We had a truly memorable family stay at Four Seasons Hampshire, and much of that was down to the extraordinary warmth, attentiveness, and professionalism of the team.
From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed. The girls’ names were written on the mirrors as part of the welcome, there were juices waiting for them, and the hotel had thoughtfully left children’s robes and slippers in the room. These details were very much appreciated. We were also grateful for the complimentary upgrade offered on arrival, which encouraged us to pay a little extra and move into Room 1205 — an excellent room that was beautifully appointed, comfortable, and a wonderful part of our stay.
What stood out most throughout the visit was how personally recognised we felt. Staff across the hotel knew not only our names, but our children’s names as well, which made the stay feel highly personal, warm, and genuinely special.
A few individuals deserve particular recognition. Sam and his grandfather were wonderfully patient during shooting and made the experience great fun. Ryan was fantastic with archery and made it thoroughly enjoyable for the whole family. Richard was phenomenal at fishing — especially with children — completely engaging them and keeping them captivated throughout. Man at the hotel entrance was exceptional: he knew our children’s names, handled the car seamlessly, remembered our activity schedule, and was always proactive in offering transportation when needed. He left a lasting impression on us.
The picnics were also excellent and absolutely worth spending extra on if the hotel is arranging them.
There were, however, two disappointments. The first was the adult fly-fishing experience. We were encouraged by the concierge to proceed despite very windy conditions, with the suggestion that it would still be workable. In reality, that was not the case. That said, Richard did a fantastic job in difficult circumstances — he was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the best of it. We learned a great deal from him, and my wife even managed to land a fish, which was a highlight. It was therefore even more disappointing that the conditions had not been judged more realistically in advance. The children’s fishing experience, by contrast, was excellent.
The second issue was more serious. A member of the valet or front assistance team appeared unfamiliar with our manual Defender and, while retrieving it, seemed to engage differential lock and four-wheel-drive low, stalling the car repeatedly before I had to intervene and ask him to stop. For any hotel operating at this level, there should be much greater care when handling rare, restored, or specialist vehicles.
Even with those issues, this was an excellent stay overall, and the quality of the people is what made it stand out. Four Seasons Hampshire got many things exactly right, especially for families, and we left with real appreciation for the team.