Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour

The one person who really stood out in a good way was the elderly manager serving breakfast. The meal itself was mediocre for somewhere presenting itself as luxury, and the service and attitude of that manager were the best part of our stay. We picked the hotel because it looked grand and nearly opulent, but the room's bathroom was dated, worn, and less clean than I'd expect at that price. The shower was very hard to set to a steady, comfortable temperature. We also learned on arrival that the pool was out of action, although it was the main reason we'd chosen this hotel. Nobody told us when we booked. Had we known, we would have picked somewhere else. The Wi-Fi was practically unusable. When I asked reception where I could work, I was told there wasn't anywhere and to come back at 8am, as the staff member had just started her shift. That wasn't the level of service I expected. This experience has put us off the whole hotel chain. Even a standard Holiday Inn has given us much better service, communication, and consistency.

I came on my own for a little spa day, and had no issues with my room. The hotel is a nice place to stay in Southampton, around a 10-minute walk from the coach station. The high street is close, so it feels central while still being peaceful. The staff made a big difference. From check-in to the spa and restaurant, everyone I met was warm and friendly. I ate at Leo's bar and grill in the evening, and breakfast was lovely too. Please add pancakes and some meat-free choices, like vegan sausages. 😄

We came back for another two-night break because we'd enjoyed our last visit. The massive balcony room was great, although the fridge was oddly sitting on the floor. Staff were nice, and we liked Leo's for lunch and coffee. Marco Pierre White restaurant was good before, but this time the roast turkey was disappointing, small portion and not much care seemed to have gone into it. It was expensive for what we got, though the pudding was yummy. The Christmas tree and fire by the entrance gave the hotel a lovely festive feel. We used the gym and pool, though the steps down to the pool could use some care. All in all, a lovely break with my husband.

We liked the hotel and would return. The staff were friendly and the location was good. Breakfast had a decent buffet, but more variety would help. Not everyone eats pork, so chicken or lamb sausages would be good, along with Alpro yoghurt and different cold meats. A fridge in the room would be useful too.