Only drawbacks at this hotel were the maitre de at breakfast, a surly chap who seemed to have a problem smiling and the bar prices which were very steep. Apart from these two points everything else about the hotel meant we had a great weekend break. The room was fine with a seaview and comfortable beds. Breakfast was very good and the evening meal was excellent. The outside pool was heated and very well catered for by attentive staff and the service at the pool bar was very good. The location of the hotel is the main selling point having panoramic views from the terrace area and sitting outside admiring the view whist enjoying a drink is a great way to chill out. Although there was a wedding reception at the hotel on the Saturday, the bar staff coped incredibly well and still remained polite and exceptionally helpful.

We booked a standard double room at the Haven, hoping to have a couple of days rest and relaxation. The website showed a luxury, high standard hotel - sadly when we arrived to our room, it was a really dark, grotty room at the back of the hotel, with really old and over used carpets, furniture and bedcovers. We were totally unimpressed as the real room was nothing
Like the photos shown on the Internet. A premier inn would have been much nicer and much cheaper too. We complained and were given a free upgrade to a much nicer room with a harbour view. We were told that the sea and harbour view rooms had been renovated and the standard rooms had not been. There were still a few things not great about the nicer room - the toilet didn't flush, but overall it was a nice stay with the better room. The location is FANTASTIC with a beautiful terrace to have breakfast overlooking the sea. Breakfast wasn't great - I had a fly which had been baked on my croissant - but the views and relocation was superb.

The positives: the location. The location. Oh, and the location.

After a dreadful week at work, there is no better way to unwind from the stresses of modern life than with a glass of wine on a fine Friday evening on the terrace on the Shell Bay side of the hotel, watching the world (well, ok, boats) go by, and the ferry gently going backwards and forwards.

Unfortunately for the Haven, there were one or two silly things that soured the experience a little. For example, the batteries in the television remote were flat. There was no shower gel in the shower. The pillows were hard and tired. Small things, that added up could and should be dealt with.

The staff were very hit and miss too. The gentleman who checked us in to breakfast was curt, bordering on rude. "Are you residents?" was our greeting on both mornings - a simple "Good morning, may I take your room number please?" would have sufficed. That said, our party was well looked after by the delightful and charming Ruth, who made sure our wine glasses were kept full.

Its a shame, because a few trivial things addressed, like simple manners and more attention to detail would have earned this review a four star review with no hesitation. C+ - could - and should - do better.