Clifton Hotel Shanklin in Isle of Wight

I can't comment on the Rooms because we didn't stay overnight, we just met other business partners for a Christmas Lunch.....This is where it failed to deliver! Christmas lunch on the 'Specials Board' was either a Baguette with pigs in blankets and a salad or Turkey and Cranbury sauce which should have been called Cranbury Sauce with a few bits of Turkey. I didn't fancy paying £14 for this so had a cheeseburger & chips. My wife went for the Cranbury Baguette specifically asked for No Crabury (it was full of Cranbury). My cheeseburger was dry (well overheated in the microwave no doubt) and my cheese arrived 10 minutes after I'd started (a slab melted onto a plate). I also asked that the Brioch bun was seadless as i cant eat anything with seeds, it was covered in seeds. A colleagues burger was equally as bad though hers was served with the cheese at the same time so a small bonus. Everyone waited ages for the food and everyone was equally unimpressed with the menu choices and the quality of the food. Because we waited so long for the food I couldn't be bothered to ask for a seed free bun and my wife didn't want to ask for a Cranbury free Turkey Baguette and we just wanted to eat and get out of there. This was pre booked but not by us and it wouldn't be a choice venue, certainly won't be in the future. I don't like being negative but this is an honest review. We were looking forward to a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, sadly this was the wrong place to go for a dinner.

We have been here many times over the years and looked forward to our visit again this year. What a disappointment. We had a cream tea which consisted of a pot of tea, 2 scones, butter, cream and jam. The jam and cream pots were half the size they used to be and the butter was barely there, adequate enough for one scone but certainly not two. The jug of milk supplied did not have enough milk for one cup of tea and we had to ask for extra. I do not drink tea and asked for my tea to be substituted with coffee, big mistake, it was undrinkable. Went we went to pay we were told 'cash only' and I was lucky to find some cash in the bottom of my bag. This should be made clear when you enter and before you order as a lot of people do not carry cash. Our experience was so different to every other visit we wondered if there were 'new owners' but overheard the owner telling other visitors that she had been there 17 years. Sadly will not be returning.

It's always great to visit and buy things from the lovely range of products, made in the Far East, at the Oasis. Great eatery and best bread pudding ever. Mrs Bridges Marmalade takes some beating. Great place to get presents for Christmas. A F.

Good size meals, especially breakfasts. Good cuppa, no frills just true value, friendly staff. I would visit again and recommend this café.

Not sure why this is getting such high reviews. Speaking for us 2 vegetarians firstly limited choice. But then food didn't seem to match descriptions. I had an onion squash mozzarella stack. If any mozzarella in there no sign of it. Indeed the whole stack seemed more cooked for people with no teeth. Just pap. Sauce improved it. Meant to be with hassleblad potatoes, but not like any I've know. Just a couple new potatoes baked dry in oven and sliced with an egg slice. Our other dish was meant to be a mushroom stroganoff with tagliatelle. I know a contradiction in terms. Rubbish tomato sauce over tinned mushrooms with the pasta. Sticky toffee pudding similarly badly done. Hey ho. Back to the hotel.