Peppermill - Devizes
Got to stay here for a wedding last month and had the amazing pleasure of spending two nights in this quaint yet stylish hotel. It’s located right at the heart of the Wiltshire market town of Devizes, right on top of the market square and boasts to be one of the oldest extant buildings in the town dating back to the 15th century. It’s a Grade II listed building reflecting its architectural and historical significance, the hotel retains much of its original features like the low oak beams and uneven floors that’s contribute to charming, characterful atmosphere today.
I stayed in room number ten which was stunning, stylish and very comfortable. Hosting all what you would expect to find in a decent hotel, like your usual teas and coffees, TV, local information, an iron and board, it was actually nice to see a Bible in the drawer as per old tradition. Power points were well situated for charging your gadgets and the best bit was the A/C. Coming here in the mid of July was hot so a decent A/C unit was very welcome.
The hotel offers 16 boutique rooms, including a Bridal Suite with a four-poster bed and a two‑bedroom Family Suite. All the rooms are individually styled and I’m told all but the single room has A/C but all have en‑suite bathrooms. The bathroom was a highlight. Very chic yet retaining its grandiose style blending vintage elegance with modern luxury. There’s a large walk-in shower, a lengthy bathroom sink, but it’s the claw-footed bathtub that’s forms the centrepiece of the bathroom - the kind that demands a long, revitalising soak.
There’s staff there were very welcoming and helpful, and they will tell you that access to the hotel at night is restricted, and you’ll have to gain entry via a coded door at the rear of the hotel found off of Castle Lane. I did a little pub crawl as you do so got back after hours. Finding the door wasn’t a problem but it’s advisable to have a look first if you’re planning on staying out late. It’s then navigating yourself through the hotel to find your room that can be a little disorientating. It was actually a nice surprise because you find these cosy snugs for socialising, relaxing and playing classic games like chess. I honestly thought I walked into someone’s lounge initially before realising it was safe to venture through.
The entire hotel has this classic yet comfortable ambience, even the bar and restaurant, and cocktail lounge has a certain ambience that’s both trendy and vintage. The 2AA Rosette award-winning restaurant is quite large and was busy during my stay, serving a British menu with fresh seasonal ingredients sourced locally. Being the venue for the wedding reception, we were upstairs in a private, moderate banquet room which had its own bar and toilet. There’s A/C in the room but I did feel for the bar staff who were sweltering, but they never complained.
The buffet food that was served was of high quality and a decent range to suit everyone’s tastes. The honey mustard sausages and Mini Yorkshire Puds with roast beef and horseradish were amazing! This also included a range of sandwiches and quiches, salads and range of small dessert plates. If the buffet was anything to go by, I can only imagine the main menu downstairs being excellent.
They have very limited parking isn’t but there’s plenty of very local options. Just be mindful if staying mid week as parking in the market square is prohibited on Wednesday evenings due to the market on the Thursday. Just expect a short walk of you can’t get in behind the hotel. The local car parks are payable via MIPERMIT app and quite cheap at that.
You get a scene of pride here, from the team, the service and the food, this pairing with the overall ambiance of the venue sets a perfect luxurious place to stay should you ever come to Devizes. It’s a great location if exploring the little town of Devizes or neighbouring attractions like Stonehenge, Avebury, the Kennet Canals and the town itself. I would certainly stay here again.