Le Bristol Hotel

Le Bristol has been part of Le Touquet's story for a long time. The town took a battering during World War II and the hotel reopened in 1948, then got back to doing what it does best, giving visitors a comfortable base in a prime spot.

Rooms here are spacious and simple, with a practical feel rather than anything fancy. After a day battling coastal wind or threading drives through pines, that's often all you need. You've got the basics done properly, plus English TV channels for anyone who likes to wind down with familiar viewing before planning the next day's tee time.

Where the hotel really scores is how easy it makes the off-course bit of a golf trip. You're right in central Le Touquet, so dinner plans are straightforward. If you're going seafood, Perard is a well-known shout and claims to be the birthplace of fish soup, backing it up with outstanding plates. The town has plenty of brasseries and bistros if you just want something uncomplicated and good. If your group fancies a more classic French menu, Flavio's is a local institution, with richer specialities like slow-cooked pig trotters and foie gras au sauternes.

Then there's the Ascot Bar. This is where rounds get replayed shot-by-shot, putts that "should've dropped" get discussed at length and someone inevitably insists they were one club short all day. The whisky selection is a highlight and the cocktail list is more than an afterthought, so it works for mixed groups too.

It's a golf-friendly set-up, especially if you're trying to squeeze in 36 over a weekend. Staff can often help with early breakfast requests and local tips for tee times and transport, and club storage is secure and straightforward. The hotel understands what golfers need without making a fuss about it.

Le Touquet itself is compact and walkable, with a good mix of shops, cafés and beaches. The town has a distinctly French seaside charm, and while it's busy in summer, it never feels overcrowded.