Solent Cafe At Macdonald Elmers Court Resort

This hotel's afternoon tea is absolutely terrible. The tea we received looked nothing like the pictures on the app or the hotel's website. The scones were stale and bought from a shop. The cake was cut into tiny portions, and we had to share one small pot of clotted cream between five people. We were very disappointed, as we were hoping to treat my mother-in-law.

I booked the afternoon tea online without realizing that it would be served in a different cafe near the spa and swimming facilities, not the Waterford restaurant. However, when we arrived, we were allowed to sit in the 'wedding venue' portion of the hotel, where we had gotten married. It was a special touch that made my husband's birthday celebration even more memorable, as we hadn't been back to the venue since our wedding in 2019. The staff went above and beyond to ensure we had a great visit, and we really appreciated their efforts. While the food was just okay and a bit overpriced, the exceptional service more than made up for it.

The hotel exterior is stunning. However, the cafe inside gives off a "Butlins" vibe, which wasn't quite what I was expecting. The staff seemed a bit aloof upon our arrival, but one waiter stood out for their exceptional service.

I booked the afternoon tea online, I didn't realize it was not in the Waterford restaurant, but in the other café at the spa and swimming facilities. We married at the hotel and after the request we were allowed to sit in the hotel's "wedding place". This was as friendly and trustworthy as my husband's birthday made a little more special, as we haven't returned to the venue since our wedding in 2019. The staff went beyond and beyond to make sure that we had a good visit, so they can't blame. The food was fine, wouldn't say it was worth the price tag, but the service was on it.