The Sustainability Centre - Petersfield

Mike K.

Visiting here was a trip down memory lane for me, this was the site of HMS Mercury, Communications Signal School. I did my basic comms training as a ROSM in 1984, and returned in 1991 for Killicks training. Both tough stressful courses, but full of good memories, close bonds, and a sense of belonging.
The Crescent where the accommodation blocks were is all levelled, I think the Sustainability Centre is the old Sick Bay site. There’s no other trace.
Me and my wife had a nice cuppa in the cafe, and walked around the grounds, it’s a very peaceful, lovely place, well worth a visit.

Trevor W.

What a lovely place. Very tranquil and relaxing. The cafe serves lovely food too. Very impressed. Good sized car park. Woodland walks too.

david H.

I stayed here when I was walking the South Downs Way last week. It is in an ideal place on the route, and I found it perfect for a one-night stay. Getting in is contactless and very efficient, the single room I had was very comfortable; the facilities are modern; and the breakfast is great. Sarah, the manager, was also a top lady to meet and looked after me well. It was the best stay during my five-day hike, and I have no hesitation in recommending this place to others.

James ?. W.

Poor showers, poor pitch as it was not flat anywhere with a big pile of chalk next to us from building works. Cafe was nice but seems more about money than sustainability, just stay in a field.

Paul S.

The Sustainability Centre provides high quality hostel accommodation and camping facilities in a lovely countryside location. The vegetarian cafe is very popular with cyclists, walkers and families offering delicious food and coffee. The centre also provides environmental training for a wide range of people. I would recommend the centre raises it's profile through marketing and PR, opens the environmental shop at weekends, holds a Christmas Market, Scarecrow Festival and other Summer events to draw more people to the centre.

mary R.

Perfect place to stay for trip along the South Downs way. Clean, comfortable eco friendly accommodation and delicious breakfast to fill you up too. Plus you can order a packed lunch from the cafe to take for the next stage of your walk / cycle.

Ian

I stopped for lunch while walking part of the South Downs Way. It was an excellent lunch, very reasonable prices and friendly service. I didn't realise it was a vegetarian cafe until reading the reviews after I had been, all of the food served was superb. I am reasonably local but didn't know about this place. It has an interesting history which is detailed on the placards and signs.

Rosalind A.

Stayed in a yurt for 2 nights (October).
Things I liked:
- Had breakfast in the cafe on one day which was tasty.
All the staff we met were very friendly and helpful.
- yurt was cool and well equipped
- nice to be surrounded by wildlife
- good location for walks, cycle routes, visiting the sea (hayling island is nice) etc
- we had a lovely time!

Tips for other guests:
- The amount of wood they give you as standard for the stove is not enough to last through the night so unless they increase this for colder months in future (I think they should) then probably wise to order more wood. For reference, I made a hot water bottle and used my sleeping bag as well as the duvet and 2 blankets (and even wore my hat as well the second night) and still woke both mornings between 4 and 6am before it was light due to the cold from the fire having gone out due to not enough wood.
- The toilet in the campsite has a light and is much easier to sit on than the ones on the path (at least for someone short like me, the ones on the path are set so far back from the edge it makes them awkward to use). Plus it has a sink and soap.
- bring a separate gas stove for the kettle as the top of the stove doesn't really get hot enough to boil water. They did provide a kettle though. They also provide washing up liquid so no need to bring extra!
- recommend a meal at the Bat and Ball pub.
- you might very well have no (or barely any/intermittent) mobile signal

Comments for the Centre:
- Think a bin for paper towels in toilets would be better as otherwise you have to touch the seat after washing your hands...
- Some accessways eg. Accessing yurts or between field areas (eg. By camping field) get really muddy and even have puddles too - would be nice if these were better maintained eg. Laying woodchip or something to mitigate risk of slipping/sticking and to prevent bringing mud indoors would be a huge improvement.

I would definitely recommend this and would return in the future too. Very nice place to stay.