Lakeside Park & Spa

I haven’t stayed here, so I can’t really rate the rooms. I’ve been to the spa and had afternoon tea here more than 15 times, though, and the Lakeside as a whole is phenomenal. I usually get a back, neck and shoulder massage, and the therapists have all been good. Today Katie was the best I’ve ever had. I do manual labour, so I needed a really firm massage, and she worked out three knots around my shoulder blades and neck. I just had to leave a review because she was incredible.

The pool was so cold and not filled high enough that we only managed about 45 minutes in the spa, until my friend couldn’t take the chill anymore. The shower outside by the Jacuzzi was freezing too, so we didn’t feel we got our money’s worth from the spa. Breakfast was below average, though it filled us up. The apple juice and cappuccino were lovely, but I felt a bit looked down on by the staff working at breakfast, which made me uncomfortable. I’d come back, but the hot breakfast and pool temperature need attention. The room was huge, the beds were comfortable, and they’d provided plenty for our stay, including shampoo, body wash, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits and a Smart TV with Netflix. The hotel was spotless and well maintained, far cleaner and better presented than places I usually stay away from home. Staff were friendly and accommodating, check-in was quick, and getting into the spa was easy. The views were beautiful, and it was very quiet, set back from the road. We enjoyed our stay overall.

The massage was fabulous, and the spa was clean and relaxing. There’s a thermal spa, jacuzzi, pool, steam rooms and sauna rooms. I went for a birthday treat with afternoon tea, and the staff in the brassiere made me feel welcome. The tea was delicious, with warm scones baked on site, and they even put a happy birthday sign on a plate for me. Such a lovely visit, I’ll definitely go again and recommend it.

Our first visit to IOW was meant to be a spa treat for my husband and me, but it was really disappointing. One of the outdoor steam rooms and the hot tub weren’t on. They only switched them on after another regular member texted the staff, and nobody from the staff came around to check if everything was okay. I sat in the hot tub with no bubbles, waiting for it to start as the sign said 15 mins, and got eaten alive by mosquitoes.