Looking at the website, The Solent Hotel and Spa, in Fareham looks similar to many other hotels of a high calibre. However, we found The Solent to be streets ahead of many we'd stayed in including top, international chains.
The staff at The Solent were exemplary, the weekend we were there. In spite of the fact that they had a VERY large party in, monopolising various function rooms and bedrooms, they never failed to deliver. We were warned that we might have to wait for Sunday morning breakfast and were understandably anxious when we went down with our complimentary newspaper. I hate waiting in queues for hotel weekend breakfasts and have often had to do so. However there was no queue and although the restaurant was busy, there were no red-faced, flustered kitchen and waiting staff to be seen. They clearly had a well-oiled system in operation and everything from the topping-up of the bacon supplies on the buffet to the coffee-pot refills went smoothly. There was a quiet, relaxed Sunday morning buzz in The Terrace Restaurant and the staff were smiley, chatty, friendly and very efficient.
The same has to be said about the night before. We had an aperitif in the bar and then went into the typically-busy Saturday evening restaurant. We found the staff attentive but never fawning and over-the-top. I don't know about anyone else but I absolutely hate the sort of over-bearing, deferential service still insisted-on by many of the multi-starred hotels. The staff at The Solent had a blend of efficiency, helpfulness and politeness which combined with their easy-going chatter, made us feel very relaxed and at-ease. I suppose the G and T and the very good bottle of wine played a bit of a role! The food was delicious too.
You may have guessed where my priorities lie by virtue of the fact that I started this review in the hotel restaurant. I love food - well let's be fair most of us do, dont we? The chef at The Terrace Restaurant at The Solent didn't present us with a massive confusing menu. There was just enough choice but not so much that we didn't know where to start. My Starter of the Rustic Duck Liver & Cassis Pate, toasted sour dough and apple chutney was perfect although I wasn't so keen on the presentation. It was served on a black slate.
But I'm picking holes, I really am, because from the beginning of the meal right to the very end, we both cleared our plates. The portions were just enough which meant that by dessert-time, I wasn't too full to eat one. Which was just as well as I'd had my eye on the Chocolate Pot with espresso sauce and mascarpone cream from the beginning. As I'd predicted, it was mouth-wateringly creamy, exquisite and so, so completely yummy.
Our room in The Solent incidentally was a luxurious, executive double amazingly with FREE Internet access. Some hotel Internet charges are so extortionate, I almost did a double-take when I read that The Solent charged nothing. One lovely touch is the little fridge in every room with milk for your teas and coffee. Yup....PROPER MILK and not those individual, impossible-to-open portions of white stuff masking as milk! The hotel even supplies everyone with a bottle of water.
The shower in the bathroom was amazingly fast and I certainly felt squeaky-clean after the pummelling it gave me. The fluffy, soft dressing-gowns provided were very soft and I have to say I considered buying one as I've honestly never felt a hotel dressing-gown that was quite so soft. But I draw a line at buying stuff like that with logos on. If they'd only sold plain white ones, then it would have been a different story.
If you're interested, the hotel is very well situated and provides a great base to explore the region’s many attractions, maritime history and beautiful countryside. There really are lots of places to visit nearby - The New Forest, Beaulieu, Marwell Zoo, Portsmouth's Naval heritage and the Isle of Wight amongst others. Personally when i'm in a hotel as nice as The Solent, i don't really want to budge!
If you're planning on going away with your children, the family rooms at The Solent can offer you a variety of combinations depending on the number of children. Some rooms can accommodate up to 2 adults and 3 children and the hotel also offers special rates for children in their own room. All the rooms have DVD players and they provide a choice of children's DVDs if you fancy a bit of peace and quiet. We liked the bunk-bed rooms where the bunks fold up into the wall to keep them out of the way during the day. The hotel also offers a baby-sitting service and offer a separate tea-time for younger children.
The swimming pool is great for both kiddies and adults. The whole Spa area was immaculately clean and welcoming (unlike another 4-star hotel we stayed in recently which had the dirtiest changing rooms I'd ever seen outside of a municipal pool 20 years ago!!). There was a separate paddling-area for toddlers and the pool was shallower at the edges all the way round and not just at the deep-end. And more important for me and definitely for most little ones, the pool was a good temperature - neither too hot nor too cold! I was tempted to go for a nice, relaxing facial in the Spa but time didn't permit. Maybe next time.........? Because without doubt there WILL be a next time and I've already decided what I'm ordering from the menu and which Spa Treatment I'm going to book for my own special me-time!
Hotel Information
Solent Hotel and Spa
Shire Hotels
Rookery Avenue
Whiteley
Fareham,
Hampshire
PO15 7AJ
TEL: 01489 880000
March 2008
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