Macdonald Elmers Court Hotel

With transport links to the Isle of White and nearby towns like Lymington and Lyndhurst, getting to Elmers Court Hotel & Resort by car or public transport is easy. It’s close to the New Forest, with miles of unspoilt nature just a short drive away, and attractions such as Beauli Museum are nearby. A lovely spot on the south coast near Southampton, and an idealic choice for weddings and special occasions.

We’d stayed before and were looking forward to coming back. We’d booked two rooms for a group of four on 9 February, reserving them on 19 December. On arrival, we were shocked to discover the place was being refurbished, with builders making a lot of noise. The outside accommodation had been updated, but the area looked like a total building site. We hadn’t been warned about any of this. By four o’clock, we were having to find somewhere else to stay.

I’ve recently joined the gym and have really enjoyed the Aqua Classes so far. Verity and Katrina are fantastic instructors, and their playlists are great. The indoor pool is lovely too. Katrina also teaches Stretch and Mobility, which I’ve attended and found absolutely amazing. Steve gave me my gym induction this week and was so thorough, with loads of knowledge to share. Elmer’s is friendly, welcoming and fun. I highly recommend it.

Our friends chose this hotel for their wedding, then it cancelled with only two months’ notice. By then, all their friends and family had booked nearby accommodation and planned lifts. The hotel suggested other venues in its group, but none suited what the couple wanted or were near where the guests were staying. I can only imagine how stressful it was for our friends. If you’re considering this venue, I’d avoid it unless you want to replan everything and be hugely out of pocket.