I stayed at the Channel View Hotel with my partner and daughter, who is in her twenties. I absolutely adore the Isle of Wight and we were really looking forward to our stay. Normally we just book hotels on a bed and breakfast rate but then find that most of our money is spent on food so, this time, we decided to go for half board. I was delighted to see that on the menu for our first night there they were serving salmon en croute, one of my favourites. I did think it sounded quite strange having sultanas in it but thought I would order it anyway. It was horrible! The pastry was soggy and the addition of the sultanas was vile.
Overall, the meals at the Channel View, including the breakfasts, were awful. The food was extremely mediocre and tasteless and the speed at which it was served hardly contributed to a relaxing dining experience. The waiting on staff were very polite but the cutlery had barely touched the tablecloth after taking the last mouthful of a course before it was whipped away and the next course practically thrown in front of you. My partner had ordered soup on the first evening and, how it didn't surge over the side of the bowl as it was flung before him, was nothing short of a miracle! On the second evening we actually timed (yes, I know it's sad!) how long it took for the three of us to have our three course meal, followed by coffee and it was forty minutes. We felt rushed and almost as if we were being a nuisance. The breakfasts were not any more relaxed either. We gave up after our second evening of dining and either ate in one of the local pubs or went into one of the lovely restaurants. What a waste of paying for half board. The only positive to come out of it was that we then enjoyed delicious food served at the correct pace amid a relaxed setting.
Another disappointment was the 'entertainment'. On the second evening there was supposed to be a disco in the large ballroom so we went along, thinking it might be fun. We felt so sorry for the DJ. By nine thirty there were nine of us in the room and the poor guy was desperately trying to create a lively atmosphere without much success. My daughter and I had one dance but just felt really uncomfortable and decided to move on into Shanklin instead. We felt so bad about leaving that we even apologised to the DJ who actually said he wasn't surprised!
The only positive about the Channel View was our room. We had a large bay fronted room right at the front of the hotel with an amazing view of the Solent. From that point of view it is the best hotel I have ever stayed in. The weather was gorgeous all week and so the view from our window was always stunning. It was also close enough to the front to just wander down to the beach whenever you felt like it. A total dream location. Often, in the evening, we just sauntered along the cliff path too. The en-suite bathroom was absolutely huge.
My daughter's room was to the side of the hotel and, although small, it too had a partial sea view and it was a pleasant room.
All in all, I think I would class the Channel View as a coach trip hotel. With absolutely no disrespect meant, the average age of the guests whilst we were there was about seventy years old and they all appeared quite content with the food. It is probably the kind of hotel where people of a certain age go year after year, thinking it is wonderful and if that suits them that's fine but if you're looking for something where the dining experience is to be savoured and enjoyed, avoid at all costs!