Solent Hotel & Spa - Fareham

Jenny F.

This review is for the leisure centre only as I'm a frequent user. It was recently renovated and it could very easily be my favourite nearby place to go to if it hadn't been so poorly managed. First of all, nobody bothers to answer the phone. The changing rooms are absolutely filthy. When it's a busy day on the weekend it looks like nobody cleans all day so the floors are literally covered in trash and hair. It's also so hot inside even for a changing room it's just a sweat room. Everywhere you go there is something not working. Just call a handyman. Broken showers, rails, gym equipment. It just leaves a bad impression. It's great they give free towels however the towel sheds so badly I was covered in fibres and couldn't get them off me even after 10 mins of cleaning. It's such a shame because the facilities are wonderful. The pool is nice, the hot pool is great, there is an amazing tropical shower. Please fix these issues and this will be easily the best leisure place around.

Paul B.

The staff here are excellent. We stayed a couple of times while having treatment at a nearby eye clinic, and the staff were very helpful and understanding. We treated ourselves to a 'junior suite' which was very spacious and comfortable. The food was good and the service very good. We weren't able to make use of the spa, but it seems to be very popular so we might go back and try it!

Laura C.

Amazing stay at the solent hotel for a 10th birthday celebration. Upon booking we emailed with a couple of questions and Chloe on reception was so accommodating - offering to decorate the room for the children. We arrived to find children’s robes, cookies, balloons and banners, and even a personalised card for the girls. A very nice touch that meant a lot. Chloe even acknowledged us upon check out and we were happy to be able to thank her personally for arranging that for us. The hotel pool area has been renovated so was lovely, bright and fresh. There could be a little more seating around the pool area to the opposite side of the booth seating as we found it hard to find somewhere to rest our towels let alone sit. Not a problem for us necessarily as we went into the pool but could be annoying for others wanting to relax. |We visited the bar in the evening with the children and met a wonderful waitress called Kim who spent time making the effort with the children and chatting to us. She organised a celebration plate for the girls birthdays which was a wonderful touch. She is a real asset to the hotel and we were able to tell the manager this at the time. |The room we stayed in was lovely - with heaters provided as the heating system seemed to need maintenance according to the screen. Not a problem as the room was perfectly warm and had windows which we could open if we needed it to cool. Will definitely be returning - a lovely hotel local to us.

CBendon

We had an amazing stay here for my daughter and her friends 10th Birthday. |The hotel made it so special with a decorated room on arrival, robes and slippers. Personalised birthday card, balloons etc.. couldn’t have asked for a more perfect stay. |Kim the waitress was exceptional and so friendly and helpful.. and Chloe on reception was also very attentive and lovely. They couldn’t have done anymore.|Thank you so much, can’t wait to come back again!

HP

Stayed here over Christmas on a group booking. Given any difficulties that could arise at that time of year, (staffing?) I think the hotel did well. All staff were affable & helpful. The menus were fine & other than minor things, like toast being leathery; breakfast plates being cold; having to ask for decaff coffee or tea which sometimes took a while, - with a group of 25, I say 'Well done'.
We liked the fridge in rooms & milk +water on tap from corridor dispensers. (Unfortunately no water on 2nd floor but getting such repaired over Xmas, I guess would be impossible.)
One suggestion: put bedrooms for families with children in similar areas: still loud noises in next room at 23:15! However, once notifying reception, quickly they were asked/instructed to quieten down. Next day, I was also given the option of changing rooms. (Also found 'sleep aids' in a bag in wardrobe ✔️.)
I would recommend this hotel to any, although without a car, choices may be limited - but then you could spend time in the pool.

Rebecca N.

Don’t go here for a spa experience.

We paid £240 for massages and use of the spa and it was far from luxurious, we weren’t even given a towel or a robe. The treatment itself was nice but the spa was full of kids and not relaxing at all.

The entrance to the hot tub was broken and we hurt ourselves.

Would not recommend

Chris S.

I found the room dated and the decor horrible. Shower was claustrophobic and very dated and the bath just pointless. Food and drinks far too pricey and felt pushed to order breakfast when checking in but declined it straight away £16.95 per person my god it's only breakfast. For a junior suite I expected a bit more modern and up to date to be honest . The room was on a corner so found it quite noisy through out the afternoon and evening and night. Luxury....nope left feeling more tired than when I arrived.

OtterOfDespair

Very pleasant and relaxing. Visited with family and everything was very welcoming for kids, if you don't have kids it would also be fine as there are no kids in spa between 11-3 and I notice they sit families with young kids separately in the restaurant.

Spa was fabulous and much enjoyed by the family. Gym is excellent with top class weight machines that cover everything.

Visited during a very cold snap and the communal areas could have done with being a degree or two warmer, I just wore a jumper and was fine but I noticed one or two people using the blankets provided in the (indoor!) restaurant.

Restaurant was fab but we suffered a bit with staff shortages one night but the team dealt with it well. If you're on the dinner deal you can also use the food vouchers at the on-site pub which made a nice change.