The Roundabout Hotel

The meal was reasonable and service pretty good, but the evening fell short of what we'd hoped for. We'd booked a table for six several weeks ahead for my brother-in-law's 80th birthday, and the hotel knew about the occasion. When we arrived on time, the young woman at the bar seemed surprised and hadn't heard of the booking. She checked the diary, found it, then prepared a table and apologised for the delay. When I paid, there wasn't another apology or any gesture such as a discounted bottle of wine. We'd ordered four bottles and took one home, and the bill came to nearly £250. I didn't think a tip was appropriate. With a bit more effort, they could have made the celebration memorable instead of disappointing.

The friendly staff and easy walk into Fareham centre are good, and the resident chef makes the best poached eggs I've had. But the hotel has gone downhill over the years. There's a damp smell, creaky floorboards beneath the carpets, and fittings coming away from the walls. The taps and shower heads are loose and leak. Hot water is a good temperature with reasonable pressure, though. The radiators have lost their old finish and give off weak heat at odd times. The walls between rooms are so thin you hear people snoring next door, or drunk guests encouraging their dogs to bark. I won't be back.

Traffic from the main road kept me awake for most of the night, since the hotel is so close to it. Still, I'd stay again, if only for another of Martha's breakfasts. The staff were wonderfully friendly, and it is a great hotel apart from that noise.

Breakfast was good, though no one offered us toast, and the key cards gave us trouble in both rooms. Our room was beside the roundabout and very noisy. There was no double glazing, so wind came through and made it sound as if the window was open. The tea in the room tasted awful, I couldn't drink it.