If you’ve been following me on Twitter, you will know that I have just been on my very first trip of the year. Last weekend I spent a wonderful time in the city of Bristol with my boyfriend which just so happened to correspond with his birthday – so it was celebrations all round. Our short stay was jam-packed with exploring the sights of the city centre, soaking up the atmosphere in the elegant Georgian neighbourhood of Clifton and of course, being the street-art lover that I am, hunting down some of the famous Banksy graffiti. Despite the weather being rather wet and windy, we had a great time but really, the highlight of our trip was our wonderful accommodation at The Bristol Hotel, part of the renowned Doyle Collection.
ON ARRIVAL
Thankfully our journey to Bristol was without problems and after taking a bus from Bristol Temple Meads, we arrived at the hotel at around 11.30am. We were a little early for check-in so left our bags with the friendly concierge and spent a few moments taking our bearings and consulting the map in the comfort of the hotel’s lounge. It was soon time to don our coats, wrap up nice and warm and set out, umbrella in hand, to explore.
After a busy afternoon wandering around Clifton, we made our way back to the hotel and were ready to get into the warmth and comfort of our room. On arrival, we investigated the ground floor of the hotel around the Reception, locating two lounges and a bar, whilst just a few steps down to the Harbourside level, we discovered the classy River Lounge Grill which doubles as the Breakfast space.
Check-in was very efficient and within no time at all we were heading up in the lift to our room on the 6th floor.
THE ROOM
We were soon into our room for the night where we made ourselves at home by brewing up a warming cup of tea – just what we needed after being blown about by the gusty wind all afternoon! We were also thrilled to find a plate of goodies – a selection of macaroons, fresh fruits and a little box of chocolates – welcoming us to the hotel. What more could a girl (or boy) want?
Our beautifully decorated room had everything you could want or need – plush modern furnishings, a comfortable seating area, a spacious desk, complimentary WiFi access, a large 35” flat screen TV, and of course an inviting double bed topped with crisp white linen. We also had tea and coffee making facilities (including a Nespresso machine), bottles of mineral water, a hair dryer and safe box, as well as extras including luxury bathrobes and slippers, to add that extra little touch of comfort and indulgence.
The attractive marble bathroom offered a bath with shower fittings, and was well stocked with complimentary Temple Spa toiletries as well as the usual beautifying set with cotton pads, buds and a small nail file.
Last but not least was the great view of the Harbourside and city from out of our window. Although most of the day and night it was raining, we still enjoyed the views of the harbour and the busy restaurants and bars along the waterfront, their lights and illuminations adding colour to the night-time scene.
THE LOCATION
The Bristol Hotel is located in the heart of the city, right on the Harbourside, and just a short walk from the centre. Many of the guest rooms overlook the picturesque harbour or alternatively enjoy views across the city.
Within 10 minutes you are able to reach the majority of Bristol’s main sights – from Brunel’s SS Great Britain and M Shed on Spike Island, to the museums and entertainment centres including the likes of @Bristol and the Aquarium. Also close by are College Green and the University buildings on Park Street, not forgetting Bristol’s old quarter centred around St Nicholas’ Market and the Exchange.
As far as transportation is concerned, the hotel is roughly a 15 minute bus ride from Temple Meads station and about 20 minutes from the leafy district of Clifton. Buses can be found along St Augustine’s Parade/ Broad Quay – (less than a 5 minute walk from the hotel).
FOOD – DINNER & BREAKFAST
After gallivanting around in the wet and the cold on Sunday afternoon/early evening we decided that we did not fancy venturing very far once back at the hotel. Despite being surrounded by tempting eateries in the vicinity, we decided to give the Hotel’s River Lounge restaurant a go – and we definitely made the right decision.
Having let the restaurant know in advance that we were celebrating my boyfriend’s birthday they absolutely spoiled us with complimentary glasses of Fizz which we enjoyed in the tranquil, relaxed surroundings of the restaurant, whilst we chatted about our day’s adventure and our already planned travel itineraries for the coming months.
After a small bread platter and amuse-bouche, our mains arrived – between us we had ordered the Rump Steak and the Steak Burger, with sweet potato fries (of course!). We eagerly tucked in to our food, which we consumed with relish and with gusto. Both the steak and the burger were cooked as per request and that element of succulence survived well from kitchen to table. To end the meal we shared a beautifully presented Bakewell Tart. We were thoroughly impressed with how attentively we were looked after by the staff, the delicious, well-prepared food and the chilled-out atmosphere – all in all it was a fab way to end our day.
The following morning we were up bright and early and ready to gorge ourselves on the selection of breakfast goodies. The breakfast buffet was laid out in an adjoining section of the restaurant and offered both a choice of warm (including a full-English) as well as cold platters (cheeses and meats), plus assorted fruit and yogurts, pastries and cereals and a generous selection of fruit juices.
THE VERDICT
My stay at The Bristol, although short, was very enjoyable. We were made to feel very welcome and all members of staff did everything they could to offer their help and expertise to make our stay memorable. The hotel was very tastefully decorated throughout, from the reception area, to the lounges, to the rooms and the general atmosphere, wherever you went, was very relaxed and friendly.
So, if you are thinking of taking a short break in Bristol and are looking for somewhere to stay, I would thoroughly recommend The Bristol – you can thank me later!
What did you think of my The Bristol Hotel review? Have you recently enjoyed a stay there yourself, or would you consider it for an upcoming trip to Bristol? If you want to know anything else about the hotel or if you enjoyed this post, please leave me a comment in the box below and let me know!
*Disclosure: Many thanks to the team at The Bristol Hotel for putting us up during our time in the city. We were guests of The Bristol Hotel for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are, as always, my own.
1 comment
Great review, this hotel seems great! And I absolutely love the decor of that room! 🙂