Hotel du Vin & Bistro, Cambridge
"How did it strike you on arrival?Feels like the hotel to stay at in Cambridge at the high end of the market. Painstakingly converted from listed terraced houses a number of years ago and part of an expanding chain of Hotel du Vin's around the UK, this one feels like a home-away-from-home, with a better wine cellar. What’s the crowd like?Trendsters and wine gurus—the basement bar and wine cellar extends the entire length of the hotel. You'll also find parents of uni students up on a visit. The good stuff: Tell us about the rooms.What you get with Hotel du Vin is solid comfort. The standard rooms are just that, standard. It's the suites that are more interesting. Our studio suite was big, compensating for the low ceilings, with a King size bed, roll top bath in an open plan bathroom, and a comfy sofa. The colors are all muted browns and greens with the bath being the most exciting part of it. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?Handsprung mattress did the trick providing a good night's sleep and the Egyptian linen sheets were clean and comfy. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?The plasma TV would look good on my wall, but I'd forget the minibar and order a bottle of Champagne from room service to enjoy in the bath. That's the point of freestanding baths in hotel rooms right? Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Best thing about the bathroom is the drenching monsoon shower, hot and steamy, with plenty of space to enjoy it. No great shakes when it comes to the design or layout, but nice towels and slippers. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Complimentary Wi-Fi worked great. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?The restaurant sommelier was able to recommend a selection of wines on hearing what I wanted and actually knew what he was talking about, not always the case but par for the course at the Hotel du Vin. Anything stand out about other services and features?The bistro restaurant deserves a mention. It feels like the heart of the hotel on the ground floor, incredibly elegant with large wood tables and reclaimed floorboards. And the food, all French and British classics, is food you want to eat. Anything else we should have asked about?Parking. Forget about it. Honestly don't drive to Cambridge as there are not a lot of convenient spaces and they are expensive. Bottom line: worth it?Standard rooms feel small and nothing special, a touch overpriced for what they are. The larger rooms however are the ones to go for and provide real value for money." - Ramsay Short
