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Summary of reviewsThe Black Hole in Winchester stands out for its prime location, excellent service, unique decor and comprehensive amenities, offering an immersive and satisfying experience for its guests.
Its proximity to Winchester's city center, historic sites and scenic walks along the River Itchen makes it an ideal base for exploring the city. Guests appreciate the convenience of nearby parking and the blend of tranquility and accessibility the location offers.
The breakfast at The Black Hole receives high marks for its generous portions, variety and quality. Made-to-order meals and a range of dietary options ensure everyone's needs are met, all within a pleasant dining environment. Dinner experiences are equally lauded with the adjoining rustic pub and local Michelin-rated restaurants offering diverse and high-quality culinary choices.
Accommodations at The Black Hole are notably unique and comfortable, featuring prison cell-inspired decor that guests find charming and amusing. Rooms are consistently praised for their cleanliness, well-maintained facilities and thoughtful design touches, such as cell doors and bookcase wallpaper. Although some rooms might feel a bit small or dark, the cozy ambiance and clean, modern bathrooms provide a comfortable stay. The rooftop terrace offers a pleasant spot to unwind and enjoy city views.
The hotel staff are frequently highlighted as outstanding with many guests singling out their friendliness, attentiveness and willingness to accommodate special requests. Their efforts significantly enhance the overall guest experience, contributing to a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
The Black Hole’s wifi is generally reliable and strong throughout the hotel, though improvements could be made in specific areas like Cell 4. The beds receive high praise for their comfort and cleanliness, contributing to restful nights and a cozy room atmosphere.
As an adult-only establishment, The Black Hole provides a serene environment ideal for adults seeking a relaxed stay. Its dog-friendly policy adds to its appeal for pet owners.
Overall, The Black Hole delivers a unique, comfortable and highly satisfying stay in Winchester, making it a favored choice for travelers appreciating quirky design, excellent service and convenience. Show more
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Categories
Accessible Inn
Inn for Adults Only
Small Inn
Room Types
Double RoomThis double room is comprised of a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a private bathroom as well as a terrace with city views. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.9
Excellent
Location
The Black Hole boasts an exceptional location just a short stroll from Winchester's city center. Guests consistently highlight the ease of access to local attractions, shops and restaurants with many noting the picturesque walk along the River Itchen as a delightful way to reach the heart of the city. The hotel is well-situated for exploring Winchester’s historic sites, including the cathedral and the old town area, making it a convenient base for both sightseeing and leisure activities.
Despite being slightly outside the immediate downtown area, the hotel remains highly accessible, typically described as being only a five to ten-minute walk to key locations. There is a nearby multi-story car park, which guests find useful, though the proximity to a busy road does warrant the occasional use of ear plugs.
The surrounding area is praised for its scenic beauty with mentions of a nearby garden, meadows and the charming river walk. The quirky decor and cozy rooms add to the unique and pleasant experience, complemented by an adjoining pub known for its excellent food and local beers.
Perfect for both short stays and longer explorations, The Black Hole’s central but tranquil setting makes it an attractive choice for visitors to Winchester, providing a memorable and comfortable stay in a beautiful and historic locale.
Breakfast
The breakfast offerings at "The Black Hole" hotel have garnered high praise from guests who frequently describe it as excellent, great and superb. Many guests appreciated the generous portions and the wide variety of options available, ranging from hearty full English breakfasts to continental choices which included cereals, fresh fruit and warm croissants. Specific highlights include freshly squeezed orange juice, quality muesli and well-cooked bacon and eggs, all of which consistently met high standards.
Guests also noted the freshness and quality of ingredients with breakfast cooked to order and always served hot. The friendly and hardworking staff contributed to a pleasant dining experience, ensuring that all dietary needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options, were well-catered to. The ambiance of the breakfast room, open 24/7 for coffee, tea and light snacks, added to the overall satisfaction, allowing guests to help themselves at any time.
In summary, "The Black Hole" offers an outstanding breakfast experience that sets guests up well for the day, thanks to its variety, quality and exceptional service.
Dinner
Dining at The Black Hole appears to be a delightful experience, greatly enhanced by the helpful and accommodating staff who cater well to guests with dietary restrictions, such as allergies. Guests have found the food quality to be consistently good with some dinners described as delicious and impressive. The adjoining rustic pub offers a charming atmosphere and is highly recommended for its excellent pizza nights with fresh and lovely pizzas being a highlight on specific evenings. The themed dinner nights at The Black Hole also receive favorable mentions.
For those seeking variety, the neighborhood doesn't disappoint. The nearby Bishop on the Bridge offers pleasant dining options and there are high-end choices too, such as the Michelin-rated restaurant opposite the hotel. The Black Rat, another dining establishment in close proximity, garners praise for its wonderful dinners, making The Black Hole an ideal stopover for guests planning to dine there. Additionally, the hotel staff provide brilliant recommendations on dining options, ensuring that guests can enjoy a satisfying culinary experience during their stay.
Rooms
The Black Hole hotel offers a uniquely themed accommodation experience that combines comfort with quirky, prison cell-inspired decor. Guests praised the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the rooms, which were often described as spotlessly clean, cozy and comfortable. The rooms, though on the smaller side, are well-equipped with all the necessary amenities, including tea-making facilities and comfortable beds.
The decor received considerable appreciation for its thoughtful, detailed execution, featuring elements like cell doors and bookcase wallpaper. This thematic design provided a distinctive and amusing ambiance that guests seemed to enjoy. Rooms were also noted for their character and charm, which added to the overall appeal of the stay.
A notable feature of this hotel is the spacious and clean bathrooms with some rooms showcasing a freestanding bathtub, which guests found to be a delightful addition. While some rooms felt a little dark or stuffy at times, fans were provided to ensure a more comfortable environment.
The rooftop terrace was another highlight, offering a nice place to relax and enjoy views of the city. Although some guests mentioned limited storage and furnishings, the rooms' modern layout and vibrant, colorful touches made up for these minor shortcomings.
Overall, guests appreciated the cleverly designed interiors, good beds and showers, along with the hotel's quirky and original style. Despite a few minor issues such as the lack of air conditioning and occasional noise from the street, The Black Hole appears to leave a lasting, positive impression on those who stay there, thanks in part to its innovative and fun concept.
Beds
Guest reviews for The Black Hole highlight the beds and bedding as major positive aspects of their stay. Overwhelmingly, visitors found the beds to be clean and comfortable with many describing them as cozy, soft and firm in a reassuring way. The rooms themselves were frequently mentioned for their cleanliness and maintenance, contributing to an overall comfortable experience. Words like spotless, well-maintained and inviting stand out in regard to both the beds and the general state of the rooms.
Many guests enjoyed great sleeping experiences, pointing out features such as large, king-size beds and comforting beddings contributing to restful nights. The overall atmosphere of the rooms was described as warm and cozy, further enhancing the comfort level. Despite a few mentions of hard pillows or slightly noisy beds with movement, the consensus remains largely positive. Guests repeatedly expressed satisfaction with phrases like 'very comfy beds' and 'slept well.'
In conclusion, The Black Hole impresses with its dedication to maintaining clean and comfortable beds, offering a restful retreat for travelers. While there were occasional preferences for softer mattresses and pillows, the general sentiment solidifies the hotel as a reliable choice for a good night's sleep.
Cleanliness
The Black Hole garners widespread acclaim for its exceptional cleanliness with guests frequently highlighting its immaculately kept rooms and facilities. The accommodations are described as spotlessly clean, well-maintained and comfortable. The high standard of hygiene extends to every corner of the hotel, from the urban, quirky rooms down to the modern bathrooms.
Many reviews underscore the hotel's unparalleled commitment to cleanliness, noting that rooms are consistently sanitized, neat and fresh-smelling. Freshly laundered towels and colorful bed linens add a touch of charm while contributing to the overall clean and inviting atmosphere. Guests also appreciate the friendly and diligent staff, who ensure the property remains in pristine condition.
The Black Hole’s cozy rooms, though sometimes described as small, are equipped with everything a guest might need, making the stay both comfortable and convenient. The establishment’s cleanliness has impressed even those with the highest standards, contributing to a welcoming environment that leaves a lasting impression on its guests.
Staff
The Black Hole hotel boasts an impressive and dedicated team with numerous guests praising the staff for their friendliness and willingness to help. Emma, in particular, receives multiple commendations for her exceptional management and warm hospitality. The staff are frequently highlighted as being lovely, accommodating and very attentive, exceeding guests' expectations with their supportive and courteous nature.
Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a welcoming atmosphere and a warm reception, making them feel right at home. The attentiveness of the staff ensures that all needs are met with guests often mentioning how helpful and kind the team members are. The cleanliness and meticulous approach of the staff, even outside reception hours, further enhance the overall experience.
Whether assisting with late check-ins or accommodating special requests, the team's professionalism and friendly demeanor leave a lasting impression. The level of service provided is consistently described as impeccable with the staff's kindness and politeness noted by numerous guests. Special mentions of the warm and accommodating nature of the personnel add to the positive ambiance of the hotel.
Overall, the dedication and superb service of The Black Hole's staff create an inviting and pleasant experience for all visitors, making it a standout choice for those seeking exceptional hospitality.
Wi-Fi
The Black Hole offers wifi that is generally described as excellent and strong with several access points ensuring a good internet connection throughout the hotel. Most areas benefit from free wifi, making it convenient for guests to stay connected. Reviews frequently mention that the wifi was functional and worked well, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, guests noted that the wifi in Cell 4 is notably erratic, to the point of being unusable at times, suggesting room for improvement in that specific area. Overall, the hotel offers a reliable and strong wifi connection that meets the needs of most guests.
Adult Only
The Black Hole stands out for its clearly defined adult-only atmosphere, creating a serene and mature environment. The hotel ensures a peaceful experience by strictly enforcing a no-children policy, making it primarily suitable for adults. The recurring theme of adult-only throughout the property caters to those seeking a mature and relaxed stay. It is essential to note that while the hotel is adult-themed, it is also dog-friendly, though there was little mention of the adult-only policy in relations to pets. This hotel is ideal for adults looking for a tranquil retreat without the bustling energy that accompanies family-oriented venues.
No, The Black Hole doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Black Hole.
No, The Black Hole doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Black Hole.