The Winchester Hotel & Spa

We stopped here before our cruise from Southampton. The restaurant was the best part of the stay: the food was delicious, and our waiter was attentive and engaging. We all thought they deserved ten stars. The lobby and bar look smart after the recent renovation. Our double room was comfortable enough and had a very comfortable bed, though it was a little worn around the edges. The bedside light was damaged and held together with duct tape, which wasn’t great.

We could leave our suitcases at the hotel before check-in, which gave us time to explore the city. The reception ladies were especially welcoming, friendly, and helpful. The hotel is an easy walk from the railway station, and we had a comfortable stay. Breakfast was really good, and the spa was refreshing. I’d definitely recommend it and would choose it first if I stayed in the area again.

For what we paid, this stay was very disappointing, and I wouldn’t describe the hotel as much better than a budget place. Some parts felt worse than budget hotels we’ve stayed in. The room was dated and a bit run down. The shower water kept cutting in and out, the pillow and mattress weren’t very comfortable, and the TV was small, old, and outdated. Breakfast also disappointed: much of it was self-service, despite the online menu implying some dishes could be ordered. That didn’t match what we found in person. Parking was a bad start. We hadn’t been told ahead of time that hotel guests pay to park. The hotel car park costs £10 per 24 hours plus a 30p service charge, and its spaces are extremely narrow. Even though we parked carefully, the car beside us scratched our vehicle and left marks down the side. Reception apologised when we reported it, but didn’t offer or suggest anything further. The car park at the front that guests might assume belongs to the hotel is council-owned. It costs less and the spaces seemed roomier, so based on our experience I’d use that instead. The hotel says council parking is at your own risk, but the hotel’s own car park felt no safer.

We had a lovely stay and were very happy when we left. The location is handy, with the city centre just a 10-minute walk away. Parking costs £7 a day, and the TV in our room wasn’t working, which were the small downsides. The spa was excellent. We especially enjoyed the steam room and sauna, and the jacuzzi and heated pool were great for relaxing too. Staff were friendly and attentive, from reception to the restaurant. Dinner was delicious, with high-quality food and great service. A special thanks to Blandine for a fantastic massage. She was kind and very professional. We’ll definitely come back and highly recommend it.