Underwood Opticians

I have recently attended an appointment at the Bedford Place branch Underwood's and cant recommend them enough, i was looking for an independent practice as i haven't had a very good experience with one of the more popular multiples, getting an appointment at Underwood's was easy, the staff are all friendly and welcoming and the test was very thorough, updating the lenses in my glasses was a straightforward process and the optician lady was very friendly and informative, i was quite surprised that they were ready in little over a week, will definitely be recommending them to my friends and family.
Jan 21st, 2023

They were the best opticians in Southampton when they had Jill and Peter there! Years and years my family and I were looked after in the best possible way. Now is just another faceless place and the quality of the work is not to the standard of Ralph Neale. What is the point of purchasing a business with many loyal customers and drive them away... My husband and I were unpleasantly surprised by the whole experience - nothing like when it was Ralph Neale... Sadly we will be looking for different opticians
Mar 7th, 2022

Having previously been to one of the high street chain opticians and not being happy I recently attended this independent practice after it was recommended to me, it was a very thorough check up on not only my general glasses but my contact lenses as well, staff were friendly and helpful, i updated both my every day glasses and sunglasses and cant say how happy i am, the whole experience was great, and i would definitely recommend them
Aug 10th, 2021

My family and I have been using this place for years. In the past, I had nothing but praises for them. I even recommended my friends to go there. They have some satff changes recently including an optician who has retired. Since then the standards have slipped. Customer services have clearly slipped specially if they find out that teh customer is getting new glasses made from elsewhere. I live outside Southampton but was going there out of loyalty but getting glasses made when someone can do the same closer to home is no brianer for myself. I had a very bad experince including being told that if we want glasses made elsewhere then we can get eyes tested elsewhere as well(kids are free testing and we adults pay for our tests). I have now taken their advice and will be going elsewhere. It is great shame that we have to do this after so many years.
Dec 31st, 2021

Went to my eye appointment today and had an awful experience. The reception staff were cold and indifferent, the place had not been decorated I would say for 40 years or so and I would say the furniture upstairs was about the same age, curtains in the opticians room old were hanging off, old carpet tiles etc . I saw another lady in the 'glasses room' who was equally defensive when I queried the price of the test which was 40 and not the average 25 and she said that price was years ago. When I got home I researched other private and larger company Opticians and they were all around the 25 mark. I spoke with the owner on the phone who was equally rude and he just was not interested at all, it was quite clear he did not want to speak with me especially when I asked him to justify to price. I also said that he should be interested in what his customers have to say and their experience and he hung up on me! I could believe it, but there you go - It was a horrible, horrible experience and I would most definitely not recommend Ralph Neale. I probably would not have queried the price if it was a place where you felt comfortable and relaxed
Dec 30th, 2021