Hotel Barriere Le Westminster

The hotel's 104 rooms were redesigned in 2020 by French architect Bruno Borrione. The brief was simple, keep the Art Deco character, then make it genuinely comfortable for modern stays. Expect smart finishes, quality beds and those period pieces dotted around the public areas that give the place its personality. The rooms are beautifully appointed and designed for golfers who want to relax properly after a round, with enough space to store clubs and kit without tripping over them.

After a day on the courses, the facilities do the heavy lifting. There's an indoor pool, plus a Nuxe spa with six massage cabins, a hammam and sauna, as well as a new fitness centre if you're trying to keep the swing loose between rounds. If you're travelling with a mixed group, the beach is close enough for a proper stroll, and Le Touquet's centre is right there for coffee stops, shopping or a few drinks after golf. The hotel works well as a base for 36-hole days, with the quick hop back from Le Touquet Golf meaning you can be showered and in the bar before the rest of your group have finished their post-round debrief in the car park.

Food is a major part of the Westminster's appeal. Le Pavillon has a Michelin star, and La Table du West offers an excellent à la carte option when you want something a bit more relaxed without dropping standards. There's also a British-style bar that suits the post-round debrief, whether you've just played well or you're blaming the wind, the bunkers and your mate's line reads. The hotel takes food seriously, which makes sense given Le Touquet's reputation for gastronomy. Perard, just down the road, claims to be the home of fish soup, and it's one of those local institutions that's worth a visit if you're building the trip around more than just 18 holes.

You get the glamour and the history, but it still works as a practical base for golfers. The Westminster has been refurbished in a way that brings the interiors, spa and public spaces back to their best without losing the Art Deco soul that made it famous in the first place. It's a grand old hotel, but it doesn't feel stiff, you can come straight in from the course and feel at home. This is a hotel that reminds you why Le Touquet became a destination in the first place, and why it remains one of the best places to base a golf trip in northern France.