Best Western New Holmwood

We stayed here for three nights. On check-in, the girl on reception was very helpful and gave us plenty of useful information. The room itself was OK, but unfortunately the service and cleanliness left a lot to be desired. After the first day, no coffee, sugar or milk was replaced in the room. The cups were also an absolute disgrace, with brown stains inside them. We were not given any clean towels during our stay and had to use the same ones for the entire three nights. The bed linen was also not changed. The location is reasonably good, around a 15-minute walk into town along the promenade. A taxi into the centre costs around £6. If you want to know anything about getting around or places to visit, ask a taxi driver. The drivers we had were excellent – very helpful and friendly. As for breakfast, it costs £17.50 at the hotel. Our advice would be to go into town instead. The Union Inn does a cooked breakfast for just £5, served until 11am. Buses leave from near M&S in the town centre and run approximately every 10 minutes. A single fare is £3. We had a nice time in Cowes, but unfortunately, based on our experience, we definitely won't be staying here again.

We have visited this Hotel previously. Pleased to see much needed decoration and some refurbishment. Bedroom was clean and well presented, although heavy outdated furniture remains. Twin bed mattresses, not fit for purpose, lumpy and uncomfortable. Bath extremely small with shower controls not working. Code provided for main entrance for arrival after 5pm. Entry with baggage proved very difficult via heavy automated doors. Entry and Exit access for mobility impaired guests via ramp only available by contacting duty manager's mobile number. All very inconvenient. No restaurant or bar available for evening drinks or dining. Not what we were expecting. Fortunately, we managed to find a fish and chip shop open in the town !! Only a cafe, of sorts, in the Hotel, open 11am - 5pm serving hot and cold drinks and cakes. I tried at several different times over three consecutive days to contact the Hotel by phone. Completely unsuccessful. Each call answered with a recorded message advising 1st in the queue and after six minutes cut off. No reply to email. My query regarding lack of communication was met with disbelief. Altogether a very inhospitable environment. More than disappointing. Do not recommend. Management needs a wake up call.

Don't even bother trying this venue, or their cafe, Tide & Grind The old managers retired and the owner who lives abroad has someone else running this place. The person on reception does not even look up from computer screen when you walk in door. We walked to the rooms overlooking the Solent to try the cafe, and found no staff, a couple of uncleared tables, no customers. We waited 45 mins for tea and cake. At that point they decided they didn't have any cake, or anything else for that matter. Have asked around locally as our family used to stay here most years; after what we've heard and also now seen on the reviews, we would actively encourage people to avoid staying here or trying the cafe. It very much looks like it is being deliberately run down. We hope the local planners refuse to have the New Holmwood turned into anything else as Cowes needs a hotel in a fabulous location like this. It always used to be so busy here, all year round. We dined here many times at lunchtime on the terrace and dinners inside in the lovely restaurant overlooking the Solent. Staff were always fabulous.