Premier Inn West Quay Southampton

When it comes to Southampton hotels there is a new one on the block, and I recently had the pleasure of staying there, and it really was a pleasure! Being a frequent visitor to Southampton I have stayed at most of the hotels that Southampton has to offer. They range from the very basic budget upto the iconic landmark hotel of Southampton. The latter I refer to as the Fawlty Towers of Southampton having stayed there twice recently (the second time really was only to give them a second chance, but they didnt come upto the mark) At the other end of the scale, the budget option was not for me!

So, the new hotel on the block is Premier Inn Southampton West Quay, opened earlier this summer and is ideally situated for the West Quay shopping and of course the docks and cruise ships.

Parking for Premier Inn West Quay is at the multi-storey West Quay shopping centre at the subsidised rate of £5 for 23hrs when you get the car park ticket validated at the hotel before checking out. There is a very convenient drop off area at the back of the hotel, which allows you to pull up, unload the car, take any luggage to your room before parking the car at West Quay. Likewise you can pull the car round and load back up with luggage at the end of your stay before the short journey down to your awaiting ship. If you are arriving by train or coach into the bus station, it is only a 5 or 10 minute walk to the hotel, providing of course that you travel light and can manage your luggage. A taxi from Premier Inn to the docks would be somewhere in the region of £5.

Check in at Premier Inn West Quay is self service via the kiosks. Input your reservation number, your key card is issued and you are ready to enjoy your stay. All the time I was there, there was a member of staff on hand to assist with check in. A good security feature is that the room key card has to be swiped in the lift to gain access to the floors. My room was on the second floor and looked across the car park towards the DeVere. I couldnt see the sea but I felt close enough so that was good enough for me. The room itself was more than adequate and very comfortable. Modern fitted bathroom with deep bath and powerful shower above. Good lighting around the mirror etc. Fitted open wardrobe area with hanging space, long mirror, tea and coffee making facilities, shelving and drawer space. Dressing table/desk with phone, hairdryer, WiFi etc. Very comfortable double bed and duvet. I usually have trouble sleeping in a strange bed, but I was out like a light in that one! Very snugly!! Bedside tables and lighting to either side. Below the bed was a pull out 3rd bed and the sofa below the window also converted to a bed. So, some rooms do sleep 4, but I later learnt that it is a maximum of two adults and two children per room. Rooms are not suitable for more than 2 adults.

The room was air-conditioned too, which some of the higher graded hotels cant boast. I was a little worried about being on the second floor and maybe suffering noise from the road leading round to West Quay Shopping centre, but I needn’t have worried and traffic didnt cause me any disturbance.

The restaurant and bar are situated on the ground floor and are decorated to offer very comfortable and relaxing surroundings. Thyme Restaurant had a very extensive menu, with really reasonable prices. For a pre cruise night I wouldn’t bother to go out in search of another restaurant and would happily dine in and relax. I did have breakfast the following morning and I was more than impressed. Its the usual help yourself buffet style, but it was extremely well presented and all seemed fresh and hot. I didnt partake in the full cooked English breakfast as tempting as it looked. There was a good choice of breakfast cereals, fruits and pastrys. The toasting machine churned out perfect toast. The croissants were warm and fresh, so good I had a second one! Costa coffee is also included in the cost of breakfast and you can help yourself to as much as you can drink during breakfast hours. Waiting staff in the restaurant were always on hand, and kept tables tidy between courses.

The bar was slightly sectioned off from the main restaurant and had separate seating area. But those enjoying and evening meal didnt seemed rushed to be moved from the dining area. The decor throughout made for very comfortable surroundings. Even the ladies cloakroom surprised me – very boutique chic!

I have seen flexible rates for this hotel as low as £39 per room, and Premier Saver rates as low as £29 per room. Prices do rise with availability but even at peak prices they are considerably less than most other Southampton hotels and, in my opinion, they do have a lot more to offer at West Quay Premier Inn! My recent stay has completely changed my perception of Premier Inn. About 10 years ago I used to stay at Premier Inns a lot, but the the new wave of Premier Inn has moved on a lot since then. I know where my first port of call will be for my pre cruise stays in the future!

To view my photos of the Premier Inn West Quay CLICK HERE