Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel 4 stars

Our stay at the Mecure Winchester Wessex Hotel Xmas 2019 was completely ruined. There was total chaos, by the management, as to arranging our dining.

I have stayed at the Mecure a number of time. I have and continue to be very impressed with the reception staff esp the gentleman who does evening's -Kieran I think !! Nothing is to much trouble for him. My room this time was also excellent

Very good, check-in was efficient and the breakfast was of high quality. The rooms are well appointed and furnished comfortably and the views of the cathedral are superb.

We think the bedrooms are in need of a makeover. Along with the lightning and heating.

The New Year's Eve dinner dance was very good. The five course meal was excellent and the disco gave the right mix of music for the age range of the guests. The staff were very attentive and friendly. The buffet breakfast gave a wide range of options. The location is excellent, with the hotel running alongside the Cathedral. My only real criticism is that the hotel as a whole needs an upgrade as it's looking very tired.

There was some confusion during the booking procedure which always resulted in being referred to a central reservation department that was completely out of touch with the hotel. This was very frustrating and not at all encourageing for future bookings. The actual New Year's Eve event was very good apart from a rather limited menu options which also caused confusion with the staff when we were asked to pre order.

The entrance of the hotel is pleasant, the the reception one person in particular was not able to wear the hotel uniform and there was a very unpleasant smell from over 2 meters away, that was the same when we checked out in the morning. Breakfast was good, however the tables and chairs were all dirty and dusty, place could do with a good clean. Breakfast; Staff was in a black uniform, and looked like he had been making a pancake mixture in a blender with the lid off. Bedroom bed was up against a wall , very noisy as there was a cupboard with the water pipes from the bathroom behind the wall. Bathroom tiles all broken looks like a patch up job was done.

Great location which is why we stay two or three times a year near to family. Unfortunately, most long-time staff seem to have changed, and rooms are now very tired. Our room (Privilege, so in theory the top tier) had a heating system which did not work, a plug-in heater with withstand broken leg, a nightstand socket that was coming off the wall, a bedside lamp that was leaning perilously, and an empty fridge (not restocked on first day despite it being part of the room - not an issue for us as we had paid only for an executive room, and it was restocked the next day).

A good upgrade to a room with a cathedral view. However the room needed updating. The heating was very odd and antiquated. The bathroom was ok but needed updating. The staff are outstanding however and very friendly.

From the moment l arrived, the staff were very helpful, courteous and friendly. It is always a pleasure staying at this Hotel.

Upgraded to room with walk in shower Bed was made into a twin but dirty towels were left on the bathroom floor Water from tap and shower only trickled was told it is going to be refurbished Keeping food warm was a major issue Plates were cold and so was most of the breakfast Coffee was not replenished until it was empty which could have been a long time if people came late to breakfast therefore it was like warm and stewed

Staff very friendly and met all basic needs. The hotel room we stayed in was a bit dated and needs a bit of a spruce. Winchester is a top destination and your hotel is perfectly placed but a face lift could turn it into something special. We spend one weekend a month in Winchester and I often look at this hotel but the room rates are always 30-40% higher than Travelodge or Premier Inn. As they are recently refurbished their rooms/bathrooms are also fresher. It makes it difficult choosing to spend the extra for the hotel services. I appreciate the business models are different but the room I have booked for a Saturday in January is £26 cheaper which pays for a large portion of dinner that night. To regularly pay the extra I'd want it to feel more luxurious or more of an event. No complaints just a reflection of my thinking when making booking choices.

Had a very nice time at the wessex hotel. The only problem was the extractor in the room's bathroom did not work as it did not the last time we stayed with you

Stayed just for 1 night as a group for NY's eve. 5 course meal was outstanding and delicious. Location of the hotel is just perfect for having a wonder around Winchester. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. A few arears could do with updating but this did not affect our stay. The staff need to be applauded for their friendly attentive and welcoming attitude. Thank you to all.

The first room I was given had a horrible smell, I looked to open the window an put the air con / heater on to warm it up - but the air con didn't work. The room was functional, but bare and had no appealing features. Reception transferred me to another room, which thankfully didn't smell but was in dire need of refurbishing, the carpet was threadbare in places. I was really surprised that this was part of the Mercure chain and was in such a bad state. I didn't choose the hotel, but I can see why it seemed a lot cheaper than I would have expected for central Winchester the week before Christmas! Would definitely not choose to stay here again - even at that price!