Spinnaker Tower (Spinnaker Tower (Portsmouth))

Member Name: deb10

Product:	Spinnaker Tower (Portsmouth)
Date:	10/11/06 (1408 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great views, amazing coasline.

Disadvantages: Awful lift ride up to the top and expensive prices

Portsmouth is steeped in history, a military garrison town and is the home to the Royal Navy. It was intended to build the Spinnaker Tower for the Millennium celebrations but unfortunately was not completed in time.

The plans for its development began in 1998 and it wasn’t until 18 October 2005 that the tower was finally completed and open to the public, but not without its many hitches and problems.

Shaped like a giant sail, the tower is situated right in the heart of Gun Wharf Quays, Portsmouth. However the building is operated separately to Gunwharf Quays. Soaring 170 m (557 ft) above sea level, the tower has three levels, at 100, 105 and 110m. Unfortunatley only the first deck is accessible by elevator.

The purpose of the tower, 'Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour' redevelopment project is to give the public a unique and breathtaking view across the Solent, which on a clear day you can see for over 23 miles and glimpse the Isle of Wight. Supported by a lottery grant from the Millennium Commission, it is officially the UK’s tallest publicly-accessible building outside of London. If you have a fear of heights, then I firmly recommend you do not attempt a visit.

~~~~ GETTING THERE ~~~~~

The Spinnaker Tower
Gunwharf Quays
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO1 3TT
Tel: 023 9285 7520

BY CAR

Portsmouth town centre is extremely busy so great care and attention will be needed as you approach. The M27, A27 and A3 all connect with Portsmouth. As you drive into Portsmouth town centre on the M275, follow the brown signs to the “Historic Waterfront”, and then the Spinnaker Tower.

This will lead you straight to the huge Gunwharf Quays underground car park. On busy times, further parking can be found around the city of Portsmouth within walking distance.

Parking in Gunwharf Quays is expensive and payable by the hour. Remember to take your parking card with you and pay your money into the machines at the bottom of the elevators. Change is given here but expect to pay at least £8 for half a days stay. On the plus side, this car park security is excellent and I recommend the best time to come is early Sunday morning.

There are many disabled parking bays in the Quays car park and lifts on all levels.

In the summer there is a park and ride service from various pick up points around Portsmouth. As you drive into the town centre look for the “Park and Ride” arrow. A bus will take you directly into Gun Wharf at regular intervals and parking your car will be cheaper and probably less stressful.

BY TRAIN AND COACH/BUS

Portsmouth railway and bus station is adjacent to the Spinnaker Tower and has direct connections to London and other points across the country.
For more details and time table check out:

www.southwesttrains.co.uk
www.thetrainline.com
www.firstgroup.com
www.stagecoachbus.com

BY FERRY

Why not be different and arrive by ferry? The Spinnaker Tower could not be in a more ideal position beside the cross-harbour, Isle of Wight, and Gosport ferry terminals. You can see the ferry’s glide across the Solent at regular intervals. The ferry terminals are also just a short stroll away. If you are planning on just visiting the tower, then this is a great way to sail into the harbour.

www.wightlink.co.uk
www.poportsmouth.com
www.brittanyferries.co.uk
www.gosportferry.co.uk


OPENING TIMES

These are subject to change but at present are as follows:

From 30th October 06 - 31st March 2007,
Sunday - Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday’s 10am - 10pm

Bar/Restaurant (on ground floor)

Sunday - Friday 10am - 5.30pm
Saturday’s 10am - midnight


PRICES: 2006/2007

Adult £5.95
Child (5-15yrs) £4.80
Concessions £5.40
Family Ticket (2xadult 2xchild) £19.00
Please note that all additional children are charged at full child rate.

Groups of 15 or more are charged at a discounted rate. Call the team for more details before you arrive and confirm your booking.

TEL: 02392 857520
Fax: 02392 857539
Email: bookings@spinnakertower.co.uk


The Panoramic Lift is an extra £2 per person but currently is still not working.


GETTING TICKETS AND ENTERING:

You can book online via the Spinnaker Tower web site using your credit or debit card, but please note that bookings can only be made 24 hours before your visit date.
Alternatively, you can queue at the entrance. Situated opposite to Burger King, the entrance doors are on the level, there are no steps to climb. Normally the amount of visitors waiting is quite long and slow, however a good tip is to visit at lunchtime as the queue is quite minimal.

Inside the foyer resembles that of a cinema, quite dark and somewhat crowded.
Buggies are not allowed in the elevator and have to be parked on the left hand side of the entrance as you go through the double doors. There is a desk opposite the doors where you purchase the tickets and programme guide. You can pay by cash, credit or debit cards.

There is no surcharge for credit cards here.

After buying your tickets, you then have to wait to have your picture taken with a virtual screen behind you, depicting the tower naturally. The pictures are not compulsory to purchase but it seems you have no option but to pose for them anyway. Prices start at £10 depending on what you select, i.e. framed print, fridge magnet etc. A ticket is given to you and you view and collect the prints in the restaurant/bar on the ground floor when you leave.

Lastly before you enter the elevator, you are checked at security, a detector is waived around your body and handbags are looked at. Please note no large bags are permitted or ruck sacks. Neither are any groups under 16 not accompanied by an adult. For security reasons, anyone deemed a threat or abusive, will not be allowed in the tower.

Disabled/ wheelchair users are permitted but you must contact the tower before you visit on 023 9285 7520.

THE ELAVATOR RIDE:

As I write this review, the glass panoramic lift on the outside of the tower is still not working. Having no end of problems with this, no date has yet been given as to when it will be working. Therefore, the only choice is the inside lift, of which there is only one. Queuing times for this can be quite frustrating. Once inside, if you are claustrophobic, I suggest you avoid this at all costs.

All staff wear a smart black uniform and were friendly and helpful. An attendant greets you for your 30-second ride up to the fist deck. The lift is quite dark inside and you are told to go as far as you can to the opposite door. Before long the lift is full, with visitors along the side of the lift and also in the middle. It is cramped and uncomfortable and the 30 seconds feel like 30 minutes. Suddenly you feel yourself becoming unintentionally intimate with the person opposite you. You are sandwiched in so close that you can taste their breath, yet alone smell it. Even with the lift air conditioned, the ride up is unpleasant.

The attendant gives you a brief history of the tower whilst the lift climbs slowly. I held my breath all the way up, not because of nerves but with the fear of my chest hitting the gentleman’s opposite me. I was relieved to disembark and my children found it distressing.

DECK ONE:
The relief of leaving the lift was obvious to all, but seeing the view that greets you from the doors soon makes you forget that you need to make that journey back down again.

The weather was glorious and the view was spectacular. The static round deck is enclosed and the glass tinted, but we could still feel the heat penetrate. On the left hand side are the Royal Navy flotilla and harbour, if you walk around to the right you see the fair ground and as far as the Isle of Wight. People walking below look like ants. A glass floor is laid down for anyone brave enough to walk across, without shoes though. The remainder of the floor is tiled.

This deck has a penny press facility to give you a lasting reminder of your day. Place a penny coin in the slot, select which logo you require on your coin and add a further 50 pence before you turn the wheel. The result is a flattened penny with a picture of the tower in the middle and the date.

Cameras are allowed but because of the green tinted glass, the views below can be obscured slightly.

DECK TWO:

There is no lift up to this deck so you have to walk quite a few stairs to deck two. The stairs are steel and if you don’t like heights, try not to look down as you climb up. This is quite a busy point as visitors are walking down as well as going up. Try to stay on the left hand side as you walk. This level is also where you will find the lift to take you back down, you cannot join the elevator at the same point you came off.

There is a toilet on this floor, just the one and is for both men and women. I did not notice any further toilets in the Spinnaker. This must have been the highest point where I ever had the call of nature and I was curious to know where the flush went! A small gift shop is also on this level, selling the same items as the main shop on the ground floor.

The view is hardly any different from this floor but still worth seeing.

DECK THREE:

This is called the crow’s nest. Climb up more winding steel stairs to the very highest point and the fresh air hits you. You are exposed to the elements as this deck is completely open but fortunately there is a net and steel barrier to stop anyone from topping over. Not as big as the other two levels, it can be a bit cramped with visitors as you shuffle around trying to get a glimpse of the best view.

GOING DOWN:

The lift down was not half as packed as going up and was more pleasant. Once again the attendant greets you and asks if everyone enjoyed the views. Before you know it, the lift has stopped and you are exiting the doors straight into the café/bar – very convenient for the Tower’s coffers. This is also where you collect your pictures taken before your flight.

THE CAFÉ:
With three children, the wrong place for the lift to stop was here. They all wanted drinks which was fair enough, but then it snowballed onto cake. Before I knew it, I had ordered one tea, one coffee, three child sized lemonade’s and five pieces of cake. The total came to £24, very expensive. To be honest the cake was dry and my children left most of it. The only ones to benefit were the sea gulls walking around outside pecking up the crumbs.
There is ample seating inside but as it was such a warm sunny day, we opted to take ours out on the decking area. The ferries sailed across in front of us and to be honest I enjoyed this view more than on the Spinnaker. If you are prepared to pay the prices, then you can have a relaxing drink here, as the bar is open all day. Hot and cold food is also served. Payment can be made by cash and thankfully for us - credit card!

HIRING THE TOWER:

Available for hire for meetings, seminars, private parties, champagne reception etc. They can cater for up to 150 guests and available outside of normal hours.
Contact a member of their tem on 02392 857520 or email on info@spinnakertower.co.uk for details and prices.

THE GIFT SHOP:
This is on the right hand side as you enter through the main doors. Selling the usual items such as key rings, rubbers, rubber balls, pens and post cards, all depicting the Spinnaker logo. Prices start from around £1.50.

I purchased three mini light sabres for my children at £4 each. Sadly they have all become detached from the base of the sabre since our visit, but the battery lasted quite a few days. The Spinnaker Tower was highlighted in blue and quite pretty. Gifts can be left here prior to visiting the tower and collected on the way out.

TO CONCLUDE:

Personally I wouldn’t return again and neither would my husband as he spent the whole of the 30 minutes clinging to the walls and not looking down or around him.
As I mentioned before, the lift ride was very uncomfortable and claustrophobic.
On the plus side, it’s worth making the effort just to see the views and to be able to say you have done it. From start to finish you spend no more than half an hour there as soon as you have seen the coastline, which is all there is to do. Children soon tire of being inside each level and all they want to do is run around which annoys the other visitors.

If you do not wish to eat in the Waterfront café/bar, there are other eateries situated in Gun Wharf, which are more reasonable.
The Spinnaker is a smoke free zone and food and drink are not permitted from the elevator onwards.

Thank you for reading and enjoy the views.

Summary: A once in a life time experience