1 EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-86457, 333-93516, 333-32713 and 333-60651) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-19197, 333-60079 and 333-60619) of Winston Hotels, Inc. of our report dated January 19, 2001 relating to the financial statements and the financial statement schedules, which appears in this Form 10-K. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Raleigh, North Carolina March 15, 2001