The Old Portland Courthouse in Portland | Stunning Dorset Group Cottage

About The Old Portland Courthouse

The Old Portland Courthouse is a Grade II listed building from 1904 that sleeps 8 guests in Fortuneswell on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. This former courthouse offers groups an extraordinary base with spectacular views over Chesil Beach just a 5-minute walk away. The property combines original period features with modern comforts.

Located on the dramatic Isle of Portland, you'll find yourself surrounded by rugged coastline and fascinating history. The area offers stunning clifftop walks and is famous for its unique limestone landscape.

The accommodation features 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. Ground floor includes a king-size four poster bedroom with en-suite and a twin bedroom with en-suite. Upstairs are two double bedrooms, one with en-suite. The spacious open-plan living area centres around an antique dining table seating 12 people, perfect for group meals. The kitchen boasts granite worktops and quality appliances.

Groups can explore Portland Bill Lighthouse (3 miles, 8 minutes), Rufus Castle (1 mile, 3 minutes), Verne Citadel (2 miles, 5 minutes) and Weymouth's attractions (5 miles, 12 minutes). The beach is literally on your doorstep.

The Old Portland Courthouse offers groups a truly unique stay in this historic courthouse with unbeatable coastal location. Perfect for family celebrations and group gatherings seeking something special.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

✓Gas central heating, electric oven and hob, microwave, fridges, freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, tv, sky tv, dvd, music system, phone for incoming calls only, wifi, selection of books, games
✓Fuel and power included in rent
✓Bed linen and towels included in rent
✓Roadside parking on a first-come-first-served basis
✓Landscaped garden with furniture
✓Sorry, no pets and no smoking
✓Sorry, property not suitable for children under 14
✓Shop and pub 10 min
✓Beach 5 min

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What Guests Love

What do previous guests think about their group stay at The Old Portland Courthouse

Historic Grade II Listed Building

Guests love staying in this authentic 1904 courthouse with original features and fascinating history.

Spectacular Chesil Beach Views

Amazing panoramic views over famous Chesil Beach from this elevated clifftop position.

Antique Dining Table for 12

Perfect for group meals with granite kitchen and spacious dining area seating everyone comfortably.

Four Poster Bedroom

Ground floor king-size four poster bedroom adds luxury and romance to group stays.

Beach Just 5 Minutes Walk

Unbeatable location with direct access to one of England's most famous beaches.

Spacious Group Accommodation

Four bedrooms and four bathrooms provide plenty of space for larger groups and families.

Getting To The Old Portland Courthouse

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach The Old Portland Courthouse by car, take the A354 towards Portland and follow signs to Fortuneswell. The property is easily accessible with roadside parking available on a first-come-first-served basis.

By Train

For those travelling by rail, the nearest station is Weymouth, approximately 5 miles away. From there, take a taxi or local bus service to reach this historic courthouse on the Isle of Portland.

Roadside parking (first-come basis)

Weymouth station (5 miles)

Easily accessible via A354

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Stuff for larger groups and families to try!

Portland Bill Lighthouse

Distance: 3 miles

DT5 2JT

Rufus Castle

Distance: 1 mile

DT5 1HS

Verne Citadel

Distance: 2 miles

DT5 1EQ

South West Coast Path

Distance: 0.2 miles

DT5 1AU

West Cliffs Walk

Distance: 0.5 miles

DT5 1BN

Chesil Beach Walk

Distance: 0.1 miles

DT5 1AU

Fortuneswell Shops

Distance: 0.5 miles

DT5 1LX

Portland Community Venture

Distance: 0.3 miles

DT5 1SW

Weymouth Town Centre

Distance: 5 miles

DT4 8TR

Portland Marina

Distance: 1.5 miles

DT5 1PP

Weymouth Harbour

Distance: 5 miles

DT4 8DX

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park

Distance: 8 miles

DT2 8QN

Portland Bill Lighthouse

Distance: 3 miles

DT5 2JT

Rufus Castle

Distance: 1 mile

DT5 1HS

Verne Citadel

Distance: 2 miles

DT5 1EQ

South West Coast Path

Distance: 0.2 miles

DT5 1AU

West Cliffs Walk

Distance: 0.5 miles

DT5 1BN

Chesil Beach Walk

Distance: 0.1 miles

DT5 1AU

Fortuneswell Shops

Distance: 0.5 miles

DT5 1LX

Portland Community Venture

Distance: 0.3 miles

DT5 1SW

Weymouth Town Centre

Distance: 5 miles

DT4 8TR

Portland Marina

Distance: 1.5 miles

DT5 1PP

Weymouth Harbour

Distance: 5 miles

DT4 8DX

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park

Distance: 8 miles

DT2 8QN

Is The Old Portland Courthouse Right For Your Group

Discover why this cottage is the one for your party or family reunion...

For Families

The property offers books and games for children's entertainment. However, there are multiple steps throughout the building including stairs and level changes which may not suit very young children. The nearby beach provides excellent family activities and there's a public area for tennis or bowling within walking distance.

Groups Will Love...

The standout group feature is the magnificent antique dining table seating 12 people in the spacious open-plan living area. Combined with granite kitchen worktops and quality appliances, this creates the perfect space for group meals and celebrations. The historic courthouse setting adds a truly unique atmosphere for memorable gatherings.

Pet Friendly

The Old Portland Courthouse does not accept pets. This Grade II listed building from 1904 has specific restrictions that prevent pet accommodation. The historic nature of the property and its listed status means pets cannot be accommodated under any circumstances, so alternative arrangements would be needed.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at The Old Portland Courthouse

The Lobster Pot

Located 0.4 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DT5 1HS

Portland Heights Hotel Restaurant

Located 1.2 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DT5 2EN

The George Inn

Located 0.6 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DT5 1LX

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about The Old Portland Courthouse

How many people does The Old Portland Courthouse sleep?

The property sleeps 8 guests across 4 bedrooms with 4 bathrooms. The antique dining table seats 12 people making it perfect for larger group gatherings.

Is The Old Portland Courthouse pet friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property. The Grade II listed building has specific restrictions that prevent pet accommodation.

What are the bedroom arrangements?

Ground floor has a king-size four poster bedroom and twin bedroom, both with en-suites. Upstairs features two double bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom.

How far is the beach from the property?

Chesil Beach is just a 5-minute walk from the front door. The property offers spectacular elevated views over this famous shingle beach.

What kitchen facilities are available for groups?

The kitchen features granite worktops, electric oven and hob, microwave, dishwasher and quality appliances. The antique dining table seats 12 people comfortably for group meals.

Is there parking at The Old Portland Courthouse?

Parking is roadside on a first-come-first-served basis. The property is easily accessible but parking spaces cannot be guaranteed.

What entertainment is provided for groups?

The property includes Sky TV, DVD player, music system and selection of books and games. There's also a public area nearby for tennis or bowling.

How accessible is the property?

There are several steps throughout including step up to dining area and kitchen, plus stairs to the super king bedroom. Rear steps lead to the garden from twin bedroom.

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

The Old Portland Courthouse Reviews

Samantha

Property is lovely and we loved staying there, but not suitable if you have mobility problems. We knew there were steps to get to the property not too steep and they had a hand rail. However it should be made clear that the steps to the kitchen are very steep and no hand rails and that the living area is tiered. The flooring is all wood and the steps merge in and should be made more obvious my elderly mother fell down the step into the lounge area and hit her head causing a cut and two black eyes. The photos of the property do not highlight either of these things and it is not mentioned in the description.

Ingrid

Groot en comfortabel huis, met originele details. Heerlijke bedden en fijne badkamers. Uitgebreide keukenuitrusting. Je kunt voor de deur gratis parkeren. Fijne plek om Portland te ontdekken.

An interesting property with amazing views, luckily the thick walls shut out the noise of the traffic. It is comfortable, warm and spacious, and wellequipped but the bathrooms need some attention.

We had a fabulous weekend. What a beautiful and unique property!

Very spacious, quirky property, updated with all mod cons. Well located, good views and an enjoyable stay.

We had a wonderful stay, great for family celebration. Plenty of space, kitchen was well resourced and lovely views. All just 5 mins from beach and beautiful walks. The only comment I'd make for improvement, and it's a small one, would be one of the fridges upstairs has an ice box as otherwise you're having to go through a bedroom for ice for the vital G & T warned you it was a small one!

Beautiful, well kitted out property with lovely furniture, fabulous views, plenty of cutlery, crockery and utensils. There were however a few minor issues only one toilet roll left in a property for 8 guests, with 5 toilets. Not all bedroomsbathrooms had a bin. The basement bedroom's ensuite didn't even have a toilet roll holder and the over sink shelf was too sloping for things to stay on it. As I said, very minor issues which didn't detract from our three generation stay in this lovely property.

Excellent location and interior decor. The problem with the hot water wrong timed programme was sorted within 1 hour and I am sure the TV in the 1st floor bedroom unwatchable 'snowy' picture & the fan in the 1st floor bathroom worked intermittently which had not been addressed by the end of 2 week stay will now have been fixed.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Old Portland Courthouse over the cold and windy new year period where we enjoyed homecooked meals and playing boardgames. The property was well equiped, clean, comfortable, warm and well maintained to give the vintage look and feel. The only recommendation would be to improve the lighting and the repaint walls in the ground bedroom. Apart from that I have recommended this property to family and friends and would be happy to stay here on my next visit to Dorset.

The property could do with a deep clean, superficially clean but we had to clean lots of kitchen stuff before use. Leaving a foil roasting tray and tree was a nice touch as our stay was over the Christmas period.

It was absolutely perfect for our gathering. An amazing property. Given it sleeps 8 people I think it would be great to include a bit more flexibility, by adding a couple of pop up beds or similar. The current arrangement seems to assume it will be four couples or that everyone will be happy to share a bed and room there is one room with 2 single beds but they're very close together in a small room. Other than this perfect and fabulous accommodation.

Rachel

An excellent choice for a large group we had other family members visiting that we cooked for, as well as those staying in the house. Pity it wasn't possible to open most of the windows, but I guess older properties come with their quirks. Suggestion for other things to remember to bring toilet rolls, teatowels, dishwasher tablets. Suggest that a handtowel could be supplied for the kitchen area. Otherwise very well equipped, fantastic location and great place to stay.

We all loved our holiday at the Old Courthouse. It is an amazing house with so many interestting things to discover. The sofa's and beds were all very comfortable and the dining table was great for mealtimes and games. The view from the house was wonderful. The very friendly seagull who came knocking on the door every day was very cute!

Super holiday home. Great location, we spent every evening enjoying the sea view. Very well equipped. Would definitely recommend.

The property is fabulously quirky, we had a great stay and will definitely look to return. It is so well equipped and comfortable, we loved it, the view is amazing. Special thanks to caretaker Shaun and alarm installer Mark for their help in the storm, both went above and beyond. A few light bulbs to fix and the dishwasher isn't working properly but we let the cleaner know on our way out. We look forward to returning in the future, thank you so much.

This well maintained and equipped house was perfect for us as a family of six but would have comfortably accommodated more. The house is comfortable and interesting. The downstairs bedroom location is quirky and took a while to find ! Very comfortable beds. Having two lounge areas was a bonus as we had teens with us and meant the adults could chat while the teens played their games in a separate area. The house is a comfortable walk to the pebble beach and a couple of pubs.

The Old Portland Courthouse is a superb place to stay for a large group. The location is excellent with Weymouth only 15 mins drive away and plenty to do on Portland. We had three generations of family all together all 21 and fit comfortably. I highly recommend this property.

Jacqueline

The Old Court House was everything it said on the tin. It was ideal for our family especially at Christmas. Many thanks

Adrian

This is a lovely, unique property with some fantastic views. Nice if steep! walk into the village and further up to the top of the hill. The outside space was a little disappointing as there was no barbecue and the furniture was very old. The garden lights did not work either.

Deborah

Clearer instructions on recycling would have been good.

Jeremy

This is a brilliant holiday rent that was spoilt by poor management. It was supposed to be Covid cleaned but the cleaner denied this, so why did we have to wait until 5 pm to access the property? The garden furniture was not fit for purpose as it was broken and in places poorly repaired, and there was not an umbrellasun shade. It wasnt until after the cleaner had returned and left that we realised the oven was still dirty. This was advertised as a five star property but the maintenance and cleanliness were well below expectations!

Lesley

We enjoyed our stay in Portland. Our only criticism was that the key safe was very tricky to reach because the plants alongside the very narrow path were overgrown. Also the key was for a different door from that described in the instructions.

Stuart

Spacious character property with great views over Chesil beach. The upstairs area with desk is perfect for anyone needing to do 'work from home'.

The place needs a deep clean, the amount of dust and dirt under the beds and sofas was considerable. Being allergic to dust this had an impact on my breathing and I was quite wheezy in the accommodation. Not all the pans provided worked on the induction hob and the table covering was unhygienic as it could not be wiped down. I understand the need to provide a protective table covering but a table cloth or plastic table cloth that can be wiped down needs to be provided as well.

Claire

It is a stunning location and on a sunny day has lovely views over Chesil Beach. but the outdoor seating only had five chairs outside for 8 people which was disappointing. We did have two chairs delivered from the caretaker , after a phone call, but was never offered a third. The inside of the house was great and really well equipped in the kitchen. Just remember to bring soap and dishwasher tablets with you!

Michelle

We ordered a food delivery for when we arrived but it failed to be delivered as the bell on the secured gate didn't work, this was very frustrating as we had nothing with us. A note to inform us about this would have be good. The cleanliness of the bathrooms were not great, the downstairs toilet under the seat needed to be cleaned before use, the bathroom on the 1st floor the sink pedestal is very grimy, and all shower plug holes are full of hair and haven't been cleaned for ages. The table had a white protective cover on, it was very stained and not nice, there was no table cloth to use, we had to go and buy a paper one. We will be using your company again for our annual Christmas weekend but I don't think we would return to this property . Thanks Michelle

Lovely property, beautifully done up with good bedrooms and bathrooms and really great entertainingsocial space. We would actively choose to rent this property again if we down for another week's sailing event. Stayed August 2017

Amazing place to stay spotlessly clean and hassle free from the moment of ... Amazing place to stay spotlessly clean and hassle free from the moment of booking through to the return of our damages deposit stayed July 2017

We all had a great time staying in this Grand Design property, very tastefully converted courthouse with some quirky elements walking out of the main bedroom through a kitchen cabinet door ! to the more expected, the mezzanine over looking Chesil Beach. The group included three adults and four children and all facilities were impressive from the well equipped kitchen, to the TV sound system and the intrinsic views and location that it provides. If you are thinking of staying here, l suggest don't hesitate before it is booked!!! Stayed October 2016

The property was excellent. Very spacious and great for 4 couples. And what a view! Stayed October 2016

This was our second New Year stay at the Old Courthouse and it was perfect apart from the weather! . A superb property to see in the New Year in style. Stayed New Year 2015

Stayed August 2015

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The Old Portland Courthouse, Portland

About The Old Portland Courthouse

Need To Know

More Group Cottages You May Like

What Guests Love

Historic Grade II Listed Building

Spectacular Chesil Beach Views

Antique Dining Table for 12

Four Poster Bedroom

Beach Just 5 Minutes Walk

Spacious Group Accommodation

Getting To The Old Portland Courthouse

By Car

By Train

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Is The Old Portland Courthouse Right For Your Group

For Families

Groups Will Love...

Pet Friendly

Dining & Cafes

The Lobster Pot

Portland Heights Hotel Restaurant

The George Inn

Frequently Asked Questions

Location Name

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

The Old Portland Courthouse Reviews