5 /5 Yvonne Mannion: We stayed in one of the Exclusive Lake Houses for three nights in mid-February and were really impressed. The Lake Houses are also among the closest accommodation to the main site facilities, which made getting to the restaurant and guest services especially convenient.
The accommodation sleeps up to 4 and was more than spacious enough for the two of us, with a master bedroom and a second room with two single beds. We also had a lovely view across the lake which is lit up beautifully at night. We had our own parking space directly outside, along with decking and outdoor seating (which we didn’t make use of given the time of year!). Inside, the ensuite featured a large cascade shower which was fantastic and the kitchen was equipped with basic crockery, cutlery, pots and pans, along with modern appliances.
We were provided with a complimentary starter cleaning pack (tea towel, dish cloth, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets and a bin bag), along with towels and linen. Each bathroom had a toilet roll presented with a bow and small complimentary soap, which was a nice touch. We had packed our own as we weren’t sure what we would need but handy to know it’s there. You will need to bring your own tea, coffee etc as expected with self catering.
There is a log burner in the lounge/kitchen area — you do need to provide your own logs but we brought self-lighting logs and one per evening was plenty, alongside the efficient heating throughout.
I actually first came across the Lake House on Booking.com but, realising it was located on a holiday park, decided to look it up directly. Booking direct with the park, gave us a 15% discount on the stay, along with a partner code for Wightlink which equated to roughly 40–50% off the ferry, which was fantastic.
There isn’t an onsite shop, however snacks and treats can be purchased at the bar and there is a Co-op just a two minute walk across the road. Local transport is good too — most attractions are within a 5–20 minute drive and there is a bus stop outside the Co-op. We used the bus one day and found it easy and efficient. The entertainment lounge wasn’t open during our stay, but this really didn’t bother us and there are also some local pubs within a couple of minutes’ driving distance.
The Lakeside Lounge/Restaurant is reasonably priced (around £7–£15 per meal — similar to a Wetherspoons-style menu in choice). What really stood out to us, was the level of service from the restaurant team. After our first visit they recognised us immediately and even reserved the same table when we booked again, which made us feel genuinely welcome rather than just another booking. A particular thank you to India, Millie and Tom who were all exceptional — incredibly polite, attentive and clearly very customer-focused. Tom also took the time to check in on us after we experienced some unexpected car trouble during our stay, which was hugely appreciated at what was quite a stressful time for us. That level of personal care really does make all the difference and shouldn’t go unrecognised.
Guest Services were also incredibly polite and helpful throughout our stay. Unfortunately, our car developed an issue towards the end of the trip which meant delaying our ferry crossing. The team kindly allowed us to wait in the Lakeside Lounge after check-out, giving us somewhere warm and comfortable with access to facilities and refreshments while we sorted things out.
Mobile signal onsite isn’t the strongest (it worked best in the restaurant or just outside our accommodation), but the app was still useful for booking tables via Guest Services.
Overall, we really couldn’t fault the resort — especially for the very reasonable price we paid. Despite our unexpected car issues slightly overshadowing the end of the trip, the staff and facilities made all the difference. We would happily return, and are already planning to stay again to finish off the bits the car didn’t allow us to do this time. Highly recommend.
