please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I must confess to not really having taken the time to sample the full wares of the Westgate, despite being resident there last weekend (nobody else was apparently but it was nice to have the place to oneself). Given that I have at least given the accommodation a spin I felt I should drop a review in for that. A large number of rooms are available, at competitive prices. Mine had recently been refurbished to a good standard - could still smell the fresh paint. Decor is a canny mix of traditional items with contemporary design, and in my room at least this seemed to work well. The bed wasn't exactly comfortable, though I managed a good sleep (possibly owing to alcohol consumption elsewhere I am bound to say). Good for the spine, at any rate.
The bathroom had the usual plumbing issue (there's always one in every pub and B and B I've stayed in!), in that the bathwater didn't drain properly, but otherwise, clean and commodious.
The place came into its own at breakfast time: splendid locally-sourced ingredients in any combination one chooses, and all served by a very helpful and pleasant lady - whom I believe was the proprietress. A real surprise. And the dining room itself was rather grand, too - which is not the feeling one gets upon arrival in the pub quarters.
I shan't offer a rating out of 10 as I didn't get a chance to try the ale or food, or even spend more than a couple of minutes in the actual pub. But given the price I would suggest this as a suitable stopover for a quick pied-a-terre in Winch.
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Corner pub opposite the ancient Westgate and Winchester Castle. Only a few suits in the smallish semicircular bar when I was there, possibly lawyers who had been working late at the nearby Crown Court, no sign of their clients though; as dodgy reviews from its nearest extant competitor may suggest. The main bar is decorated in traditional but basic style, brown wood, tatty tables, hints of Victorian splendour and military prints reflecting Winchester's relationship with the Rifle Brigade and the Royal Hampshire Regiment. There is a second large room of raised seating with wild west style bannisters which previous reviews suggest may have been an Indian restaurant. Mainstream ales and kegs, other than my pint of Banks's Original which was drinkable but not outstanding only Staropreman registered on my conciousness ,
anonymous - 12 Jul 2009 20:21 |
This pub is a case of what might have been. For Winchester, this hostelry has what can only be described as an ecletctic range of ales on draught (Banks Original, Brakspears Oh Be Joyful, Jennings Cumberland Ale and Marston Smooth) but they are all priced at the frankly extortionate £3 mark, which is a shame as this pub has the potential to be good as it also has Staropramen on draught. On a saturday lunchtime the place was dead, and I'm not surprised when they are charging such high prices. A disappointment because when you get down to it the ales aren't half bad.
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Fantastic steak.Fantastic Real Ale. Fantastic en suite.Fantastic Full English.Fantastic "Mine Hosts.
Well done Guy and Helen on your new menue and new rooms.
As always the only place to stay in Winchester.
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Just had the best steak I have had in years at the Westgate hotel, it was cooked perfectly. The staff were all very friendly and only too happy to help. Great atmosphere and it is really nice to see that they have gone back to their roots with good honest pub food. The landlord is a larger than life character which just adds to the welcoming atmosphere. It really is a place to go if you are visiting the City and want to meet friendly people.
Will defiantly be returning.
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VERY SMALL -deceptive from the exterior.
Pleasent staff, and resonabel priced drink, if a little dark and snug inside (no outside areas-! smokers note)
Hotel rooms were nice, clean, good value.
Staff made up for its shortfalls, worth a visit.
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What a great little pub, perfectly situated at the top of town and just 2 minutes walk to the train station. At least once a year we stay in Winchester at the Westgate Hotel. We always stay in the Keats room which was nice but is now amazing since its re vamp. The landlord and landlady, Guy and Helen, are the perfect hosts ensuring every guest enjoys their stay. Helens breakfasts are always a winner with a great selection and no skimping on the portions. In the pub there is a great selection of real ales, which are well looked after poured to perfection. Guy and the regulars are a great laugh of an evening can’t wait till next year!!
anonymous - 24 Oct 2007 21:04 |
Enjoyable hostelry, with a neat, bright interior (some nice window glasswork), good selection of music and the most genial landlord in town.
3 ales - 2 Jennings and a Banks, my Honey Bole was in good form. Quizzer was a bit harsh on us though.
Well worth a stop, good for the station too. Recommended.
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Quite disappointed by the accommodation. The rooms are of quite variable quality and yet seem to be similar in terms of price. Mine was above the restaurant and smelled of curry ALL the time, not good first thing. There was no wardrobe, the TV didn't work, and some of the tiles had come away from the bath/shower and had not ben replaced. The bathroom door also looked like it had been kicked and the room was generally shoddy in appearance. I expected better for £80 per night.
Worse, every morning I was woken by the dog that they lock up to stop it hassling those having their breakfast, which is fair enough, but the dog keeps whingeing and barking for the duration and it's bloody loud and gets fairly annoying after a while.
Stay in the Wykeham Arms if you can - quality.
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Your son/daughter has just been accepted at Winchester University,you live a 600 mile round trip away at the other end of the country.....too much for a days driving.You search the web and get lucky....just as I did 5 years ago in 2002.The Westgate Hotel sits proudly on the curve of Romsey road overlooking The Westgate.History starts here.Really it does.Ask for the Sir General John Moore room with its double French Doors....and believe.
Now book into The Westgate.You book in at the bar.You've just been in the car for six hours so have a pint....stand up and unwind.Relax as the hospitality of the pub part of the hotel sinks in.For this is a proper hotel where a guest is immediately a local.A cross section of Winchester eat and drink here;lawyers,prison officers,teachers,office staff etc..
The Real Ale puts The Best back into "a pint of best please".Try The Cumberland.
Now when you have enjoyed "the crack" at the bar just walk through to the Indian Restaurant and be spoilt for excellence.
Guy, "Mine Host"of the top order, calls you over for for one last pint before you turn in.........
So 6 to 8 times a year for the last 5 years I have stayed at The Westgate, I'll be there again on Easter Monday.......
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This hotel is GREAT value for money. It may be old but it has loads of character - as does the landlord! The breakfasts are generous, well-cooked and very tasty - a great way to start the day. After a day's shopping or walking along the water-meadows, the hotel is a welcoming and friendly place to relax and enjoy the jovial company of the landlord, drink some real ale or cider (my particular favourite) and then to round it all off there's a marvellous Indian restaurant at one end of the hotel. Their curries would be hard to beat. I have visited the Westgate many times over the past few years and wouldn't consider staying anywhere else.
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Great pub - a friendly and welcoming atmosphere with a good blend of regular and ad-hoc customers. Well-kept real ales and good food, especially the new menu which combines indian food with traditional english pub grub.
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I had a splendid stay at the Westgate Hotel while visiting from the United States. My room was exquisitely decorated and comfortable, and the pub was full of fun and interesting people. I plan to make a return visit next summer.
anonymous - 28 Nov 2006 22:17 |
expensive, 80 quid/day, old and noisy (no double windows), low breakfast, slow service, good restaurant
anonymous - 9 Oct 2006 07:59 |
The pub part is OK, but the service in the adjoining Indian Restaurant is absolutely atrocious when it gets busy. Two and a half hours for a main course!!!
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Used to love going to this pub for some of the best food in town. Local produce, excellently prepared. The landlord's a friendly chap who'll talk your ear off about when he went to Australia to watch the rugby world cup.
Then they outsourced the kitchen and it's now just another unremarkable, dime-a-dozen indian restaurant ... I rarely visit this once excellent local pub now.
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A terrible place full of terrible people. Apart from all the rugger-buggers, it is home to one of the rudest, least friendly people on the planet - a Sth African barmaid.
Once, they started chucking all the laundry from the B&B bit down the stairs and into the bar while we were still drinking.
If you're in need of a charm transplant then this should be your local. Otherwise take a walk up the road to the St James Tavern. A far better pub.
anonymous - 22 Jul 2005 10:26 |
Must have been there on a very bad day - staff were not friendly, and the place seemed to lack a lot of atmosphere. But hey, it serves alcohol...
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This is a really freindly pub, good beer and wine. However even better than this is great gormet Indian menu, it truly is the best curry I have ever had.
Emma Setford - 15 Nov 2004 13:53 |
great pub in central Winchester. not a bad selection of beers. friendly landlord (Guy) and sensational food. close to all the local historical sites.
Steve Wilson - 11 Sep 2003 16:22 |
