Places to Stay With a Bar in Hampshire

If you like the idea of finishing the day with a drink without heading back out, a stay with its own bar makes life simpler. BritStays currently lists 12 places to stay in Hampshire with a bar. Eight are hotels, three are campsites and one is a caravan park, so you have a real choice between a hotel room and a pitch under the sky.

What the facilities tell you

Across the 12 stays, the pattern is fairly consistent:

• 9 have a restaurant, so in most cases you can eat on site as well as drink.
• 9 have parking, which helps if you're bringing the car and kit.
• 6 are pet friendly.
• 6 have WiFi.
• 6 are near a train station.
• 3 have a cafe.
• 3 have disabled access.

A bar plus a restaurant is the norm, but WiFi, pet-friendly rooms and step-free access are only found at some of them. If any of those matter to you, check the individual listing before you book.

Which area suits your trip

Winchester has the most choice, with three stays. The Winchester Royal Hotel is near a train station, which makes it a practical pick if you'd rather leave the car at home. The Old Vine pairs its bar with a restaurant and is pet friendly. The Winchester Hotel adds a swimming pool, hot tub and spa, which suits couples after a slower, more pampered break. Families wanting a pool for the children may like it too.

Southampton has two stays: the Ibis and the Travelodge. Both have a bar and a restaurant. The Ibis also has a cafe, and the Travelodge offers takeaway food. These are straightforward, practical bases rather than destinations in themselves.

Eastleigh is home to the Village Hotel Club, whose swimming pool, gym and spa make it a good choice if you want to keep up a routine or unwind properly.

Alresford and Lyndhurst each have one hotel. The Swan Hotel in Alresford has a bar, restaurant and WiFi. The Crown Manor House Hotel in Lyndhurst has a bar and restaurant.

Countryside, camping and caravanning

If you'd rather wake up in a field than a hotel room, there are four options:

• Green Hill Farm Caravan & Camping Park has a hot tub alongside its bar and restaurant.
• Stockbridge View Campsite offers a bar, restaurant and cafe, so you needn't cook every night.
• Brocklands Farm near Petersfield has a bar, toilets and a gift shop.
• Oakley Farm Caravan Park near Newbury has a bar, parking and a laundrette, which is useful on a longer stay.

For families, these sites give children space to roam while you still have somewhere to sit in the evening.

Bringing the dog

Half the stays (6 of 12) are listed as pet friendly, and The Old Vine in Winchester is one of them. Pet policies often vary by room or pitch type, and some places limit numbers. It's worth confirming when you book rather than assuming.

What to do once you're there

Hampshire has plenty of history to explore:

• Stately homes: Hinton Ampner, Rotherfield Park, Cranbury House, Gaston Grange and Redenham House.
• National Trust properties: City Mill and Sandham Memorial Chapel.
• Outdoors: the New Forest National Park is the obvious draw if you want walks and open country.
• With children: Marwell Zoo in Hampshire is an easy win.
• Rainy days: the City Museum in Portsmouth is a good option.

Further afield, attractions listed nearby include New Forest Water Park (in Bournemouth), Trilakes Animal Park and The Allen Gallery (both in Berkshire), and the Isle of Wight Glass Museum. Check travel times before you plan a day around any of these.

When to book

With only 12 stays in the region, the choice is limited.

• Winchester: there are just three options, so book early if you've set your heart on one of them, especially for weekends.
• Dogs and accessibility: only six stays are pet friendly and three have disabled access. Booking well ahead gives you the best chance of the right room.
• Camping and caravanning: four sites is a small pool. In school holidays, reserve your pitch early rather than turning up on the off chance.
• Bar opening hours: if a bar is the reason you're choosing somewhere, ask when it's open, as hours at smaller sites can be seasonal.