So, why the name – voco Hotel and Spa Winchester? voco loosely translates from the Latin for an invitation and a coming together. And no, that isn’t a typo. voco, doesn’t want a capital letter. It’s as as much a state of mind as a hotel. A unique contemporary name, free of grammar protocols and stuffy pretension.
voco Hotel and Spa Winchester has location, location and more location going for it. Set amongst the green hills of the South Down National Park, this 131-bedroom hotel is within minutes of historic Winchester. Once the capital of Wessex and then England; instrumental in the birth of a nation.
In October 2023, voco reopened after an eight month and £2m refurbishment. The Holiday Inn had a personality makeover and was reborn as voco Hotel and Spa, a stylish destination for relaxation and me-time. Work too, if you really must.
The welcome
Two staff await at reception to quickly check us in. All they need is a surname to locate our booking and confirm our restaurant booking. Then we’re on our way and in the lift.
Entering our room, a welcoming message on the 50-inch television encourages us, as if we need it, to relax.
The room
In keeping with voco style, there’s a “come on in and feel at home” vibe to our Premium Room, which has calming grey/blue paintwork. Those light and soothing colours, with a sea-spray flourish of white, are picked up in the deep pile carpets. All cooled effectively, in humid mid-summer, by delicious air-conditioning.
It’s a spacious, relaxing room with strategically placed ceiling spotlights and a modernist standard lamp which aspires to angle-poise status, all deferring to a king-size bed. Thoughtful design provides a long desk for working with a large oval mirror so that it multi-tasks as a dressing table too. There is an extensive beverage tray, plus a Nespresso coffee-maker with a choice of capsules.
There is an extensive beverage tray, plus a Nespresso coffee-maker with a choice of capsules.
The bathroom
A thoughtful design touch is that controls are placed mid-bath so that you set the right temperature before setting foot under the shower. It’s also a deep bath for more indulgent me-time. White towels and dressing gowns are high-end, pristine and fluffy. Antipodes Fig and Feijoa toiletries provide caressing pure, natural and vegan skincare.
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The facilities
Kitchen 21 is named after the now legendary 21-inch pizzas that are the signature dish of the open plan kitchens.
Wood texture walls, terracotta planters, green banquettes and tan chairs combine to give a reassuringly natural feel to a light restaurant where tables are well-spaced.
As well as the core menu of steaks, burgers, chicken and salads, a seasonal menu – think seabass, vegan Thai curry, garlic and lemon pork chop – brings variety for the large numbers of regular diners staying on business.
Amongst the starters, a watercress soup gives a nod to Britain’s watercress capital, that’s Alresford, which is a mere 10 minutes drive away. A black pudding scotch egg, yolk warm and runny, on a bed of piccalilli with roquette, shows impressive creativity. As does a Colado Mess for pud, tropically replacing traditional strawberries with pineapple and adding coconut ice-cream. A dish that’s a metaphor for voco’s attitude.
No surprise then that breakfast is virtually whatever you want it to be, grazing from the buffet or cooked to order.
There’s more indulgence and me-time at the ANA Spa, where it’s advisable to book in advance. Along with a sense of wellbeing and calm, the spa delivers a Himalayan Salt Sauna, Sensory Shower, Crystal Steam Room and Bubbly Foot Spa.
Treadmills, bikes, ergo, free-weights, medicine balls and even space to spread out the yoga mats – the exceptionally well-equipped gym has it all.
The location
Minutes off the M3, heading south from London to Southampton, voco is within striking distance of the south coast, the New Forest and all of Winchester’s attractions.
Take a walking tour of Winchester to learn about the power of the Itchen as a working river, once powering 22 local mills, and to be given the “Wayfarer’s Dole”, a tiny cup of ale and a morsel of bread at the charitable Hospital of St Cross.
Or follow in the steps of poet John Keats whose walk from Cathedral to river to College is said to have inspired his to “Autumn Ode”.
Steam-tinged memories of The Railway Children are rekindled at the Alresford station on the Watercress Line. A railway that until its closure in 1973 was the first leg of a journey that transported watercress to the nation. Now its cafe, platforms and the signalman’s vegetable patch nostalgically recall another era.
The pretty town of Alresford with cafe and pub tables spilling onto the pavement, hanging baskets and a plethora of independent shop is perhaps one of the most attractive of the market towns around Winchester.
Many events are leading up to the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth on 16th December 2025. Literary pilgrims head to her gravestone at Winchester Cathedral and the Jane Austen House Museum at Chawston.
Other nice touches
Throughout, three birds bring significant artwork to the decor. A chatty and friendly welcome is shown by the finch. Quieter, calmer owls represent in/room down time and flamingos, in public areas, reflect guests’ social instincts
LED lighting, timers for air-con and heating, and bedding made from 100% recycled materials, all help voco on its eco-friendly journey to sustainability.
Refreshed daily, the mini-bar includes cans of Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, lager and Coca-Cola.
The cost
From £250.00 per Premium room including breakfast for two people sharing the room.
The best bit
The bar and lounge areas are modern, sophisticated, buzzy and inviting; whether it be for a morning latte or an evening mojito, whether it be for socialising around the comfy sofas, reading in one of the secluded armchairs or working at a high-level desk.
Decor is intriguing, with local touches, and blends contemporary with cosy.
The final verdict
voco, still no capital letter, is “reliably different” as its credo promises. Upscale but not stuffy. Comfortable but classy. Quality without pretension. A cozy sanctuary but sociable too.
voco is an irresistible concept not just for Winchester but one that is spreading across continents from Ho Chi Minh City through Dubai to California.
Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by voco Hotel and Spa Winchester.
Michael Edwards
Michael Edwards is a travel writer from Oxfordshire, UK. Although Michael had his first travel pieces published nearly four decades ago, he is still finding new luxury destinations to visit and write on.
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