, our dog, couldn’t believe his luck. In our room we found a big cosy dog bed, two chunky ceramic bowls and info on all the dog-friendly spaces. He was also given his own VIP (Very Important Pooch) bag, complete with a ball and treats.</p>



<p>Dogs are allowed pretty much everywhere, except the Play Barn and Dining Room, and there’s a salon-style shower station for muddy paws. You’ll also find Kilner jars of treats dotted around the hotel and a dedicated canine menu if you don’t fancy bringing your own food.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-and-about"><strong>OUT AND ABOUT</strong></h2>



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<p>Thanks to the hotel&#8217;s insider guide to the local area, Moonfleet makes light work of exploring. If you fancy a leg stretcher, you’ll find stunning walks around the headland, and you’re just a hop from the South West Coastal Path.</p>



<p>Of course, Dorset’s coves are the main draw, and you’ll find several stunning beaches within reach. For younger kids, we highly rate nearby Weymouth, a traditional seaside town with a gorgeous stretch of soft sand. You’ll find sand sculptures, donkey rides and fairground fun on the Georgian seafront, and there’s plenty of crabbing in the pretty harbour. Fossil hunters will love Charmouth Beach, while the clear waters and stunning views around Durdle Door make for insta-worthy views.</p>



<p>Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens is a gorgeous spot, and the nearby Swannery has cygnets hatching through May and June. You’ll find 600 Mute Swans onsite, and visitors are welcome to join in the daily feeding sessions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:&nbsp;</strong>Parents, grandparents and of course kids of all ages, from babies to fully-fledged teens. If you appreciate good service, stunning surroundings, quality family time <em>and</em> a chance to switch off, you’ll love it here. Moonfleet Manor is elegant yet unpretentious, and feels like a luxuriant home from home. The kids (and dog) also really adored being treated like valued guests.</p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>: Couples can and do enjoy stays at Moonfleet, but if you’re after a romantic getaway without the kids, it may not be quite the vibe you’re after. There’s no gym or spa, but you’ll find an adults-only relaxation lounge and tons of treatments, which come highly rated.</p>



<p><strong>The damage:&nbsp;</strong>Double rooms from £300 per night including breakfast. </p>



<p><em><a href="https://luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/locations/moonfleet-manor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moonfleet Manor</a>, Fleet Road, Weymouth DT3 4ED</em></p>


Moonfleet Manor, Dorset: A stylish family stay with serious kid appeal

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