Winchester Wessex Hotel by Sunday

Niki Everton was such a positive presence, always smiling and ready to help. She sorted out a free room upgrade after I didn't like the one I'd booked, arranged for the room to be cleaned before three days had passed, and let me store my luggage. Those are the things I remember, but her service was so good that I'd book here again just for her.

The room problems made this a poor visit. One of our rooms smelled, while the other was freezing and needed a portable heater. Later that night, our door wouldn't open even though its green light came on. Reception said maintenance would need to be called, but eventually someone let us in with the master key. Check-in starts at 3, but at 4:30 our room, like others, still wasn't ready. We weren't able to get in until after 5. They gave us a free drink voucher for the bar, but it had to be used before 7 because a wedding was taking place. We were also told there'd be no kitchen service. The location backing onto the cathedral was the only positive for us. Not the best experience.

Breakfast was a mess and had very little choice. The coffee machine was out of beans, so there was only instant coffee, and the cooked food had been sitting on the hot plates for a while. What made it worse was seeing four staff helping themselves to breakfast while two others stood arguing about pay as guests were trying to get food. Absolutely shocking. I won't stay here again and wouldn't recommend it. We'd just come back from a one-night stay at the Wessex Sunday in Winchester. Check-in went well, but the room was extremely dated and smelled funny. The bathroom was dirty because it was old. At the bar, the staff were sitting on their phones, even though there were more staff than customers.

We've come back several times for the Christmas market because the hotel is so handy for the market, shops, and restaurants. But the place is tired, and the accommodation and amenities may not suit you if quality is a priority. In our room the bath was grey where the non-slip shower mat sits, and the basin had several chips. The window overlooking the Chathedral was poorly maintained and didn't fit its frame. During windy, rainy weather, we could see the net curtain moving in the breeze coming through the gaps. In the main bar, wallpaper was peeling off in places and missing altogether in others. Reception wasn't always staffed. One evening we came back for a drink and found nobody at the bar or reception to help. Parking is £15 a night, so factor that in when booking. I also overheard someone asking about breakfast. It's cheaper to book in advance, though I don't know why, since it's the same breakfast either way. Leaving luggage costs £5 as well. Friends in the next room had to get their key cards reprogrammed several times during our stay. If location is what you're after, it's a good option. For better quality rooms and facilities, you might want to look elsewhere.