The Green House occupies a Victorian villa on Grove Road, a quiet street on the town-centre side of the East Cliff, and it has spent more than a decade showing that a green hotel need not feel worthy or spare. The building is Grade II listed; the refit that reopened it in 2010 took eighteen months and reached almost everything, from the reclaimed timber to the way the kitchen buys its food. What you get is a comfortable boutique hotel that happens to run on strong environmental principles rather than a lecture about them.
The hotel
There are 32 rooms, each individually designed and furnished in bespoke pieces made in the UK from natural, sustainable materials. Beds are dressed in organic linen and goose-down duvets; some rooms keep a reclaimed Victorian roll-top bath alongside a separate walk-in shower. The eco thinking is thorough but low-key — energy-efficient lighting, water-saving systems, a towel-reuse scheme, responsible suppliers and low-waste habits behind the scenes. The approach has been recognised well beyond Bournemouth: the hotel has been named AA Eco Hotel of the Year and Considerate Hotel of the Year.
Eating at Arbor
The restaurant, Arbor, is a reason to book even if you are not staying. It has held two AA Rosettes for more than a decade and cooks a seasonal menu built around local growers and British-caught fish, and the wine list is fully organic and biodynamic — an unusual thing to see carried the whole way through. It is more considered than casual, so a table is worth reserving ahead. For other options nearby, our guide to where locals eat in Bournemouth is a good place to start.
Where it sits
Grove Road puts you within a short walk of most of what people come to Bournemouth for. The main shops and the pier are minutes away, Bournemouth Beach is downhill towards the front, and the Russell-Cotes museum sits close by on the East Cliff. The New Forest and the wider Dorset coast are both within easy reach by car for a day out.
Good to know
Book direct and parking is included — worth having, as space near the East Cliff is tight — and there are four electric-vehicle charging points on site, added in 2025. Dogs are welcome, so a coastal stay with one is straightforward, though it is worth flagging when you book. The hotel suits families as well as couples, but it is a design-led boutique rather than a resort, so expect calm over entertainment. Compare it with other Bournemouth hotels, or find it on the map.
