Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa

The spa was a lovely, quiet place to unwind. We enjoyed the pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, and left feeling rested. The room had a fantastic harbour view, whether in daylight or with the lights sparkling in the evening, and breakfast came with a nice view too. Our spacious room had a huge, comfortable bed, a generous bathroom, a minibar and a coffee machine. We hadn't slept that well in a long time. The hotel is stylish and elegant but still comfortable, without feeling overdone or too expensive. Staff were exceptionally friendly and accommodating from the moment we arrived. Parking opposite the hotel was convenient, with easy payment on departure. It made for a relaxing, pampering getaway. I'd recommend The Harbour Hotel & Spa to anyone after a comfortable stay in Southampton.

Breakfast the next morning was delicious, with cooked and continental choices. Tim made an overcast morning brighter with great service and an entertaining chat. After a really good night's sleep in that soft, fluffy bed, we felt relaxed and rested. We spent one night in a lovely room on the 3rd floor overlooking Ocean Village harbour. The bed looked so inviting, but first we had a complimentary G&T, then put on our robes and slippers and went for a quick swim and hot tub soak at HarSPA. Dinner at HarBAR on 6th was delicious, and Josh gave us great service. We had a window table with twinkling lights across the water, then tried a cocktail from the tempting Mermain Gin menu before heading back upstairs. A wonderful stay. We'd love to return. The staff were welcoming and always a pleasure to talk to.

Alicia really turned our stay around after a stressful five-hour drive and a rocky start to our holiday. She noticed we were celebrating a birthday and that my wife was heavily pregnant, then thoughtfully upgraded us to a room with more space and comfortable seating. We liked it so much that we added a night we hadn't planned on staying. We couldn't get through by phone to book that extra night, so Alicia came to our room and sorted it out herself. Later, when we were heading out to collect plates from the restaurant for our takeaway, she offered to get them for us. Small gestures, but they made us feel cared for. The customer service from everyone was very good, though Alicia's kindness, initiative and attention to detail especially stood out. She made a difficult start into a memorable stay, and we're very grateful. Thank you, Alicia. We'll definitely return and recommend the hotel. We're currently staying at the Harbour Hotel Southampton, and wanted to give her a special mention.

The rooms were a highlight: modern, spacious and thoughtfully designed with details reflecting the local community. The food was excellent at breakfast, lunch and dinner, easily the best I've had in Southampton. It saved the restaurant experience, where lunch and dinner service was inconsistent. We were repeatedly forgotten when we needed menus, cutlery or drinks, and had to chase staff to be able to eat. We came for a relaxing spa break, but the spa fell short. It felt more like a leisure centre than a hotel spa, with fewer facilities than at other Harbour Hotels, and children were allowed. We encountered several screaming children and dirty nappies left by the pool that staff didn't clear promptly. Robe and towel bins were overflowing too. Since the spa connects directly to the gym, which local residents can use, it felt communal rather than exclusive as the website suggests. After we emailed the hotel about our experience, Xiaomin, the Director of Guest Experience, replied promptly and thoughtfully. She invited us to talk the next day, listened, explained what had gone wrong and outlined steps to improve things for future guests. Her response made a real difference, and left us with a positive impression despite the initial frustrations. The rooms, food and responsive management made the stay worthwhile, though the spa and service could be better.