THREE hotels in Winchester have been deemed as going above and beyond Covid-compliant Government guidelines to ensure the safety of its guests.

Hotel Du Vin Winchester, Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel and Norton Park Hotel have made the Safe to Trade Scheme Approved list to take their place among the safest 175 hotels in the UK.

As the number of August bank holiday overnight stays at UK hotels reportedly went down from 8.6m last year to 4.8m this year, a list of 175 fully Covid-compliant UK hotels was released by the hospitality industry’s Safe to Trade Scheme.

The newly-launched Safe to Trade Scheme helps holidaymakers identify which hotels, bars, restaurants and cinemas are going the extra mile to ensure the safety of their staff and guests.

Mark Flanagan, who chairs the Safe to Trade Scheme governance board, said: “We are delighted to announce the first 175 UK hotels to meet our stringent standards and be deemed as Safe to Trade.

"For those customers looking to make the most of what’s left of the summer with a UK staycation but who want to do so as safely as possible, the Safe to Trade Scheme provides peace of mind.

“Customers who consult our register of approved venues at safetotrade.org.uk can search for a hotel by name or location and be confident that every approved hotel that features on the list complies fully with the law.”

The three hotels in Winchester featured in the Top 175 Approved Safe to Trade Hotels in the UK had to pass a strict approval process, as well as adhere to stringent health and safety guidance.

The hotels will now work with experts on an ongoing basis, who will audit their safety practices.