King’s Head Inn

The King’s Head has a rich history. A pub known as the King’s Head has operated on this site from around 1520 until the 1880s when the pub was rebuilt and renamed the County Hotel. It was acquired by Wetherspoon, refurbished and re-opened as the King’s Head in 2002.

Wetherspoon is known mostly for its pubs (there are almost 1000 of them across the United Kingdom) but they also run hotels with around 4–5% of Wetherspoon pubs having hotel accommodation attached.

While Wetherspoons pubs share many similarities such as a common menu, they wouldn’t be successful if they were identical and the company goes to great lengths to ensure that their pubs and hotels have an individual feel. They even go as far as having bespoke carpet designed for each hotel at an average cost of £40,000 per establishment. Because of these efforts, even though it is part of a large corporate chain, the King’s Head Inn feels very much like a small independent hotel.

The decor in Wetherspoons hotels is very pub-like with the same intricate floral carpet as their pubs, however, their Salisbury hotel has a more contemporary decor than most which probably goes a long way towards making this one of Wetherspoon’s more highly regarded hotels.

The hotel has 33 guest rooms, which all have comfortable beds, a work desk, a flatscreen television, tea and coffee making facilities and en suite bathrooms.

The pub is your typical Spoons pub with a traditional pub atmosphere that is not quite as cosy as your average local but it is also a little cheaper than other pubs in Salisbury. It opens earlier than most other pubs and a lot of people pop in for coffee (with free refills) or a traditional breakfast (just £3.90) in the morning but it becomes more pub-like by lunchtime. Like other pubs run by Wetherspoons, it has some good value food specials but it is hardly in the same league as a more expensive gastropub.

The King’s Head is located in the city centre on the banks of the River Avon. Most points of interest in Salisbury are within a seven- or eight-minute walk from the hotel.

The location is perfect if you’re travelling by public transport but the lack of parking means that it isn’t so good if you’re driving. Both the railway station and the National Express coach stop are around a seven-minute walk from the hotel and local buses to nearby towns and cities including Amesbury, Bournemouth and Southampton depart from New Canal, Blue Boar Lane and Endless Street, which are all no more than a few minutes walk away.