March 2024 by Clare Thompson
Be Careful if you order the Flatbread!My mother and I had lunch at the Lido today. It was very busy and we turned up without a booking on the off chance. We were asked to sit in the bar as the Restaurant was full. The food and service was satisfactory.My complaint was about the charcoal from the flatbread baked in the oven that stained not only my hands, but my glasses, glasses case and clothes as well which I did not realize until I got home. I think there is a risk here that needs to be addressed or we need to be forewarned that this could happen.I have been to the Lido numerous times and most recently as a Speaker at the "Women in Business Event" where the food laid on was excellent and we were looked after extremely well by your staff, so I'm sorry to have to report a more negative experience this time.I hope that the Management will take my feedback into consideration and that our future experiences will be as good as they have been in the past. Many thanks.
February 2024 by Leah M
Visited on a Sunday with the Swim & Massage package. Booked lunch separately afterwards. Visited with 2 friends. Was able to book treatments to occur at the same time.The Lido offers a picturesque setting. However, the rest was a bit disappointing.Changing facilities are comprised of individual, tiny wet shower rooms. There were not enough hooks inside and if the room was wet it made changing with your bags tricky.No where to keep your belongings apart from with receiption, which I personally did not want to do. If you're going to have a treatment, I suggest you bring your belongings into the treatment room so you can use the treatment room to change back into your clothes since this is a nice, dry, and roomy space.The treatment rooms are lovely spaces, each with a big window overlooking the Lido.My treatment was disappointing. I had a Back, Neck, Shoulder, and Facial. I was asked many times if I had been there before (e.g. on arrival at reception and then from my treatment provider), to which I always responded no. However, my response did not then prompt the Lido staff member to offer me more information which may have improved my experience. I received the massage first which was fine but nothing amazing. We then went straight into the facial. I was not told what products would be used nor was I asked about any concerns I had about my skin. It wasn't until I asked if the facial was bespoke to my skin or just generic that I was told it was just generic. Had I known this, I would not have booked this treatment. I only wanted a facial because I had been struggling with my skin lately. A generic treatment with unknown products is not what I was after. I still have no idea what was used. She told me the first product was a cleanser but after that I have no idea.The hot tub was not hot, and was often overcrowded.The steam room would benefit from some essential oils.A robe and towel is given to you on arrival which is handy.On the package I booked, you are allowed to use the services 2 hours before your treatment however, they were a bit inflexible about this and would not let us check-in until 2 hours before. This does not allow one time to get changed before the 2 hours start to be ready to use the facilities at the 2 hour mark.There were not enough hooks around the pool to hang up your towel/robe while swimming, especially when some people used them to hang up their bags.A few tweaks could make this place really great.
February 2024 by fran a
Gorgeous outdoor pool, with hot tub, sauna, steam room, and cold and hot showers. The pool is surrounded on two sides by the restaurant and bar. Spa rooms are upstairs, with wonderful massages and other beauty treatments on offer. Open early to late - for coffee, tapas lunches, and light or serious dinner. Food and drinks are all superb. You can also buy ?work from the lido? packages to use the cafe space and wifi and have a swim during the day! I?ve bought massage and swim deals as gifts and they are always well received. A proper gem!
February 2024 by Gemma Burnage
I really enjoyed my first part of the day. The swim sauna experience was great., Unfortunately, I was in a day that also included the à la carte menu, which I didn?t like any of the dishes and they wouldn?t let me order from the pool bar, even though I?ve obviously paid for lunch- Very disappointing, sat here, watching my friends eat I am starving. Maybe in future to improve the experience for others is be less strict with ordering the food. Asked to pay £40 just for a swim seems quite expensive. Real shame
February 2024 by Emma Robinson
Today wasn't the best, in fact the reception staff somewhat ruined my day, which was also my birthday. We were met by a very rude member of the reception staff, Jade, and were immediately sent to her naughty step. Rather than a friendly welcome we were ordered to wait in the bar area on account of being 20 minutes early. Fine, but make your messages clear before arrival, and also be nice about it! We'd travelled a long way. No warm welcome or any further instructions at all. Her tone was somewhere between a school headmistress and your mother, but when you're really in trouble... When we returned she actually told us we were still TWO or THREE minutes earlier than her stipulated time and was angry, verging on aggressive. She then accused us of not doing as we had been told! Her manager did try to resolve the situation, well sort of, resulting in a memorised insincere two sentence speel said with equal aggression, before Jade literally span on her heels in a sulk. This all took the first hour of our two hours in the spa, so not exactly relaxing or a good use of time. None of this is particularly normal in my experience for a spa. Massage was lovely and food was as good as it always is, but Thames LIDO, if you are pitching yourself as a spa, not a public swimming pool then take a look at your front line as they create that first impression, good or bad, and they literally ruined my day. Having talked to some of your regulars, this seems to be a bit of a common theme, not a one off. These things don't go unnoticed.
January 2024 by Justin
Took a day off work to relax and take car of my stress levels and thought going to the Lido would help. As it turns out it cost £170 in parking fees and much stress in failed disputes, from the legalised mafia that run their parking. All because when I walked in to the reception and and started entering my car details in the parking machine, the receptionaist at Thames Lido told me I didn't need to do that. But didn't say I should instead do it when I leave. In fact I said to her that I was surprised that I didn't need need to..
January 2024 by Rich Richie
Nice pool, very good food.
January 2024 by Kate Lister
Beautiful place. Lovely staff, facilities, treatments and food
January 2024 by Harvey Williams
Came for one of the 'work from Lido' packages which was good value.Incredible to see the old historical pool renovated with its original period charm with a contemporary blend.Only downside was the coffee machine down and max 3 hours car park free.Would come back!
January 2024 by Jeremy Srokosz
Popped in this afternoon for a late lunch and were delighted to be able to be squeezed in to a busy lunch service. Aldo looked after us from start to finish and was an absolutely amazing host, he made us feel welcome, was friendly and attentive and made the experience really relaxing and stress free. The food was delicious and I felt very special!
January 2024 by ???
Great place, all facilities were clean and had a friendly atmosphere. With christmas decorations the place looked so great after sunset. The steam and dry saunas were so nice too.I booked a swim and dine package - and I wasn't expecting a lot for the food. However the food was spot on, those were one of the best plates I had in uk. Would definitely come back!
December 2023 by Andrew Burrell
Disappointed going here this time. Booked a swim and afternoon tea. After arriving we found out the hot tub was cold, when we told reception they said we're aware!!! No apology, no mention of this when we arrived!! After been there an hour they finally came out and put a cover over the hot tub!! Afternoon tea was really nice and the building is amazing, just disappointed with the finer details of customer service.
December 2023 by Helly Nunez
Amazing place and experience! I made a reservation for one full day + massage but they called me and said that no one was available to give a massage, they offered for me and my boyfriend to still go and spend the day and rebook the massage for another day + another full day at spa. Could not have ask for a better outcome!Staff was very helpful and friendly, everything is clean and tidy. Pool extremely cold for me but they have a jacuzzi where I spend most of my day!I really enjoyed my 2 days spa and I felt as I was spending a day in a family country house.I do recommend this place and I will try to go back again when weather starts warming up :)
December 2023 by Y S
I went for a lunch to this place. Nice atmosphere, very relaxing. The lunch was good but pricey and a swimmer was splash water a lot though. My rather good experience was spoiled by the parking system. I was not sure exactly what to do. The waitress said I do not need to pay if it is under two hours but it was not clear that I have to ?register out? when leaving. The lido?s staff won?t help you even if you have problem with it. So be aware.
December 2023 by Sink Mince
I'd pay the membership if they had a gym, otherwise its insane money for just a pool.Honestly, pay the extra and go to Castle Royle. Or pay slightly less for the spa, gym and pool membership at Reading Easts Crowne Plaza. There's also a decent restaurant at the Crowne Plaza too.Both offer free parking for members and you don't have to fight snobby grandma's for a place in the pool and are just much quietter experiences.
