The hotel chain was founded in Winchester in 1994 by Gerard Basset and Robin Hutson, who had both previously worked at Chewton Glen hotel where Basset was the head sommelier and Hutson the managing director.

The name "Hotel du Vin" was a reference to Basset's wine expertise.

[1] Subsequent hotels were established in other locations including Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol Avon Gorge, Bristol City Centre, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Harrogate, Henley-on-Thames, Newcastle, Poole, St Andrews, Stratford Upon Avon, Tunbridge Wells, Wimbledon, Winchester and York.

As of 2019, Hotel du Vin were operating nineteen hotels across the UK, primarily in university locations and cathedral cities.

[2] Plans have been submitted in 2019 to convert Pearl Assurance House into a 70 bedroom site in Manchester which will also feature a rooftop bar.