Me and my partner decided to visit the Isle of Wight for a weekend getaway and having read some of the reviews on this site we anticipated a nice stay at a quiet bnb. However, we arrived to be greeted with a rude and somewhat cold welcome by the staff before being shown to our room.

The room itself did not appear to be entirely unpleasant until further investigation revealed just how dirty it was. It did not appear to have been cleaned and if so it was most certainly rushed. As other reviewers have commented, it was in a very bad state of repair, very disappointing.The room was less shabby chic, more crack den. We were let down even further by a poor meal, but we were tired from travelling and so had to make do with the reheated food they provided for dinner.

Consequently, we decided to move to another bed and breakfast further down the road the next day and had a much more enjoyable weekend.

Avoid if you can.

Spent christmas at the Fountain, had room 17 which was like a small appartment, nice bedroom with twin beds, seperate study with desk for laptop, and a very large bathroom, very clean hotel generally, excellent breakfast with the usual full english, salmon, kippers, various omlettes etc, free WiFi around the whole hotel, only downside was parking, nearest car park is the Co-op £1.30 for 2 hours from 8 till 6 if not shopping there, limited spaces oppisite hotel stay for 30 minutes 8 till 6, we were lucky as we could leave the car there for a couple of days because of xmas and boxing day, street parking if you dont mind a walk, would stay again.
Brian and Katrina, Portsmouth.

We stayed at the Fountain in October 2011. The outside of the building is in need of repair and redecoration. The inside reminded me of a student let. Dingy stained walls, worn carpets. The room was tiny but as it was for one night that wasn't a problem but it looked like it had been furnished form a charity shop - odd sizes and shapes. There was only one bed/ wall light and when you touched it it swiveled upside down. Only one bedside cabinet. The walls were stained with drink and where old furniture had been removed. Bits of old bed fitting were still screwed to the wall. The windows were dirty and broken with an October wind whistling through. The windows also had cobwebs in each corner. Bathroom was ok - looked like it had just been refurbed but had bits missing and the door had holes in. No complimentary shampoos etc. The bedroom light must have been fitted 30 years ago and gave off a dim glow - all about it reminded me of a Dickens story. We went to the 'lounge' but couldn't stay there as it was blasting out music - the restaurant tables hadn't been wiped from the previous customers - couldn't bring my self to eat there so went to local cafe for breakfast. When we left I left a complaints card at reception but no one was there so will never know if they did anything about it. Not a place for a quiet weekend as our room backed onto the kitchen ventilation and there is another pub next door that belts out music until 11. Probably a great place for teenagers to stay but not if over 40.

For what you pay this hotel is great value, especially during the week, off season. Perfectly located in the heart of Cowes just as you step off the 25minute fast passenger ferry from Southampton. Great free Wifi, rooms with baths and good size TVs, clean and reasonably comfortable although a little tight on space.
A good, varied food menu sadly stops at 9pm, so beware if you get the 845pm ferry!
Breakfast was very nicely done, served by friendly helpful staff in a spacious breakfast room.