Southsea Lodge

It's difficult to gripe when the owner/managers are friendly, pleasant, wanting to be helpful,when what one is looking for is just not there. Here outside appearance not promising, inside miles of red carpet which needed a good clean, bedroom so less than simply furnished as to be depressing, the so called 'en suite' a small cut off corner of room. The toilet was wedged in between shower and wall with little room for normal manoeuvre. Hand basin tiny. Breakfast indifferent. All this for £155 p.n.for two. We were able to beat a retreat for the last two nights of a three day visit to Southsea.

I did arrive 30mins before check-in time and no one was in but on making a call, the lady who was looking after the establishment called the owners son who arrived to let me in. He was friendly and welcoming and happy to assist with setting the TV and showing on a map where we were and suggestions of local restaurants. The room was at the front, with large dated fitted wardrobe, a sofa bed, large tv with freeview and small tray with kettle, and limited tea and coffee. The room is not en-suite. The private bathroom was next door. Large room with corner bath and separate shower cubicle. Unfortunately the shower head was so big and heavy that it could not stay upright and therefore unusable as a stand under shower. Products available in the shower was the dregs of a bottle of bubble bath, and dregs of shampoo and conditioner. It gave the impression that these had been in the families private bathroom and only put there as they knew the room had been booked.. The whole place was dated and in need of quite a lot of refurbishment and tlc. It can be noisy with passing traffic and slamming of front door late at night by either other residents or owners visitors! It was a shame the owners had left the running of everything, including breakfast to the hired help. breakfast was rather hit or miss.

Me and my partner stayed there for one night when visiting his mum in Portsmouth. Although on the website states check in till 11pm there was no problem for a lovely and friendly lady owner to wait for us a bit longer as we stuck in traffic and we were there 11.30pm. Our room was basic but had all essentials including tea and coffee making facilities, toiletries, plenty of storage, small TV and hairdryer. Wi-Fi is available as well. On the downside we found bottom sheet ripped and towels very tatty and with frayed edges. There was a cobweb hanging of the ceiling near the window and shower head was a bit mouldy. Breakfast next day was full English cooked to order by lovely lady. Fresh coffee, fruits and yoghurts available. We paid £1 for 12h parking, cheap but we thought it should be included in the room price. Overall good experience but for the money not a great value. Could be better.