Would Jane Austen have approved?
Debbie Lewis enjoys a truly British weekend break in Bath at the family-run Queensbury Hotel.
With its slightly unorthodox layout and individual styling, The Queensberry Hotel could be described as an example of a great British eccentric. Converted from three adjoining Georgian townhouses, the hotel is situated on a quiet residential street just a short walk away from Bath’s main shopping area and the Assembly rooms.
It is also around the corner from the Circus and the Royal Crescent, which are among the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the country. All of the above make the hotel the perfect choice for an indulgent weekend getaway in one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
A frequent visitor to Bath, Jane Austen herself would surely have approved of the accommodation with its high ceilings, original features and gracious-floor to-ceiling windows. Each of the 29 rooms are slightly different, although all are comfortably and stylishly decorated and boast modern luxuries such as walk-in-wardrobes and large marble bathrooms. Throw in fluffy towels, crisp bed linen, complementary mineral water and a good supply of books and magazines and what more could you want for your city break.
The Queensberry is privately owned and is as friendly as it is stylish. There are public spaces for relaxing, including an inviting drawing room, the perfect place to enjoy a complementary cuppa and to warm up on a winter’s day after exploring the city. The late-night Q Bar pays homage, in a playful way, to ‘Britishness’ with its bulldog and Union Jack-inspired furnishings. It has an impressive drinks list including rare whiskies and cocktails, from the classic to the more innovative.
Breakfast is served in the Olive Tree restaurant in the basement and there’s a good choice including fresh fruit salad, traditional English and Continental. This is also the place to treat yourself to dinner. It is Bath’s only AA three-rosette restaurant and prides itself on serving fresh local seasonal produce. Dishes include braised pork belly with black pudding puree, caramelised apple and savoy cabbage and venison, with toasted quinoa, chestnut and fig.
Other perks of staying here include a free loan of a Spa pack – including towels and robes – if you are planning a visit to the Thermae spa, as well as valet parking. There’s also a useful information pack in the bedrooms with lots of insider tips on making the most of the city.
If the weather is kind, make time to sit in the lovely walled gardens where you can relax in the shade of the quince tree and enjoy afternoon tea or a perfectly-mixed sundowner.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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