Stanwell House Hotel

Decided last minute to stay overnight in Lymington and take the ferry the next morning to the Isle of Wight. Find Stanwell House on the High Street and decided to ask if they did have a room available for the night. The receptionist was really friendly, show us a couple of rooms and offer a special last minute deal on Bed & Breakfast. The room was really nice and cosy, it look like it had been recently refurbished, really clean, the bathroom was also very nice (seemed brand new). We decided as well to try the Seafood restaurant for dinner: service was really nice, I though the food wasn't too pricey for the New Forest and I swear the mussels on wine sauce were to die for... My only complaint will be that the main course (Lemon Sole) was too big: I couldn't have dessert! No problems on check out and the morning receptionist even give us vouchers to get a cheaper deal in the ferry! Overall, a very good experience, we were told the new proprietors have been here for less than a year, I've read the last review and I think that bad must have been before they took over... Can't fault the service (lovely spanish waitress in the Seafood), cleanliness or decor...

Stayed here for some R and R. Were not disappointed. The hotel is right on the High Street in Lymington and just 3 mins round the corner is the Marina. The hotel itself is probably a Georgian building with a more modern extension in some parts. On arrival, we were greeted warmly by reception. I had mailed earlier asking for a quiet room facing the back. We were allocated No 39 which was right at the top of the hotel facing back towards the sea. You could see the sea in the distance across the rooftops. Our room did not disappoint. It had a comfortable bed with white soft bed linen and a beaded silk throw, the curtains were heavy brocade, the furniture antique but styling of the room with a slick tea tray and 26" flat screen very stylish. The bathroom with shower over bath was more old fashioned but spotlessly clean. Molton Brown products. We had booked the hotel via a Waitrose Magazine deal which included afternoon tea, evening meal in the bistro or seafood restaurant and breakfast. The afternoon tea was served in the Conservatory, we upgraded our cream tea to the full afternoon tea (had had no lunch!), and had 4 little crustless sandwiches, 2 slices of cake, and 2 scones to share. Very nice. In the evening we opted for the bistro. The place was nicely lit and had good atmosphere. Our request not to have the table for 2 right by the kitchen swing door, was met with 'of course'. The table right by the kitchen should probably be taken out of use, or only used if it is literally the only table left in the restaurant and you are desperate! The meal itself was good, typcial bistro fare e.g. french onion soup, wild mushroom en croute, steak , coq au vin crepes suzette, chocolate fondant. We had the steak frites and were pleased to see no supplement charged for a steak, the steaks were cooked perfectly and presented nicely on wooden boards. The mains were better than the starters and puds which were a bit hit and miss. Nothing too bad, just not as good as they might/should have been. Lovely table linen, nice candle lighting. Wine list not too pricey, we had a very nice Rioja for £14.95. Fizzy mineral water is £3.50 for bt. The bed was very comfortable, and we were not disturbed by any noise, bar we did hear the bottles from the restaurant going out at 1.35am. Breakfast was a triumph and could not have been bettered, toast from proper bread, choice of kippers, smoked haddock, full works - 2 rashers of bacon, sausage, fresh grilled tomato, fresh fried mushroom, baked beans, black pudding, egg, hash brown. Or you could have eggs done any way, husband had 2 beautifully poached eggs on toast which he requested with bacon. The buffet table had bowls of fresh sliced citrus fruits, cereals, pastries etc. The attention to detail in this hotel is very good. The owners are clearly wanting to create a great stay for you. I would certainly return in a whisker! Will post some pics ....

Although we only stayed one night we loved every minute and I'm trying to think of an excuse to go back there. The staff were friendly & helpful without exception. The decor was old country house with a bit of modern style. My teenage daughters loved the classic chair in reception, upholstered in purple velvet! Each room is individual, the bathroom of room 31 is gorgeous. Our rooms were the standard ones so if you spent out for a suite or a 4 poster bed I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed. Perfect for a treat on a special occasion. Our breakfast was delicious. I have stayed 5 star at The Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London which is the only other hotel breakfast to equal this one. The choice was excellent and cooked to perfection. I only wish we'd had the time to try the bistro. My only small grumble would be the lack of water pressure from the shower. We booked a month in advance with lastminute.com for £89 per room including breakfast.

Was here a few years ago and went back last week end. The outside has been repainted the restaurant offers yummy seafood and the place was buzzing! Would recommend to anyone wishing to get away from run of the mill dull hotels. It is an old building but whoever the new owners are they are putting it back together. Our room had new flat TV and had not been decorated in a while but we did see a decorator around and another couple said their room was all new. I see their website shows a new style room, if your into that then ask for it. (I preferred the old). The Hotel is on the High street, our front room overlooked the market on Saturday which was great for people watching but if you want quiet ask not to be on the front.

I travel alot for business and as a consequence i stay in alot of hotels. This is the first review i have ever written, yet my stay was so good i have to comment. The hotel was beautiful and service absolutely perfect. Everyone was very helpful and professional and I would highly recommend the hotel to anyone looking for a either a relaxing stay with family or as a business traveller. Bedrooms are clean and comfortable. Although rooms have no internet connection - there is connection in the lounge with ample space and peace to work. Both food and wine were fantastic and - as earlier - served by excellent staff. Highly recommended and i hope to be back soon.

Having just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary at the Stanwell House Hotel, we have returned home to pass on the glories of this place to our friends and family. The new owners have already put their first class quality stamp on Stanwells and it shows. From the moment we arrived in the welcoming reception area, we were greeted by the professional and extremely welcoming staff. We stayed in a suite which had a lovely little balcony garden. The furnishings and accessories were sumptious and very fitting for the style of the hotel....from fresh cream wing backed chairs in the sitting area to the plush velvet cushions, heavy damasked curtains and beautiful looking bed (which I add, was very comfortable) to the lovely roll top bath and seperate shower in the bathroom.......and my favourite bathroom products...Molton Brown!! The room was extremely clean with fresh towels every day and our bed looking crisp and new upon our return from walking or shopping all day! We ate in both restaurants - the first night in the Seafood Restaurant where we were spoilt for choice in deciding what to choose from the extensive menu. Our choices did not disappoint in taste, quality and presentation....and service was first class throughout. Our second night, we ate in the Fine Dining Restaurant. This was a lovely room with glorious mirrors cleverly positioned...and once again, the food, the presentation, the service was fabulous and tantamount to what you would expect in a 4 or 5 star hotel. The staff were not intrusive in any way, but always seemed to be there to top up our glasses or remove our plates, without us having to stop our conversation. On both evenings, we took our coffee and petit fours in the conservatory - nice to be able to "flop" on the comfy sofa and enjoy the last part of our meal in relaxation before retiring for the night. The attention to detail, excellent quality food and customer service is where the new owners and this hotel will make their mark - they have already produced a lovely gem on the High Street, and with the final touches that they are going to make on the hotel, I can only recommend a stay that will leave you with very fond memories...and a wish to return very soon!

My partner and i have just returned from our weekend away which had been planned for some time and were slightly nervous about the comments which we had been reading, but we shouldn't have been as it's a real gem! We had a warm welcome from reception who showed us up to our room which wasnt new in decor but had fantastic character, which carried on throughout the whole hotel. All the staff were friendly and nothing was too much trouble. We chose to eat with the hotel on both nights, usually we would eat somewhere else on the second night however we ate in the Bistro on the first night and thought it was so good that we ate in the Seafood restaurant on the second night. We are really impressed with both restaurants. I would stay here again, in fact we are hoping to stay at Christmas.

I can't believe your last few negative reviewers about this character boutique hotel. We've been staying at this particular friendly establishment for the last 15 years as our getaway from the wilds of the North Devon coast. It's central to the lovely town of Lymington, right in the middle of the wonderful New Forest and a stone's throw away from the bustling harbour and ferry port to The Isle Of Wight. The new owners that have just taken over have done a marvellous job rejuvenating the bistro and seafood restaurants and are now tackling the outside of the property (hence the temporary scaffolding!) changing it from used-to-be [--] coloured brown exterior, into what promises to be a classic frontage to blend in with the surrounding village shops. The rooms (and we've seen 15 of them - about half, over the years!) all have their own individual character and old world charm, a million miles away from the boring, bland conformity of your usual corporate branded chains. This is a relatively undiscovered gem of a place and deserves more praise than we can offer in the short space here.

Staying at this hotel was supposed to be a special treat for us, but it certainly wasnt, it was a complete waste of money at £150 for a double room. Firstly there is no car park so you have to park 5 mins walk away and then trail your stuff across the High Street. (At reception they still want your registration Number though! ) The front of the hotel is covered in scaffolding. When you walk in to reception it looks quite smart, but once you are lead through a door at the back of the bar to your room it all turns rather shabby. The room was clean, but not very nice, it had a door opening straight out on to the patio where had it been hot people would have been sitting drinking & smoking no doubt. The Bistro was closed for refurbishment (which they didnt tell us when we booked) but if we wanted we could have eaten from the Bistro menu in the bar...which was freezing cold & stunk of paint, we sat there for an hour and shared a bottle of wine, no other customers came in the whole time we were there, so we sat there alone. We worked out dinner would cost a minimum of £60 if we stayed there, not wanting to waste any more money in somewhere we didnt like we walked down to the pub down the road, which was warm, inviting, had a good atmosphere and served lovely food..this was the highlight of the evening. We were supposed to be staying a secong night, but checked out the next morning and instead went to another hotel in Chichester which we like. I would not reccommend this Hotel, it certainly wasnt what I was expecting from their description as a Boutique Hotel on their website!

Problems at start with the Booking, Twin instead of Double room booked. On check in. given only dbl left, Room 36, the hotest smallest room and window in hotel. To top it off, it was on the 3rd floor, Bearing in mind heavily PG. Paper thin walls! No shower curtain or shower, ungrouted tiles around bath, Old wooden floorboards in bathroom so not ideal for any kind of shower. No ability to rectify room price on check out as hotel staff not given responsibility. Unsatisfactory follow up from Management of hotel on return to London. £135 fpr the night to stay in standard room. Too expensive for a hotel with that many problems, drop your prices, rectify, satisfy your client base, only THEN Advertise a boutique hotel and service. We will not be taking the offer of a comp room upgrade as we will never return again.