Premier Inn Southampton North

Terrible service in the restaurant. I waited 30 minutes after being sat down and handed a menu to my order being taken, because of being understaffed and they forgot about me. Another night I was handed a menu, asked for the drink and they forgot, so had to ask again after 5 minutes. The same happened to an older gentleman sitting next to me, so I helped him too by flagging down the staff because they had forgot about his drink. I go to many hotels with my work and Premier Inn restaurants have really gone downhill now. I will be choosing other hotels from now on, or not paying for the meal deal and eating elsewhere.

We stayed at the Premier Inn, Southampton North before embarking on a cruise. We had booked bed and breakfast. The man on reception was helpful, friendly and professional. On arrival in the dining room for breakfast we noted it was very busy. There was a young man, James, working the floor alone as someone had called in sick. Despite this, James greeted us with a smile and made us feel that nothing was too much trouble. We were further surprised to find only one chef both cooking and serving at the hot food buffet, he too was rushed off his feet but remained smiling and helpful. Both these staff members were employed by Premier Inns and not Beefeater whose building was being used. I would like to commend both of them for working hard under difficult conditions.

Premier inn Management have left stretched staff to deal with Beefeater going into liquidation. There is only a limited food service ( pre booked meal deal customers only) but the service is absolutely appalling. Food! Well I think the food inspectors need to visit before somebody gets taken to A&E. Frustrated hungry and tired guests waiting hours for a 90% reduced menu. The car park is like a building site and again not only was the restaurant full of guests going on a cruise today but workmen on site . If Premier Inn had warned us of this fundamental change to our booking we could have made alternative arrangements, however you don’t know what’s happened until checking in. The atsmophere in the pub ( which only now opens after 5 and for breakfast) was the saddest most pitiful sight . Two staff trying to cook, serve food, serve drinks and manage heated exchanges and frustrated unhappy customers. We were informed when we checked in that Premier Inn were sending a team in to cook and serve dinner. No Team arrived. We are dreading breakfast! Our wait because we went early was only 2 hours 2 courses. But the more people turning up the longer the wait. Our meal was under cooked, wet fish batter, my husband’s gammon had thick fat around it. The food hardly warm mainly because the plates went around the restaurant 3 times before the server found us: we watched their journey with interest. I would suggest if you have booked any premier inn with a beefeater of any other pub chain that has recently gone bust. Cancel. Southampton North is ok but without the restaurant and people to run it it’s a very miserable place to stay. If you are staying there before going on a Cruise I guarantee you will regret it. I don’t blame the poor staff left to deal with this mess it’s the suits reluctant to be honest take the loss of a bit of money whilst getting a robust alternative in place , whilst still regaining reputation. Instead let the staff and customers take the hit! Shame on you !