Hotel Review
The former Holiday Inn Winchester was rebranded to voco Winchester Hotel & Spa in October 2024 following a complete refurbishment programme which took 8 months and a cost of £2 million. Voco Hotels is IHG’s fastest-growing premium brand and as we hadn’t stayed in one previously we looked forward to the opportunity of being invited to review a stay.
Location:
Winchester enjoys good rail access with South Western Railway operating frequent services from London Waterloo, with journey times of approximately one hour. For those arriving by car, Winchester is located close to Junction 9 of the M3 motorway. The hotel is situated a few minutes drive from the city centre and with a bus stop on the main road close to the hotel it’s very easy to get around (Bus 64, half hourly service) by public transport.
Arrival and check-in:
We arrived at the hotel shortly before 3.00 p.m. and on entering the spacious, contemporary styled lobby we were warmly welcomed by the receptionist on duty who had us checked in speedily, confirmed our dinner reservation and requested us to note our car registration number onto an iPad screen so that we wouldn’t be charged during our overnight stay. Car parking is free of charge for guests booking directly with IHG hotels whereas guests who book elsewhere need to pay a nightly fee of £10, so this is worth taking into consideration when making a reservation. Alongside our room keys we were handed a welcome pack of dainty biscuits to take up to our room.
The Room:
A pair of lifts whisk guests to their rooms, ours being located on the first floor which was accessed by a large galleried balcony overlooking the hotel lobby. The hotel has 131 rooms comprising standard, premium and suites and we were booked into one of the premium rooms which had been newly decorated in shades of blue with a matching deep padded headboard.
The work desk/dressing table was equipped with ample sockets and USB points to enable us to charge our devices and comfortable chairs in contrasting shades added a splash of colour. The king size bed was extremely comfortable and came dressed in high quality bed linen with luxuriously soft pillows and a lighter than air duvet that sent us off to the land of nod in seconds.
Other amenities included a large flat screen television with satellite channels, bathrobes, a digital safe plus an iron and board. There was only one small wardrobe and as it was already home to the bathrobes and full size ironing board there was little room for hanging more than our coats. Surprisingly although there was plenty of room for a chest of drawers, aside from a small shelf beneath one of the bedside tables there was no other storage meaning that we had to leave items in our suitcase during our stay. This wasn’t a problem for our short break but might be an issue for those staying longer.
An added benefit of booking a premium room is that in addition to having the use of a well stocked hospitality tray guests also have access to a complimentary minibar which is restocked daily. This contained wine, beer, soft drinks, chocolate and a small can of Pringles. There was also a Nespresso machine which we utilised to prepare post-dinner cups of freshly brewed coffee.
Dining:
Dinner: The hotel’s Kitchen 21 welcomes both guests and non-residents to its large seating area which is cleverly separated into sections offering the choice of intimate dining alcoves or tables overlooking the open kitchen.
There’s a good choice of classic dishes on offer and after much deliberation we opted for mains of slow cooked lamb shank and a rib eye steak, both of which were cooked to perfection with a generous selection of vegetables, meaning that we did not need to order any additional sides.
There was no way we could resist a dessert especially as I had spotted Apple Charlotte on the menu served with a jug of Crème Anglais which was delicious, whilst across the table the Heavenly Chocolate Brownie also went down a treat.
Breakfast: This is also served each morning in Kitchen 21 and comprises a varied buffet selection of hot and cold dishes, pastries, yoghurts and fresh fruit.
I was pleased to note that eggs can be requested from the open kitchen cooked any way desired and our freshly prepared fried eggs complimented our full English breakfast beautifully. As it was lashing it down with rain outdoors we were in no rush to leave so enjoyed second mugs of cappuccino whilst glancing at the Sunday morning newspapers.
The Facilities:
The hotel has 131 stylish bedrooms consisting of double, twin, accessible, premium and grand rooms plus a suite. Voco Winchester is also a popular choice for weddings and private events catering for up to 200 guests in a variety of 9 adaptable meeting rooms and event spaces with their own separate entrance. The spacious open-plan lobby offers a combination of cosy seating alongside high tables with numerous USB sockets ideal for working.
Kitchen 21 Is renowned for its unique 21″ pizza which guests can enjoy either in the restaurant or in the attractive bar lounge. Wi-Fi throughout the hotel was fast, easy to connect to and reliable with a printer for guests use in the lobby.
Hotel Spa: A separate lift leads to the lower floor which comprises numerous meeting rooms, a well equipped gym and the luxurious ANA Spa. Featuring treatment rooms, a Hydro-Pool, Himalayan Salt Sauna, Sensory Shower, a Crystal Steam Room and a Bubble Foot Spa.
Car Park: In addition to parking for hotel guests, the hotel also offers overnight accommodation, parking and coach transfers for cruise passengers departing from Southampton.
Out and About:
Winchester is a delightful, compact city that can easily be explored on foot. Below are my suggestions for making the most of a short break.
Start with a walk along Winchester’s historic high street, said to be Britain’s oldest which stretches from the Westgate Arch all the way down the hill to the small bridge over the River Itchen.
Visit the Great Hall which is one of the finest surviving aisled halls of the 13th century with its painted archways and marble columns. It once formed part of Winchester Castle founded in 1067 by William the Conqueror shortly after his victory at the Battle of Hastings. The Hall is dominated by the famous ‘Round Table’ linked to the ancient legends of King Arthur and his knights.
Explore some of Winchester’s interesting museums including the Westgate Museum which is located inside a surviving fortified medieval city gateway. Entrance is just £3 with joint tickets available with the City Museum just down the road.
The City Museum tells the story of Winchester which was England’s ancient capital and the seat of Alfred the Great. Arranged over three floors, the galleries document its origins from the Iron Age.
Explore Winchester City Mill now owned by the National Trust and free to visit. The City Mill is one of the oldest water mills in the country and incorporates a cosy cafe and gift shop.
Explore the ruins of Wolvesey Castle now operated by English Heritage (entrance free). This castle was the main residence of the Bishops of Winchester throughout the Middle Ages and its extensive remains date from the 12th century.
Book a one hour guided tour of Winchester College which was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and is one of the world’s most famous independent schools. This fascinating tour covers the Chamber Court, Chapel, College Hall, Cloisters and parts of the 17th century school building including the kitchens and oak panelled dining room.
Last but not least visit the magnificent Winchester Cathedral. Notable events that have taken place there include the coronation of Richard I (1194) and the marriage of Queen Mary (1554).
Many of the ancient Kings of England are buried within its walls along with the author Jane Austin. Marvel at the intricate carvings on the choir stalls, the exquisite medieval floor tiles, beautiful stained glass and the 13th century bible font.
Overall:
voco hotels are characterised by each property having its own distinct style and charm and following our weekend stay, I felt that they had achieved this admirably in Winchester. The hotel may be large and capable of holding corporate events but at the same time has managed to develop an intimate feel just perfect for leisure guests such as ourselves.
Details: voco Winchester Hotel & Spa, Telegraph Way, Winchester, SO21 1HZ
If you have enjoyed this post you may also like:
A walk around Winchester and to its cathedral
During our stay we were guests of voco Winchester Hotel & Spa and as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.
vividventures 
Leave a comment