Canoe Lake Cafe

+44 23 9281 6760

St Helens Parade, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO4 9RG United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Open Today: -

Quick Facts About Canoe Lake Cafe

Canoe Lake Cafe, located along Southsea seafront, has received a variety of comments from customers. In order to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the cafe, it is important to consider these comments in detail.

Starting with the positive aspects, one commenter mentions that Canoe Lake Cafe provides a wonderful place to take a break off season. This indicates that the cafe is a relaxing and enjoyable environment for customers. Additionally, the staff at the cafe are described as very friendly, welcoming, and dog lovers. This is a strength as it shows that the staff prioritize customer service and create a positive atmosphere for visitors. The commenter also praises the freshly cooked and delicious food, specifically highlighting the full English breakfast as reasonably priced at £7. This suggests that the cafe offers good value for money. Furthermore, the views of the lake and swans are described as great, highlighting another positive aspect of the location.

However, there are also some weaknesses that can be identified from the comments. One customer mentions that the cafe can get really busy with long waiting times during the summer. This indicates that the cafe may struggle to handle high demand and that customers may experience delays in receiving their orders. Another commenter mentions that the ice cream they purchased was like foam due to warm weather, leading them to throw it away. This suggests that the quality of certain menu items may not be consistent or up to standard. Additionally, it is mentioned that when there are more than four people waiting, the staff struggle to serve efficiently. This highlights a potential weakness in the cafe's ability to handle larger crowds. Another issue raised is the condition and availability of the toilets. One commenter states that the toilet is touch and go if it's actually in use or if there is simply a sign up to stop other people from using it. This suggests a lack of maintenance or clear communication regarding the availability of facilities.

Moving on to the additional comments unrelated to the cafe, there is a lengthy description of the surrounding area and attractions. While this information may be interesting, it does not provide any specific strengths or weaknesses of Canoe Lake Cafe itself.

Another negative comment highlights a poor customer service experience where the staff member was unhelpful and did not allow the customer's toddler to use the toilet. This indicates a lack of empathy and understanding from the staff, which can contribute to a negative overall experience for customers. Similarly, another customer states that the coffee they ordered was not available and the substitute was awful. This implies a potential inconsistency in the availability and quality of menu items. The commenter also mentions the overpricing of the drinks, suggesting that the cafe may not offer good value for money in relation to the quality of the products.

Another negative review focuses on the poor customer service experienced by the customer. They mention that despite repeatedly trying to get the attention of the staff, they were ignored and not acknowledged. This lack of customer engagement can contribute to a negative perception of the cafe and create a discouraging environment for potential customers.

In conclusion, Canoe Lake Cafe has several strengths, including a relaxing atmosphere, friendly staff, reasonably priced food, and great views. However, there are also weaknesses that need to be addressed, such as potential issues with waiting times during busy periods, inconsistent food quality, difficulties in serving larger crowds, and poor customer service experiences. Addressing these weaknesses could greatly improve the overall customer experience and perception of the cafe.

Best TL Reviews

Took the hound for a leisurely stroll along Southsea sea front and stopped at the Canoe lake cafe for a much deserved ADB with some sausage and chips for the Mutt.

This is a wonderful place to take a break off season, but in the midst of summer it can get really busy with long waiting times.

I have always found the staff here very friendly and welcoming and great dog lovers too.

The food is always freshly cooked and delicious with crispy bacon and HOT beans. At £7 for a full English it is also very reasonably priced, so what's not to love about the place, great food, great staff and great views of the lake and swans, awesome ????????????

Nice place to sit and grab a snack but is expensive for what you get. Normally me and my son have ice cream but last time it was like foam as it was warm weather the staff member did apologise for this but we ended up throwing them away.

When me and my 3 year old son go we don’t normally wait long to be served but when there is more then 4 people waiting the staff do struggle.

They have a toilet but it’s touch and go if it’s actually in use or if they have just put a sign up to stop other people using it

Nice place to take snacks and gossip.

On the 6th April 2018 I went on a visit to Southsea and Portsmouth to first visit the newly refurbished D day museum. Southsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island, in the county of Hampshire. It developed as a fashionable Victorian seaside resort in the 19th. century, originally it was named named Croxton Town. The name Southsea originates from Southsea Castle; a fort, located on the seafront and constructed in 1544 to help defend the Solent and approaches to Portsmouth Harbour. Palmerston road is the main High Street of Southsea and contains two national department stores, as well as a local library. Albert Road is a distinct street containing shopping and cultural venues, which includes the Kings Theatre, a regional theatre built in 1907. The Pier here is great for a stroll on a hot summers day. It looks magnificent from any angle you view it.

The D-Day Museum is located in Southsea, was the place I wanted to visit having seen it on the Internet. It was opened in 1984 by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, it tells the story of Operation Overlord during the Normandy D - Day landings. The D - Day Museum is home to the Overlord Embroidery and was specially built to hold it. The Overlord Embroidery took five years to complete and measures 272 feet ( 83 metres ) long. It is the largest work of its kind in the world. Visitors are handed a Sound device upon entering the museum, which allows them to hear an audio commentary.

As well as the film and embroidery there are also vehicles and displays of other material associated with D-Day and the war. The museum has its own shop and restaurant. The museum is run by Portsmouth Museum Services, a branch of Portsmouth City Council, and is supported by Portsmouth D-Day Museum Trust, a registered charity. I have to say building work and renovation was still being carried out when I visited the Museum so I was a little unhappy with the £8.00 entrance ticket fee. Inside the Tapestry work they call it Embroidery work was unique. But the rest of the museum was clean laid out well but lacked something in presentation. Following a £5 million transformation project - with thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund - the museum has now been transformed, to provide an engaging insight into the lives of those who took part in D - Day, whether they were individuals on the shore based in Portsmouth, or those who went over to Normandy.

To commemorate the millennium, a scenic walk was created extending to Gunwharf Quays from Southsea seafront. Being the beginning of April this walk which I completed was very cold and windy. The route is marked on the pavement, and is lined by distinctive blue street lanterns. The Portsmouth Naval Memorial, sometimes known as the Southsea Naval Memorial, is a war memorial and can be seen on the Southsea Common beside Clarence Esplanade, between Clarence Pier and Southsea Castle. The memorial commemorates about 25,000 British and Commonwealth sailors who were lost in both World Wars. Around 10,000 sailors in the First World War and 15,000 in the Second World War lost their lives. The memorial features a central obelisk, with names of the dead on bronze plaques arranged around the memorial according to the year of their death.

The model Village opposite the pier, the address is Southsea Model Village, Lumps Fort, Eastney Esplanade, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 9RU. Where you can marvel at the 1/12th scale buildings, which features forty miniature buildings, houses, forts and castles, as well as a `G' scale garden railway. The third-acre landscaped gardens are set inside the grounds of an old Victorian fort. Contained inside are a large scale electric garden railway, a 100ft-long rifleman's tunnel, a scale model of Portsmouth Guildhall, a 10,000-gallon waterfall and stream, and a small toy museum. The cost was £4.00 to get in. There is a small cafe with a few chairs outside for light refreshments.

Absolute joke of a place. Went there last week. Spent about £20. They have a sign on the toilets which says out of order. My 3 year old needed the loo and surprisingly someone came out of the loo which had the sign out. So I politely asked if I can use the toilets. The girl said yes we have the sign up because it’s only for customers otherwise everyone will be using it. I acknowledged and thanked the girl for letting my son use the toilet. This was around 3 pm in the afternoon. At around 6:30 pm I went to get a coffee and I asked the other lady can my toddler use the toilet to which she replied that these have been out of service for a while. I said I used it earlier and it was sign and your colleague said it’s only for customers. The attitude this lady showed me was ridiculous. You do not talk to customers like that. I spent money in your place and all I’m asking is my son to use the toilet for a wee. The public toilets in the park are disgusting for an adult let alone a child. I will not be returning to this place as all they care about is your money. Rude staff which clearly need training. Half the time they don’t even know what they are doing.

Recently visited on a hot day in July. Ordered a decaffe latte, not available. White coffee substitute was awful. The black americano was not much better, and both matched the attitude of the person who served me. Over priced too. Unlike Arnie 'I won't be back'.

I never post negative reviews but the customer service here was just appalling.

Popped in around 4 o clock on Sunday as my son had had a bump at the park so thought I'd cheer him up with an ice cream. No one was at the till or the serving counter and the place was empty apart from one lady who obviously worked there who was chatting with a man. We were not acknowledged in any way so after a little while I politely called over 'are you open' to which I had no reply. A few moments later I try again - 'excuse me, are you still open?' to which the lady lady justshreaks 'YES.'

We immediately took our custom elsewhere and won't be coming back.

If I could give 0 I would.

popped in Saturday brought two

Cups of coffee £5.40.

Was disgusting asked for more milk as it was black in colour milk did not help.

The place was empty, I can see why????

I would not be doing a return trip.

Council should review this place.