Macdonald White Hart Hotel, Salisbury

Whitehart Hotel - Salisbury
Rating = 3 Star ***

I have chosen to write a review on this Hotel as in the area I live in it has quite a good reputation. I have stayed in the Hotel a few times and have held a Birthday Party here for my mothers 60th. I shall give you my personal experience with some relevant hotel facts and history.

***Hotels Location**

Rail - The nearest mainline station to The White ...
...a short taxi journey away
Air - The nearest airport to The White Hart Hotel is Southampton International Airport, approximately 27 miles away
The White Hart Hotel is based on St Johns Street in the City of Salisbury. It is an elegant Georgian building in the heart of Salisbury and opposite the beautiful and historic Salisbury Cathedral. It is named the White hart but the building is not actually white. It has a white stag placed outside ... more

Whitehart Hotel - Salisbury
Rating = 3 Star ***

I have chosen to write a review on this Hotel as in the area I live in it has quite a good reputation. I have stayed in the Hotel a few times and have held a Birthday Party here for my mothers 60th. I shall give you my personal experience with some relevant hotel facts and history.

***Hotels Location**

Rail - The nearest mainline station to The White Hart Hotel is Salisbury Station, approximately 15 minutes' walk or a short taxi journey away
Air - The nearest airport to The White Hart Hotel is Southampton International Airport, approximately 27 miles away
The White Hart Hotel is based on St Johns Street in the City of Salisbury. It is an elegant Georgian building in the heart of Salisbury and opposite the beautiful and historic Salisbury Cathedral. It is named the White hart but the building is not actually white. It has a white stag placed outside the building, with a great big old fashioned Street lamp hanging from its front balcony. This hotel is in a great location for visitors who want to explore Salisbury and its surrounding area i.e. Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge etc. The hotel is also inline with Salisbury Court. The road surrounding the Hotel can be very busy and hectic as it is a one way system in Salisbury town centre.

*** History of Salisbury ***

The area of Salisbury is steeped in history, the area dating back to before the Iron Age - just a few miles away on the A303 stands the iconic figure of Stonehenge. A very popular destination with many tourists in this area.
The city itself dates mostly from medieval times, it was here that Salisbury Cathedral was built; Salisbury Cathedral is one of England's most iconic buildings, its 404-feet tall spire is the tallest in the country. The White Hart Hotel offers exceptional views of Salisbury Cathedral, being situated opposite the magnificent building.

*** Reception Area ***

Once you have entered the hotel from the front foyer, though the grand swirling oak door it takes you straight to the reception area. This area is a very large area of space with wonderful décor and furnished very tastefully. On your left you will have the reception desk built in a lovely oak with gold trimmings. There are normally 2 members of staff at the desk. I have always found the reception staff very helpful, friendly and good customer service. They are always dressed immaculate and clean looking. This is always a good impression on the hotel itself. In the reception area there is a grand log fire. During the winter months they light the fire which is open and very homely. The surrounding furniture is soft sofas and big armchairs, with very tasteful paintings, plants and wall décor. Most the furnishings are placed in the surroundings of the fire place.
The reception area is also used to serve tea/coffee and cakes throughout the daytime, many guests sit here and it is open to the general public too. I have found this area is always slightly busy - but mind you the cakes are delightful.

*** Lounge Bar Area ***

The bar area is joined on through a door from the reception area. The bar I would say is relatively small compared to a public house bar but was ok for a hotel bar. I found the bar quite a nice place but also quite expensive in prices. Beer on tap and soft drinks are also expensive. The seating area is comfortable again with big soft sofas and chairs but there are also wooden tables and chairs nearer to the bar area. At the bar it is laid with dark wooden flooring with Gold trimmings along the top and bottom of the bar. The main deco colour was a light green with paintings hanging up. As I have been to the Hotel for quite a number of events I have found the bar can be very hectic and with minimal staff. There were 1 to 2 members serving, but for a party of 60 - 80 people it was at times quite a wait.

*** Meeting/Function Rooms***

The White Hart Hotel has 3 meeting/function rooms available to hire. There are no set prices but I found it was based on the amount of people they are catering for. This hotel has a functions co-ordinator who will help you with all your questions and quests. I found both co-ordinators helpful and the communication was excellent with them sending emails and telephone calls. As I have not hired a room out to hold a business meeting therefore I could not comment on the service or room outlook.

*The St John Suite - This Suite is situated at the back of the hotel. It can be reached by either the front entrance through reception or you can reach it by the car park and through the back double doors. This room is decorated in a dark shade of terracotta/burgundy with paintings, plants and a deep dark burgundy carpet. This room has lovely windows surrounding the room looking out onto the Courtyard. These windows are draped in curtains with floral patterns. The tables are set to accommodate 10 for weddings/parties. The whole room can accommodate up to 100 people, making it ideal for larger meetings or wedding/parties. The room has very high ceilings, as this would be linked the Georgian times. If this room is used for weddings or a party they have a mobile disco floor which can be placed anywhere in the room.

*The St Nicholas Suite - This suite is situated next to the bar area and is slightly smaller than the St John's suite. This room's décor is in cream with a dark carpet (unfortunately can't remember colour) the windows are situated on one side of the room facing the main road and the Court. The windows are large and are draped in bright yellow curtains with a dark pattern on (not too nice on the eye). This room can accommodate up to 60 people making this room ideal for smaller weddings/ parties or a small banquet. I hired this room out for my mother's 60th party and it was a fantastic night. The hotel did a fantastic job with the service they provided and the food that was laid on for the event. There was not a set price to hire but it is by the amount of people to cater for. The hotel has a resident Disco Jockey which you can hire or you can hire your own entertainment. This room has a built in dance floor in the middle which is approx 10x10 a nice size floor.

*The St Anne's Room - This room is situated next to the St Nicholas Suite opposite the bar area. It is a very small room which can accommodate up to 20 people and more used for meetings. The room has a very basic colour scheme of beige with 1 or 2 large Pictures on the walls and white windows - the windows face out onto the courtyard. The room also features air-conditioning. I have seen this room used for Chocolate fountains whilst the hotel hosts big events like New Year eve party.

*** Toilets***

The main toilets are situated on the ground floor of the building. The ladies are found opposite the lounge Bar on the main corridor to the St Nichols Suite. The men's are also located on the same corridor but slightly further up the corridor. As I have never been into the men's toilets I really could not comment on the state or cleanliness of them, but if they are like the ladies I'm sure they are excellent.
The Ladies toilet - On first impression of the ladies toilets was clean and smells fresh. It also feels very grand with the décor. The flooring is white/cream tiles, with tiles on the walls. The sink area consists of 2 sinks with gold tap fixtures. There are 2 large personal mirrors above the sinks with soap machines. There are 2 actual toilets with nice soft paper, opposite the toilets are 2 more mirrors with a marbled work top great to re-apply your lip stick or adjust your hair with out clogging around the sinks. The floor was spotless and the bins were emptied regularly.

*** 1st Floor & 2nd Floor ***

To get to the 1st & 2nd there are 2 lovely dark oak stair cases one situated next the reception desk and the other one situated before the function suites next to the lounge bar. They are both quite wide and very old as they creek and the steps are very low with wide spaced steps. The banister is also old dark oak with lovely carving detail.
Please note that this hotel does not have a lift

*** Rooms ***

The White Hart Hotel comprises 68 rooms all the rooms have recently been re-decorated to a nice standard. There are 40 rooms out of 68 that are non smoking. The rooms we have stayed in have been spacious and very clean. Our latest room was decorated in a basic colour scheme of white and green with pictures of Salisbury Cathedral and other local places. We booked a double room and we were given a Queen / King-sized bed but you can book a single/twin. The beds are comfy with fresh smelling sheets, with ample pillows. There is a remote controlled colour television (approx 19" Screen) which has the basic 5 channels. The room also has fitted furniture of a lovely looking desk with a gold rimmed mirror (great to apply make-up or hair) In the Desk draw there you will find a hairdryer at no extra charge. Our room had a large window that faced out onto the side street of the hotel and not too noisy as slightly away from traffic.

The Bathroom is normally a few feet away from your main room. The bathroom is made from marble, our bathroom on 3 stays have always been in fantastic condition. The fixtures again are of gold/brass and a huge mirror placed across the whole bathroom. The hotel provided Towels of all sizes and a bath mat is also provided.

Room Extras:
• A mini fridge stocked with water, juice, malteasers, peanuts, small bottles of wine and 2 bottles of beer.
• CD player
• Telephone
• Family rooms
• Cots (on request) Smoking and non-smoking rooms
• 24 hour reception

Prices:-

Single room = £106.50
Twin = £77.50
Double = £77.50 - £100

*** Food ***

I have eaten quite a few times at this hotel I have never had a single complaint. I just would not have enough time or space to go into great detail into the food or menus of each trip or stay.

Breakfast is self service in the Squires restaurant where there is a wide range of cereals, fresh juices (orange and apple), croissants, pastry's, fresh fruit salads, scrambled egg and the typical cooked breakfast.

Evening Dinner (based on event nights) this is always a different menu which is printed up on a set menu on the evening. This normally consists of:

Starter - Pate, Salmon
Intermediate - Soup
Sorbet
Main - Meat (steak, beef, chicken) with a great selection of vegetables, normally with a nice sauce depending on which meat you choose.
Dessert - this can range from profiterole filled with baileys, mascarpone cream mouse, cheesecake,
Tea/coffee with biscuits

My boyfriend and I have eaten at this hotel on numerous occasions and all for different events. We have found that the meats have always been very tender and cooked to how you prefer, a good range of vegetables are supplied with each main course and some lovely sauces. The chefs excel themselves in the deserts they produce.
In 2005 we spent New Years Eve party and had a 7 course meal ending in a chocolate fountain. We spent Christmas day here 2006 and the food was divine again with a wide variety of choice this hotel does do a good vegetarian selection. As my friend is a vegetarian and she enjoyed her meal here when she dined with us on my boyfriend return from Iraq and we are all currently booked for New Years Eve party for this coming New Year.

*** Hotel Parking ***

The White Hart Hotel has free car parking for 60 vehicles at the rear of the hotel. This has a security banner that is controlled by the hotel and you have to ask the reception staff for a code to leave the car park.

***Family / Children's services***

*Pets are allowed

• Cots / Cribs
• Baby sitting services
• Children's Menus
• High Chairs

***Hotel facilities***

• Dry Cleaning / Laundry Service,
• Guest Laundry Facilities
• 24-Hour Front Desk
• Express Check out
• Safety Deposit Boxes
• Left Luggage / Storage Facilities

*** Contact details***

White Hart
St John St
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2SD
Tel : (+44)1722/327476
Fax : (+44)1722/412761 

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