Retreat Manor Spa Hotel

This is a difficult review to write but I’m going to be completely honest. Firstly the constant name changes, or the names they go by are a big red flag! We booked this hotel last minute so didn’t see all the different reviews. I’m not the first review… just under this name! The hotel is misrepresented as a spa hotel… I’m sure back in it’s day it was beautiful, but this hotel has not moved with the times, which is actually a real shame as it could have so much potential. The hotel felt like a ghost hotel, it didn’t feel open! Which was actually a bit unnerving! Lack of lighting, bar shutters closed, and we saw one other set of guests in the outdoor hot tub but no others throughout our stay. We booked this hotel specifically because of the spa, following the IOW festival, as an opportunity to relax and unwind. We literally spent less than an hour in the indoor pool and jacuzzi, the facilities were disappointing. Yes it has a swimming pool and jacuzzi which were nice enough but it was the smaller details that let it down and made it look tired and tatty which made me question it’s cleanliness. Details such as rusty lockers and a privacy film on the window from the bar into the spa which needed renewing. The sauna and steam room were not even switched on. Just felt like the hotel wasn’t properly open. Andy on the desk was really friendly, remembered our names, and takes pride in his job. He did say that they could open up the facilities, bar area etc if we wished to use them. It’s just a real shame all this wasn’t already open as it didn’t feel very appealing and there was no atmosphere. The room itself was clean but very dated, and tatty. You can see where they have tried to give things a revamp, it looked like it was recently painted which was nice and they have attempted to revamp the furniture, painting the pine furniture in parts (shiny paint though!) but it’s the things like the bed side lamps that looked tatty, dust on the picture frame above the bed and the mismatch dressing table and stool that really let it down. On first impressions I wanted to walk back out and had we have been staying for more than two nights I would have. Unfortunately I had much higher expectations, but it left me feeling really saddened, as I can imagine this was once a very beautiful hotel. I haven’t included any photos as there are signs saying no photos in the hotel on the front door. Lower your expectations, and see this as a room for the night and it’s more than good enough, however if you’re wanting a spa experience or somewhere with a holiday atmosphere, this isn’t your hotel.

Stayed a long time ago now. Hotel kept taking payments from my card when I didn't authorise it. I remember we were supposed to go and see a model village this hotel decided it wanted to take random payments from me. I remember gaming to cancel my card to stop them. Nothing was due until we departed so why was it taken? The hotel is even worse than our prior stay, with random cars dumped on driveway. When we went outdoor pool was closed had been the previous year to. I haven't been back and neither should you. Don't stay here.

A late booking in August left us little choice, The Spa Manor / Melville Hall Hotel / Eden Spa (all the same hotel) is far from 3 star. £465 for three nights NOT including breakfast, I can say with all honesty that this is the first hotel in 70 years of travel where breakfast has been an extra. Having paid in advance by BACS, there was no going back!! We only encountered three staff during our stay. Hence the bar was never staffed and always empty, ring the bell at reception for a drink. The dining room likewise only ever had five people in it, six if you count the charming waiter. Evening meals were off the menu. The bedroom was ten feet square with a small double bed and poorly furnished. Tea and coffee facilities were a kettle 2 cups and 1 saucer, no coffee sachets or tea bags unlike the room pictures. The jacuzzi out of action the pool never used. Sadly I would heartily recommend that you find alternative accommodation.

On arrival the hotel looked closed, piles of rubbish at the front entrance, ****s everywhere. Entered reception no lights on spoke to the man on reception and said we wonder if we had the right place as it looked closed, it was met with sarcasm saying yes there is a big sign at the bottom of the drive. Booked in and were informed of the following: - Bar shutters down but open on request Indoor pool was available for a 1-hour slot which needed to be booked. Booked evening meal placed our meal request from menu, then taken to our rooms. Rooms were dirty dusty, musty smelling and very dated. Went for our evening meal, no sign of any other visitors still in darkness requested a drink to which they opened the shutters. Went into the dining room for our evening meal, no other guests around. The meal arrived and it was disgusting, had no resemblance to how it was described on the menu and the cheese board was a health hazard. Spoke with the manage and expressed how awful the meal was and his reply was “sorry to hear that” we informed him we would not be eating there again. Booked an hour slot to use the indoor pool. The changing rooms were taped off with a note advising not to enter. The lockers were rusty and dusty and very old. General area around pool unclean, whole area felt dirty and uninviting in need of refurbing, Everywhere in the hotel was dark and uninviting the corridors to the room were in darkness and there was only a light switch at one end.

Ok this is a difficult hotel to review but I’m going to be honest and fair. i’m going to start with the good points. Andy is the most friendly and helpful person I have ever had the privilege to meet at a hotel desk. He remembered our names before we even arrived and welcomed us every day by our first names. He went above and beyond to check we were happy and comfortable and no ask was too big for him, if he could make it work for us he did and if he couldn’t do something for us he explained it so nicely and apologetically that it didn’t disappoint you too much. He really is the glue holding the whole hotel together and works incredibly hard to do so. Reading reviews since getting home (now that I’ve seen the many different names the hotel works under) I do wish I had found this out before paying the over priced fees for such a sub par stay. However from reading the reviews I can see that he has taken on a lot of points from customers and is working on a lot of the points made in previous reviews which can only be a good thing. All the rooms are spotlessly clean, I felt that everything in my room was fresh for us when we arrived and loved the tea pot and coffee in the room to welcome us after the long journey. We had 2 clean bath towels and 2 clean hand towels. The outdoor pool area looked lovely and is cleaned every day with a little machine he has running along the bottom - we didn’t get round to actually using this in the end as the weather wasn’t warm enough and it is not heated but it definitely looked welcoming with a lovely comfy sofa area outside to sit on too. If you’re lucky enough to stay here in a heatwave then you’ll get to enjoy this I’m sure. The location is great! We were a 5 mins walk to the beach and less than that to the bus stop which took us into shanklin, Newport or Ventnor. It was lovely being so close to the beach and pier but not so on top of it that you have to wake up to the noise of it all. It was a quiet and tranquil area in walking distance to all the things you go to the Isle of Wight for. Location really couldn’t be better. Now sadly onto my negative points which I will do my best to be ‘fair’ and ‘constructive’ with rather than just negative. Unfortunately the indoor facilities are not quite as pictured online. The jacuzzi and pool area are really in need of a deep clean and refurbish. The changing rooms are taped off with caution tape and the doors are broken. The whole area looks and smells like it is being eaten away by mould. It looks like it was once a very lovely area to relax in especially with the beautiful glass windows over looking the views of the green hills and countryside which can be seen from the pool, it really could be incredible and I think it once was, it just needs a bit of work to tidy it all up a little and make it a little more welcoming. The jacuzzi/hot tub inside was not hot like a hot tub should be, it was barely warm and didn’t ever quite get to the temperature you would

I normally don't write reviews unless something is very good or very bad. Unfortunately this hotel is the latter. It goes under various names Manor Spa, Eden Spa, Utopia Spa or Melville Hall. However whichever you want to call it, it's still awful. No way could it ever be described as a Spa Hotel. I presume the various names are some attempt to avoid all the shocking reviews. We arrived and parked in a rough parking area and were unable to find any sign of life or way in to the Hotel, we actually thought it was shutdown. Eventually realised you had to ring a buzzer to get in, middle of the afternoon! The Manager let us in and was polite during the check in. The Deluxe room we paid extra for was fairly basic and the en suite was disgusting. Shower screen and shower basket were rusted, tiles and grout grubby, taps corroded with grime behind them on the basin that looked like something growing in a petrie dish. Just yuk! The hotel is old which is perfectly fine but being dirty is not fine. Breakfast can only be ordered the night before, they advertise evening meals but there was no mention of that being available. The bar is never open, only if you go and find someone to get you a drink. So absolutely no atmosphere. The outside pool is ok but we weren't prepared to risk trying it after noticing the small adjoining plunge pool/jacuzzi or whatever it was, was full of black grimy water and half covered with blue plastic pool cover and rocks. The 'Spa' indoor pool had water in, that's about all I can say positive. The doors were rotted, tiles covered in mildew, lockers tatty and rusted and the whole place just smelt damp. My husband tried the jacuzzi but was very careful not to put his face near the water. The Manager assured us the water was perfectly clean, but the rest of us didn't want to risk it based on the cleanliness or lack of everywhere else . The Hotel is always in darkness in the evening, so not at all welcoming. We did discuss all these points with the Manager who did make some attempt to improve things. But there is no way this Hotel is ready to accept guests. A lot of money needs spending on it. We paid what I consider a premium price at £145 a night (no breakfast included) for a Spa that was not fit to use. I could go on and on but I hope people will read this and steer clear, at least until the Hotel has been brought up to an acceptable standard. Incidentally it wasn't just our group who were making the same complaints!

After reading the reviews for this hotel I thought it couldn't be that bad, it was worse... I didn't book this hotel, it was booked for me by my company through *******. It is dirty, unwelcoming, smelly. The receptionist was horrible obnoxious man that should not be in hospitality. I was in room 111 which over looks the pool area, it all looks tatty and dirty. I had a look round the spa... there was a musty smell about the place and mould everywhere, it was discusting. I chose not to eat here so couldn't comment on the food, the shutters for the bar were down so I assume that was closed. The whole hotel from top to bottom including the staff is awful. Avoid....