Boathouse Hotel

On arrival, make sure you park in a designated bay (written on the floor) and not a pay and display bay. On entering the hotel, which isn’t signed very well, reception is basically the restaurant bar. A business trip and on my own. Booked last minute and got the last room, which was up two flights of stairs and the smallest room they had. Big enough for me and a nice (small) double bed. No curtains, just velux blinds, the one in the bathroom kept opening by itself! The toilet was loose on the floor (i nearly fell off it!) and the toilet roll holder was hanging off! Everything else was clean and fine. Bed was comfy but pillows not so. Staff were welcoming and nice, and put the football on tv for me in the evening. However, by 9pm I was the last there, and felt sorry for the two staff who obviously wanted to go home, so I went to my room. No night staff here, so if you’ve forgotten arrive late, or go out for a cigarette and lock yourself out, you have to call an emergency number! So take your keycard AND your phone! Food here was really good. I had a ciabatta prawn and salmon sandwich for lunch and Moules and Frites for dinner. Breakfast is included, 8-10am (it came out late and the chef didn’t speak english and doesn)but continental only, full English is extra. A nice location and I bet its really popular in the summer with the boats etc. I’d come again for business, or a short stop before flying out of Southampton, but it acts more like a marina restaurant rather than a hotel, as guests are almost an inconvenience.

First impressions poor, no reception but a bell to call, no-one came, the reason was they were behind a bar serving drinks, I had to go to the bar, seemed very short staffed and they were multi tasking different departments. Room was ok nice view ofcourse, but outdoor decking all tired looking and not very welcoming, water and biscuits supplied the first day but not the second despite it being very hot. Booked bed and breakfast but couldn't have it, as breakfast was not served till 8, which is way too late if you are there for business. Cleanliness not great dirty towel, fingerprints on windows. Food was ok. Staff were friendly but they simply didn't have the time to look after you

I wouldn’t come back here again. The cocktails need some improvement and also there’s not much choice. The food was nice and good value for money. One of the staff members Ava is rude and needs some training on how to treat customers. I wouldn’t recommend coming here.