Riverside Holidays, Satchell Lane, Hamble, Tel 0238045220
To Find Site:- Leave M27 at junction 8 and head towards Hamble.
Just after second roundabout past Tesco’s turn left into Satchell Lane
(signed) Continue down this road for about a mile and turn left at
Mercury Yacht Harbour sign and campsite on right in about 100 yards.
This campsite is situated next to the Mercury Yacht Harbour on
the River Hamble. Riverside Holidays is half permanent holiday
accommodation and half touring site with about 70 touring pitches on
grass. There is also some caravan storage on site. Pitches are marked
with numbers but how much space you get seems to be determined by where
your neighbours park in relation to the pitch number although usually
there is a reasonable amount of space. There are two tent areas without
electric points. Electric
points are convenient to the pitches and are rated at 16amp using
standard CEE17 blue connectors. It would seem in colder weather and when
the site is fuller that the site electrics can’t really cope with the
demand placed on them and we experienced several power downs during our
stay (mid September) which was inconvenient as we had to call upon our
gas supplies quite frequently. There are two toilet blocks, the one
nearest the camping pitches is of prefabricated style which is
functional rather than being luxurious and the showers don’t offer a lot
of privacy as they are only enclosed by curtains. The only water point
appears to be at this toilet block and the chemical and grey water
disposal at the rear of this building. The second block is in a log
cabin type building with much nicer facilities and has access to
toilets/showers via individual doors on the outside of the building, the
shower rooms are massive. The dishwash and laundry is also in this
building. There is a motorhome service point of sorts but grey water
waste is via a slightly raised pipe which won’t suit motorhomes with a
low drain point and it does not have fresh water replenishment. There
are no play facilities for children. Dogs are charged for. There is site
wide WiFi at reasonable cost which can be purchased online. Reception
has some tourist information. The site does accept the ACSI Discount
Card at certain times of the year and also accepts Camping Cheques but
over a more limited period.
Notwithstanding the problems with the site electrics this is a
pleasant enough, if basic, campsite with friendly staff. However it’s
the sort of place you come to with a purpose in mind, be that to sail or
visit places or relatives, it would not be on my list as a holiday
destination. It is very convenient for Hamble which is about a fifteen
minute walk away where you will find several restaurants and a small
Co-Operative store. Just on the edge of the village is Banana Wharf
where you will find a nice restaurant. There is another restaurant next
door to the site called the Waters Edge. For more serious shopping there
is a large Tesco near to Junction 8 on the M27. Portsmouth and
Southampton are about equal distance from the site.
