Warner Hotel Bembridge

[Mervyn and Trish]

Having just posted a few random thoughts about our recent stay at the Warner hotel at Bembridge on the IOW I thought I might pull a few more coherent comments together.

We've never done Warner before but we wanted another week on the IOW and fancied giving it a go so we booked.

A lot of people book Warner for the specific entertainment listed. We just booked the dates that fitted in (Mon - Mon) and got four nights themed on "a cruise on land" and three nights over the weekend with a Phil Collins tribute band.

You should also know we splashed out on an up market room, a Royale, with terrace and a view across the Solent. Turned out to be a good move.

[Mervyn and Trish]

First impressions on check in was that reception was very dated. However the service was excellent. We were handed our keys and information pack and set up an account like a cruise card so everything would be paid on that and charged to our credit card at the end. Our accommodation was on a half board basis so lunch in the bar/lounge, if we wanted it, and drinks were extra.

We were directed to our reserved car parking space, close to the room, one of the Royal perks, and to the dining room, where we were shown our pre-reserved table, by the window with a seaview, another Royale benefit. Others are allocated tables on a first come first served basis as they arrived, and some were a lot less well placed than ours. But wherever your table is it is yours for the week, and meals are flexible and single sitting. Breakfast was 8.00-9.30 (half an hour later at weekends) and dinner 6.30-8.00.

Then we headed to the room.

[Mervyn and Trish]

The route to our room took us through the bar/lounge which is definitely in need of a major refit. It is very dated, flooring tatty, and some fabric seats very badly stained (the clientele are elderly in most cases so you can only imagine....) When we used the lounge later we favoured the leather seats.

So we were a little nervous what we might find in our room. But it was fabulous. Only a couple of years old and in cruising terms think mini-suite. A good size, with huge very comfortable bed, loads of storage, big telly and DVD player, two chairs and a table, dressing table and very large shower room. The shower was one of those big walk in ones with no curtain or door and the shallow tray virtually lever with the floor. Also very fluffy robes and slippers and a couple of small bottles of wine - more Royale extras. And of course our terrace with a table and chairs from which we looked right across the Solent and ship watched for much of the week. Passers by included Queen Elizabeth, Ventura, Britannia, Azura, Emerald Princess, Caribbean Princess, Voyager of the Seas, Aida Prima and more.

So room wise very pleased.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So the first four nights were themed as a cruise on land. In fact Warners are apparently targeting the cruise market, hoping to pick up those who fancy a cruise but don't have sea legs, or those who like cruising but can no longer do it because the insurance has got too much.

So naturally we began with a Captain's welcome aboard cocktail party, the Captain being the Entertainment Director. Over the next four nights décor and entertainment took us to Greece, Brazil, Italy and back to Britain. Yes that's some very fast ship! And there were dinner specials themed to the countries too.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Eating then. The clientele are very like a P&O adult only cruise, Warner being adult only hotels. So we were below the average age by some margin. And we're in the second half of our 60s.

So that meant despite having allocated tables the queue for the restaurant forms well before opening time!

The restaurant felt more crowded than a P&O MDR and more basic in its decoration. We had the same waiter for most days, but unlike at sea they do get days off so a couple of times we had other people and it would be fair to say that at times the service was a bit hit and miss.

You also have to get your head round the fact that the restaurant is a mixture of waiter and self service and some days it was a bit of a guessing game which dish would be where. And if one of us opted for a waiter served dish and the other for a self service option timing was tricky. But we got the hang of it in the end.

The menu changed daily, with some specials as well, and there was always the option of a salad bar starter and a carvery main course. Desserts were the same choices each day but there were plenty of them.

Breakfast was a buffet of cold and cooked options, and in particular the cooked breakfast was very good and always piping hot. The only let down was the waiter served toast which was always cold and usually burned at the edges!

But overall the food was good.

Wine prices were reasonable too, by the glass or bottle. We got some reasonable bottles for £15-£17. And if we didn't drink it they'd save it and bring it out again the next day.

The dining room didn't open for lunch but you could get a good range of savoury and sweet snacks. You could even get a packed lunch to take out if you wanted. But most days we were out and about and had a lunch snack wherever we were.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'll come to entertainment and daytime activities later, but for now dinner beckons here!

[Kenmo1]

I'll come to entertainment and daytime activities later, but for now dinner beckons here!

Don't take too long eating dinner because I am really enjoying this review.

Hope you are going to give some details and opinions on places you visited on the Island. It is always interesting to read what other people think about the Isle of Wight.

Maureen

[Stephen]

Thanks for the review Merv. The entertainment and meal themes sound good.

We've never done the IOW Warner. I was surprised that they kept your open bottle of wine for the following night. The last Warner we went to (Holme Lacey) said the policy then was that as someone contaminated a bottle in one of their hotels we had to cart it back to our room which I thought was poor form after our evening dinner. Obviously the rules have since changed.

Enjoying the review though. Any pictures

[Meg 50]

we were staying on the IOW the week before last! (June 25 - July2).

Was it the same week?

Would we have seen you , or did you stay in the hotel every day pretending it was a sea day?

[Frank Manning]

Thank you for this Mervyn. We often drive down the lane to the Lifeboat station car park for a bit of ship spotting, and friends of ours goes to Warners Bembridge every Christmas, so we wondered what it was like. We stayed at The Seaview Hotel Seaview, June 13th to 18th. The room was very good the decor suitably clean and very nautical, and the staff are excellent. However we think the food is very over rated since the new owners took over. We might try Warners.

[qbman1]

Good and helpful review, Merv - thanks

I have always had the perception (rightly or wrongly) that Warners is a bit like a retirement home but Mrs C keeps badgering me to try it. I must say, I am not converted by your experiences so far, Merv, and the fact that you say much of the communal areas are a bit run down does not fill me with glee. Perhaps I need to find one that is either newly opened or has just had a full re-fit !!

[Mervyn and Trish]

we were staying on the IOW the week before last! (June 25 - July2).

Was it the same week?

Would we have seen you , or did you stay in the hotel every day pretending it was a sea day?

We were there 4-11th July, and we did get to go ashore most days!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Good and helpful review, Merv - thanks

I have always had the perception (rightly or wrongly) that Warners is a bit like a retirement homebut Mrs C keeps badgering me to try it. I must say, I am not converted by your experiences so far, Merv, and the fact that you say much of the communal areas are a bit run down does not fill me with glee. Perhaps I need to find one that is either newly opened or has just had a full re-fit !!

True, but then so is an adult only cruise! As I'll come to later in the review the age group dropped a little with the Fri-Mon element of our stay, presumably because this fits better with younger lifestyles. But hang on in there. The best bit is yet to come.

[qbman1]

Did you hit a rock? Did it sink?

[Mervyn and Trish]

No. And we reached all the ports on time. No tendering. Rapid embarkation and disembarkation.

Now I'm required for shopping but I will return later for entertainment and a bit more on our fellow guests, some of whom were "interesting".

[qbman1]

No. And we reached all the ports on time. No tendering. Rapid embarkation and disembarkation.

Now I'm required for shopping but I will return later for entertainment and a bit more on our fellow guests, some of whom were "interesting".

Oh no - I'm thinking Dark Knight, Monocled Mutineer and Kenshaz now !!

[daib GC]

No. And we reached all the ports on time. No tendering. Rapid embarkation and disembarkation.

Now I'm required for shopping but I will return later for entertainment and a bit more on our fellow guests, some of whom were "interesting".

Major problem is the lack of sea days.

[Whynd1]

I've stayed at Warners in Cheshire a few times now (Alvaston Hall). Since the huge refurbishment it has much improved overall. Standard of accommodation is very good and if you book as far in advance for those travelling solo there is often no single supplement. In fact I have booked a royale suite just for me next January with 50% off and no single supplement.
Yes you do have to get used to the carvery and waiter service for some dishes . Breakfast is good with plenty of choice.
Entertainment depends what you go for last time we had a tribute band to ELO and they were amazing, also been on a 60 s weekend and the group were very good. Plenty of quizzes and outdoor things to enjoy depending on the weather.

I think overall good value for money, only gripe I think the lunchtime snacks can be a little expensive, so have a good breakfast and share lunch.

Lindsey

[Stephen]

No. And we reached all the ports on time. No tendering. Rapid embarkation and disembarkation.

Now I'm required for shopping but I will return later for entertainment and a bit more on our fellow guests, some of whom were "interesting".

Oh no - I'm thinking Dark Knight, Monocled Mutineer and Kenshaznow !!

I think it would be very entertaining, especially the Monocled one, if his last video is anything to go by

[Mervyn and Trish]

So moving onto the next spasm of the review!

Entertainment. This will seem very familiar to cruisers, with some differences. There are daytime activities, quizzes, guest speakers, dance lessons, bar singers, game shows, production shows (like Headliners), guest artistes, live bands, dancing, disco and some I've probably forgotten.

The big difference, compared to the bigger lines such as P&O for example (Adonia may be different, we've not been on her) are the numbers of people involved.

We had an Entertainment Manager, his deputy who was also a singer and dancer, another male singer/dancer, two female singer/dancers, two dancers and a three piece band and singer. And apart from the guest artiste spots they did everything. Production shows, daytime activities, dance lessons, music for dancing after the shows, setting the stage, mingling with guests on the dance floor. The lot. Plus there was one technician who did lights, sound, stage management and was the disco DJ. They worked their socks off.

So a typical day for one of them might be host a quiz in the morning, take part in the production show, and do a 30 minute live music set for dancing after. One night the Entertainment Director did a quiz before the evening show, introduced the evening show, then went to sing in the bar.

The only additions were the guest artistes. During our week we had two comedians of typical cruise ship standard, a country and western singer in the bar for a couple of nights, and for the weekend a Phil Collins tribute band.

There was also a small leisure team based in the pool, which seemed to be open to local members too.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So this is how a typical day's entertainment looked.

All day, table tennis, bowls (indoor and out), putting and pitch and putt (two separate courses), swimming, snooker, darts

10.00 Quiz in the bar/lounge
10.30 Bingo
11.15 Dancing in the Show Lounge
12.00 Film
13.00 Aqua fit in the pool
13.30 Tour of the local lifeboat station
14.15 Indoor curling competition
15.00 Beauty products demonstration/promotion
15.15 Choir workshop
16.00 Quiz
18.00 Early evening cabaret
(Dinner)
20.15 Disco requests with DJ in Show Lounge
20.15 Singer in bar/lounge
21.00 Game show
21.30 Production show
22.15 Live music for dancing
22.15 Late night live music in bar
22.45 Late night disco

For two night out of the Mon-Fri the evening was a guest comedian

On Saturday night the main show was "And finally Phil Collins", the tribute band

During the day there were two other activities which we thought a trifle risky with the gathered clientele. Rifle shooting and archery! One or two looked a bit dangerous with a knife and fork but hey ho!

[Stephen]

Just been looking at the Warner web site Merv and see 'The Overtones' (if you like that sort of thing) are playing at Alvaston Hall next April. We saw them at the Adonia naming ceremony in 2011 and they were brilliant, I think. I was half pi**ed at the time and dancing away with Carol Marlow (then P&O boss), which is probably why she left the company not long afterwards, too traumatised

http://www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/en ... /0/2/27/63

[towny44]

Interesting reviews Merv, but I think we will stick with cruising, at least until the travel insurance premium overtakes the cruise price.
By the way I thought the island you were on was IOW not Hong Kong, which is where Voyager is this summer, it presumably was Navigator or Independence you saw.

[Mervyn and Trish]

And how was it?

Well the production shows were very good (and fresh because we haven't seen them every year for the past five!) Smaller scale and less technical than some of the P&O shows with fewer props but the costumes were superb and the performers excellent, especially given their requirement to be multi skilled. And after a 45 minute show they went straight on to take part in the live music for dancing bit, some of them coming down onto the floor to mingle and chat with the guests.

The house band were good too.

And the Phil Collins band were absolutely amazing. One of the best tributes we've ever seen. A 10 piece outfit with drummer (plus "Phil" on a few numbers on a second drum kit too), guitar, bass, keyboards, three piece brass section, two female backing singers and "Phil" on lead vocals. And they did a full non-stop 90 minute set.

So never mind some of the tat, we'd go back for the entertainment alone. Yes, in our almost top of the range room it wasn't cheap, and we could get a very good hotel for the same money, but we'd have nothing to do at night other than watch telly.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Interesting reviews Merv, but I think we will stick with cruising, at least until the travel insurance premium overtakes the cruise price.
By the way I thought the island you were on was IOW not Hong Kong, which is where Voyager is this summer, it presumably was Navigator or Independence you saw.

Sorry, yes you're right, it was Navigator.