Hotel de Vie

How many of us have fantasies of opening our own hotel, and making it into exactly the sort of place we would like to stay in but never really find? Well, the guys who opened Farnham's Hotel de Vie in 2007 did just that, putting into practice all of the things they had liked (and disliked) about the many hotels they had stayed in during successful business careers. As a result, Hotel de Vie is a home-away-from-home for many people – sleek and stylish, but comfy as you like, with a personal vibe that people come back for. There are eight rooms in all, each individually styled and deliberately different from the next. It's an adults-only sort of place: you can choose from names like 'Gothic Nights' and 'Victorian Memories', the more saucy 'Decadence' or the lovely top-of-the-range 'Scarlet Suite'. But don't worry: this is no themed hotel – just a comfortable place to stay where they place an emphasis on thoughtfulness, individuality and personal attention. They serve a great breakfast, and also offer hot meals in the evening (curry, spag bol, sausage-and-mash...), as well as comfort snacks like beans-on-toast, sausage sandwiches or even jam sandwiches. A great business alternative to the chains that dominate nearby, or very much the spot for a special weekend away.