Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel 4 stars

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!

The room was dark.The cooked breakfast was tired and was not hot.The corridor and the lift floors needed cleaning properly?

Great location and helpful, friendly staff. Shortage of parking spaces caused some stress and the heating system was noisy in the mornings.

I booked two rooms for one night for my mother, son and myself. We were allocated adjacent rooms which had an outer door that had previously enabled the two rooms to be used as a suite, but the lock and handle had been removed from this outer door. On arrival at 3pm only one room was ready, and both rooms were really cold. Each room had a wall-mounted electric heater that was not only insufficient to warm the room, but also got so hot to touch that there was a risk of being burnt by it. There was an additional electric radiator in each wardrobe that we had to use in each room to get the rooms warm enough. The duvets on the bed were very thin so we asked for blankets as there weren't any in the wardrobes. We were told that the hotel had run out of blankets so we were given an additional duvet for my mother. We met another family in a similar position who were actually going to look for another hotel because they had booked for four nights and were extremely unhappy with the quality of the accommodation. Whilst the beds were clean, only the bathroom sanitaryware was clean, not the floor or pipework. There was significant limescale on the shower so the angle of the head could not be adjusted. Throughout the rooms and corridors there was dust on the skirting boards and tables, and the carpets had only been vacuumed in the middle, not up to the skirting boards or behind the doors. The lift floor was dirty and the track that the lift door slides across was full of rubbish, dust and dirt. The curtains in both rooms didn't meet properly and were dusty. The public areas of the hotel were also shabby and dusty, and in many places the carpet was ripped and held together with black tape. The breakfast buffet was plentiful but the cooked breakfast was not very hot. Items had clearly been sitting out for some time. Similarly the coffee and hot water was in vacuum flasks and not hot enough. I am an Accor member and have stayed in many Accor hotels in the UK, Europe and Asia. I have never stayed in such a shabby and unclean hotel, of any brand. The whole hotel is in dire need of refurbishment and is a disgrace to the Accor brand. I would not stay here again unless and until the whole building is refurbished, including the heating and hot-water systems.

The room is cold without additional fab heating, Christmas lunch was disappointing. The whole place requires refurbishment. Prine Location and the hotel staff are very helpful.

Fantastic location, great view from room, christmas dinner very nice, however lacking christmas atmosphere.