Priory Bay Hotel, Seaview

The Priory Bay Hotel is an independent country house hotel located by the sea on the Isle of Wight. I stayed for two nights midweeek whilst on business. It has a website (www.priorybay.co.uk)which has lots of details about the hotel including tariff although I discovered that when I telephoned the hotel to book that I was offered a principal room for the same price as a standard.

That said the hotel is not inexpensive, 2006 tariff ...
...£80 per night low season rising to £150 per night peak season. I stayed Low season and thought that the hotel was excellent value the high season prices are expensive.

The staff were extremely helpful and friendly, the Manager seemed to know all the guests by name within a few hours of checking in. The Hotel is housed in a lovely building with lots of character and history, not to mention some superb views. My Room was delightful, ... more

The Priory Bay Hotel is an independent country house hotel located by the sea on the Isle of Wight. I stayed for two nights midweeek whilst on business. It has a website (www.priorybay.co.uk)which has lots of details about the hotel including tariff although I discovered that when I telephoned the hotel to book that I was offered a principal room for the same price as a standard.

That said the hotel is not inexpensive, 2006 tariff for a single person in a Principal room starts at £80 per night low season rising to £150 per night peak season. I stayed Low season and thought that the hotel was excellent value the high season prices are expensive.

The staff were extremely helpful and friendly, the Manager seemed to know all the guests by name within a few hours of checking in. The Hotel is housed in a lovely building with lots of character and history, not to mention some superb views. My Room was delightful, a large airy, well decorated, well furnished (good quality ensuite) with digital TV, even a DVD player. It also had complimentary bottled water (in my view one of the hallmarks of a good hotel). The Room was immaculate and spotlessly clean with great views out toward the sea. Above all it had lots of character.

The Hotel had an atmosphere of rest and relaxation. Staing on business meant that I missed out on the relaxation, I didn't have time to walk in the grounds or on the beach or play golf.

The Hotel has the reputation of providing some of the best food on the Island. I have to say that I would agree wholeheartedly with that. I checked in just in time for afternoon tea, proper home made scones.

Dinner in the restaurant (the Island Room) was a dining experience. The Hotel does a Dinner option on Bed and Breakfast for an extra £25. I had the main restaurant menu which was about £30 (plus wine) for three courses, although that sounds expensive it wasn't. The food was delicious I had a wood pigeon starter which was outstanding together with a very nice lamb dish followed by an awesome hot souffle which was cooked to perfection. The food was all cooked using local ingredients with some of the vegetables from the hotels own gardens. The wine list was impressive not just for its' variety but also for the fact that it included a wide range of half bottles which for a lone diner is ideal. The wine list is extensive but is not exorbitantly expensive.

Breakfast was another culinary delight. Not a hot buffet but instead freshly cooked high quality local ingredients, the sausage was delicious.

It is difficult to find much to criticise. I checked out with a nice feeling of having really enjoyed my stay. OK there is no sauna or gym but you don't need them. The location is a bit problemmatical, the directions seem more complicated than they are. I found the place without any real problem.

If I ever have an exscuse to go back to the isle of wight I'll be staying again (although perhaps not peak season...)  

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