The Wave — Hotel in Great Britain

I was against publishing my feedback online and give these guys opportunity to comment about our experience and possibly give us a solution but time has passed and there has been no response.

This was not our first visit of the wave and we absolutely love the surf, cafe with the most delicious sandwiches and coffees. The staff is amazing too! 10/10 we met the most sunshine people that truly care.

The camp experience was something else….

We are experienced campers and spending few nights at tent means some luxuries go aside but paying £270 for two nights I would definitely expect different service. I’m still hoping we got by “accident “ a wrong tent that someone forgot to get ready.

Let me take it from the start:

We have requested cot and a high chair as we traveled with a baby, none of those has been in our tent.

The toilet for emergency was not emptied and was leaking all over the floor which made me and my partner to clean it up as the stench was pretty unpleasant.

The bedroom was clearly not ready either as the bed was definitely not changed and it was very obvious, there were also wrappers so no one has even bothered to hoover the tent. and on top of that all the bedding was damp from the cold rainy weather, (understand that there is not much that could have been done about the damp) We vere quite lucky to bring our own sleeping bags otherwise we would have to emergency book a hotel.

The wood we were provided was literally 4pc of wet wood and soaked matches, again luckily we brought our own, however our friends that booked the camp with us paid for extra bag and got all together 8 wet logs which is absolutely ridiculous !

The kitchen- I don’t know if staff checking things but our fridge was not cleaned either, it had sticky spillage all over, mugs filthy inside and overall all the pots and pans were dirty. Sponge provided-mouldy Not sure if the fairy liquid in the kitchen was provided but I would appreciate as someone that cares about our waters appreciate something bit more eco friendly (luckily we had our own)

One more note would be the black mould! I badly suffer with respiratory issues and the back room was really bad. there is a tent treatment to sort this as it’s literally health hazard.

The shower situation is also not ideal, I don’t mind to share with others but there were knickers and other items left and over the weekend under the bench and none of these things were cleaned which means no one cleaned the showers! also one porta loo for whole camp? you can’t be serious! it was absolutely filthy. We would appreciate at least to be let know ahead that there is ongoing construction.

Our friends who paid for 3 nights gave up after the first night and booked air bnb. This left all of us upset as it supposed to be a great weekend together.

the car park is atrocious and seriously needs some work, from reading previous reviews I can tell it has been left like it for a while.

I hope you will take my complaint to the heart guys!

I have also attached some photos for you to...

A Surfer’s Dream in the Heart of the UK

Having surfed regularly over 20 years ago before moving to the UK and starting a family, I always used living inland as an excuse not to get back on the board. But that all changed with The Wave in Bristol, a fantastic inland surfing destination just 90 minutes from my door!

It felt like the good old days, and since my first visit, I’ve found myself reconnected with surfing in a way I never thought possible. I’ve been taking lessons and started on the Waikiki waves to rebuild my skills, and it’s been an incredible journey. More people need to know about this gem—The Wave deserves to survive and thrive! It’s bringing the joy of ocean sports to inlanders like me, and it has the potential to create a new generation of surfers.

The staff are truly exceptional. From the chef, who ensured my breakfast eggs were done to perfection, to the bar staff making sure my wife had safe and delicious gluten-free options, everyone here is dedicated to creating a positive experience. And the surf coaches—wow! They’re not only highly skilled but also super friendly and safety-conscious. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Pierre and Ryan, and they were fantastic, ensuring I learned proper techniques and felt supported the entire time.

A special shoutout to Ryan, who made such a huge impact on my 6-year-old son. After a beginner lesson with Ryan, my son has completely fallen in love with surfing and now talks about it 24/7. Despite looking after a group of 16, Ryan gave my son so much attention, and it’s clear he’s a coach who genuinely cares. My son is absolutely stoked and can’t wait to get back in the water!

The facilities are top-notch—clean, eco-friendly, and thoughtfully designed. The on-site shop has a great selection of gear, and I’ve found the EV parking incredibly convenient, especially when driving our Mini from Reading. The option to store your own board for a monthly fee is also a huge bonus.

The online booking system is efficient and easy to use, making scheduling sessions a breeze. The variety of board rentals is excellent, too, catering to surfers of all levels.

The only thing I’d love to see is more Little Rippers sessions on weekends. My son is so eager to go again, and having more weekend slots would be perfect for families like ours.

Every visit to The Wave feels like a mini vacation. The waves are always perfect, and while it can’t fully replace the ocean, it comes pretty close. For anyone inland who misses the thrill of surfing or wants to try it for the first time, this place is a must-visit. It’s an experience that can bring so much joy to people and foster a deep love for ocean sports, even if you're far from the coast.

Let’s help The Wave grow, so more inlanders can enjoy the magic of surfing without having to travel for hours. Give it a go—you...

Staff Called My 8-Year-Old Son a Racist. We're Still in Shock!

We were incredibly excited to visit The Wave Bristol and had booked a “Little Rippers” lesson for our children. What was meant to be a joyful, memorable day quickly turned into something deeply distressing.

During the pre-lesson safety briefing, the coaches played a game of duck-duck-goose with the kids. Shortly after, while in the water, one of the coaches approached me — in front of my 8-year-old son — and claimed that he had said something very racist to another child. Specifically, he was accused of saying, "they should send you back to the Middle East." This was utterly shocking and could not be further from the truth.

Neither the other child nor their parent heard anything like that, and I immediately clarified that this is not something we would ever tolerate or condone. In fact, my son is mixed race — half Asian (not that it should matter) — and has always been raised with a strong understanding of the importance of respect and inclusion. He was visibly shaken by the accusation, and I’ve never seen him so upset.

When I spoke to him, he explained what he actually said: “You got sent,” — short for "You got sent to the shops” a phrase he picked up innocently from his martial arts coach, used as a playful way to describe someone getting outplayed. This was said during the game — not as an insult, and certainly not as a racist remark.

Despite my attempt to explain this, the staff doubled down, changing their story to say they themselves heard it — and had already escalated the issue to their manager before even speaking to us. What followed was a public confrontation, in front of other families, where my visibly distressed wife (herself half Asian) and our other child were approached by multiple staff members without any sensitivity or discretion.

Regardless of what they thought they heard, the way this situation was handled was entirely inappropriate and lacking in empathy. A simple, private conversation would have been the correct approach — not confronting a child in front of others with such a serious accusation.

The entire experience was humiliating and traumatic for our family. What should have been a special day turned into a nightmare. We spent 6 hours in the car for this trip, and our children left feeling hurt and confused instead of excited about surfing.

I am still deeply upset and disappointed. We will not be returning, and I hope The Wave Bristol takes serious steps to reflect on how they handle sensitive situations involving children...