My wife and I needed a place to stay for one night over the summer in the New Forest because we were attending a big party in the country. After contacting a number of properties, we soon discovered that properties in the New Forest over the summer period insist on a two night stay if staying over the weekend. Eventually, we discovered the Best Western Forest Lodge Hotel which was prepared to have us for the Saturday night only. For the princely sum of £140, we had the misfortune to stay in what I can only only describe as a grotesque example of all that is bad about English hotels. Room - dirty. Staff - unhelpful. Amenities - poor. Overall impression - would rather stay in a tent.

English hotels are slowly getting better. I'm heartened to see the rise of properties like Hotel du Vin which offer a classy product at a reasonable price. But there are still too many properties in the UK like the Forest Lodge which encapsulate all that is terrible about rip off Britain. Do not stay here!

Having received booking confirmation we arrived to have no room. The staff where un-helpful, we eventually got a room after a cancellation. Room was musty and the bar staff unfriendly. Not what we had expected. We have stayed in lots of hotels and guest houses in the New Forest but this was the worst. If you can find somewhere else to stay, please do!!!

Friendly staff, good food and great location. Bedroom we were in was clean but could have done with updating, dark furniture made it feel very cramped and the plumbing was awful! Only a hand shower over the bath and the water blasted out extremely noisily, just washing your hair was an effort!

However, the swimming pool was excellent. There's also a sauna (which I didn't use) and a mini gym (not very good). The shower in the changing room was good and I used that after swimming instead of the bathroom in our room.

Overall, this is a good central hotel with pleasant staff.

Please note: this hotel is NOT in Southampton it is in Lyndhurst, the heart of the New Forest.

We stayed here over New year and had an excellent time. Rooms are variable in size, but are all comfortable. Staff are all very friendly and helpful and the food is extremely good. The Pool is the biggest of the Best Western New Forest hotel group and the sauna is lovely. Have been here several times and has always been a very relaxing stay. Close to many major New Forest tourist attractions. If you get the right room you can have a view of the New forest ponies out of your bedroom window!