Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2011. Dishes always use ingredients from reputable local suppliers; main courses
might include cider-braised pig cheeks with chorizo and truffled butter beans or
saddle of royal venison with spiced red cabbage.
88 Chesil St.
&
01962/844465.
www.theblackrat.co.uk. Reservations recommended. Main courses
£18-£20. MC, V. Mon-Sun 7-9:30pm; Sat-Sun noon-2:30pm.
Chesil Rectory
ENGLISH There's a buzz again about this eatery housed
in Winchester's oldest building, thanks largely to a revamped menu and some
exceptional fixed-price meal deals. The food is adjusted seasonally to take advan-
tage of regional produce. In a dining room aglow with half-timbered architecture
and whitewashed panels, expect dishes full of brawny flavor and heady perfumes,
such as steamed filet of brill with sautéed girolles or wild mushroom Wellington
with seasonal greens.
1 Chesil St.
&
01962/851555.
www.chesilrectory.co.uk. Reservations recommended. Main courses
£13-£18; Mon-Sat lunch and 6-7pm fixed-price 2 courses £15, 3 courses £20. DC, MC, V. Mon-Sun noon-
2:30pm; Mon-Sat 6-10pm.
Hotel du Vin
Everything's cozy at this wine-themed boutique inn built into
a townhouse that dates from 1715. It brings a touch of urban chic to Winchester, with
rooms that are intimate and contemporary without being aggressively overdesigned.
Superior units are larger, with handsprung, king-size beds and views over the hotel's
quiet, walled garden.
Insider tip:
Stay-and-eat packages tend to be priced the best
on Sunday nights.
The modern English take on French fare in the
Bistro
is good value, with a
menu that always features regional ingredients: Try the pan-fried halibut with Jerusa-
lem artichoke purée, golden beetroot, and girolles; or the roast saddle of venison with
a polenta croquette—and choose your bottle from the finest wine list in the county.
Main courses range between £14 and £21. It's open daily for lunch and dinner.
14 Southgate St., Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9EF. www.hotelduvin.com.
&
01962/841414.
Fax
01962/842458. 24 units. £145-£230 double. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar.
In room:
A/C, TV/DVD, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Lainston House
The beauty of this restored William and Mary redbrick
manor house strikes visitors as they approach via a long, curving, tree-lined drive.
It's situated on 25 hectares (63 acres) of rolling land and linked with the name
Lainston in
The Domesday Book
. Elegance is key inside the stately main house,
where panoramically big suites are located. Double rooms are less spacious but
also comfortable and harmoniously furnished—and all come with a choice of pil-
lows from a menu of options.
Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2LT. www.lainstonhouse.com.
&
01962/776088.
Fax
01962/776672. 50 units. £245-£360 double; £485-£525 suite. MC, V. Free parking. Off the B3420,
1
1
⁄
2
miles northwest of Winchester.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; babysitting; exercise room; room service;
2 outdoor tennis courts.
In room:
TV, hair dryer, Jacuzzi (in some), Wi-Fi (free).
Wykeham Arms
A long-time favorite in central Winchester, the Wykeham lies
behind a 200-year-old brick facade near the cathedral and school. Rooms are fur-
nished in a period style, with antiques or reproductions. Most are a bit small but
attractively appointed; ask for one that's been recently refurbished. The annex has the
most luxurious and spacious rooms.
The downstairs
dining room
is equally atmospheric, with a roaring log fire,
chunky inn-style furniture, and a parquet floor. Food ranges from simple, hearty
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