There are lots of reasons to visit Winchester. It is after all the ancient capital of England, famous for its grand cathedral (which once had a diver fixing its foundations), King Arthur’s legendary Round Table (which, let’s be honest, isn’t that round), and the high street where you can buy everything from antique books, artisanal gin and over a hundred different teas at Char. It boasts medieval history, literary connections, and more independent coffee shops than you can shake a sourdough baguette at. But none of that truly matters when compared to Winchester’s greatest treasure: Christine and her fabulous breakfasts at the voco hotel.
Last year the voco Winchester Hotel & Spa underwent an eight month £2 million pound refit as it was rebranded from the former Holiday Inn. There are 131 rooms, made up of double, twin, accessible, premium and grand rooms, plus there is also a suite. The brand-new premium and grand rooms now offer complimentary mini bars, Nespresso machines and new bedding with filling made with 100% recyclable materials. And if you have breakfast the following morning you will be greeted by a wonderful buffet of fresh fruit, breads and pastries, juice and cooked items overseen by Christine. Who will also ask if you want some freshly cooked eggs and keep your plate warm for you as they cook. At 8am on a wet Friday morning this was a wonderful surprise and much appreciated
The night before we had stayed in one of their king premium rooms and we can confirm the bedrooms are spacious, the beds comfortable and despite the hotel’s proximity to the M3, the rooms are incredibly quiet. And if you follow me on Instagram you will know that I was thrilled to find out that the tea and coffee making items weren’t shoved in a cupboard (a huge pet peeve of mine that I talk about so much on instagram that people now send me photos of when they also see kettles in cupboards in hotel rooms). The bathroom was clean with a bath and complimentary toiletries and the biggest fluffy towels.
The hotel has a number of meeting rooms and can also cater for weddings and private events. I have my eye on the light and airy foyer as a spot for our next co working sessions because it looks like the perfect place to meet up with our laptops for a few hours. Parking right outside, a bar serving tea and coffee, a great lunch menu, and plug sockets at the table.
They even have a 21″ pizza on the menu which is the stuff of legends. We weren’t sure we could do it justice for dinner but people on the table behind us had it and it looked phenomenal (and there are 18 different toppings to choose from). The restaurant offers all day dining and you don’t need to be staying in the hotel to eat there. Or to grab drinks. We had a smaller pizza and a burger with chips which were both excellent and well priced. Plus the service was excellent (with added discussions about the Traitors and who we thought would win).
We stayed at the hotel when it was a Holiday Inn and thought it couldnt be bettered but we have been proved wrong. The hotel is comfortable, great value for money and the perfect spot for a stay en route to a cruise from Southampton or before the exploring the South Downs.
Oh and worried that you can’t stay because you are travelling with your dog? Don’t worry, they have you covered! Just book one of their Dog Packages for just £25 per dog per night.
Check the website for deals and offers: voco Winchester Hotel and Spa
small print: we received a complimentary stay in return for our honest opinion.