We also spent the night there
A visit to Bath always sounds like a great experience, a special treat. It is very close to Bristol and yet very different.
And this time, the excuse to make the 40 minute trip to the nearest town is good; We are invited to stay at Francis Hotel. Located in the heart of Queen Square and first opened in 1884, the hotel has recently undergone a £14m refurbishment – with a new spa now in place.
The spa had only been open for a few days on the Friday we visited, and it certainly had a new feel; it is a luxury to be among the first to try it.
The Francis Spa is unique and you can have your own private thermal room – it’s my first time having one of these experiences and I’m really excited as they show us. Time seemed to stand still as we entered the suite and allowed ourselves to soak in the experience.
The thermal suite is small, but perfectly sized for the experience and has a shower with different features, a relaxation area with heated benches and a steam room. After the shower, it’s time for a delicious body scrub that left my skin feeling fresh.
I’m not usually a fan of steam rooms but this one was exceptional; the bubbles falling from the ceiling are just as touching. They are fun and bring out your inner child as you can’t help but play with them.
I also loved the rain shower feature in the steam room itself; it felt like I was outside in the rain. Before I know it, it’s massage time.
After a long week, Eleanor’s skilled hands took the tension away from my body and this was one of the best massages I have ever had. He started the treatment with a massage gun, a first for me, followed by a solid massage – just like I want them.
I feel relaxed, mentally and physically at the end of it; I didn’t realize how much I needed this. We’ve only been here for a few hours, and less than an hour from Bristol, but I feel so far away – like a new woman, with the stress and anxiety of the week.
Now we can look into our room, which was big, modern and comfortable. I loved the deco, as well as the comfortable, soft sofa and the plate with sweet things that welcome us as a nice touch.
Since we have time to kill before dinner, we decide to go and have a drink this evening. Getting around Bath is always fun as there is so much to see, from Bath Abbey, the iconic Pulteney Bridge or the stunning Royal Crescent.
In our case, we stayed for a few drinks at the Coppa Club terrace near Old Bond Street to catch up on the last bits of the day. Time to return to the hotel for our dinner at Emberwood, featured in the Michelin Guide.
Starving at 7pm (I have to thank my son and our 5pm dinner for this), we start by ordering a few mushroom croquettes and sourdough bread with homemade whipped butter. This turned out to be an excellent decision, with the croquettes having the right amount of cream and mushrooms.
My friend and I – both from Barcelona – agreed that the bread could be the one you bought from his bakery; high bar. For starters, we also had Cornish scallops, marinated in garlic butter, and beef tartare.
Known for its brasserie, it was an easy choice when it came to mains and we went for the South West sirloin to share, with Koffman fries and green chilli salsa.
This was a meal that made me glad my vegetarian days were over. The steak was perfectly cooked and tender and full of flavour, while the sauteed cabbage, parmesan and parsley salad was surprisingly moreish.
As a dessert lover, I was looking forward to seeing what Emberwood had to offer in this department and I was not disappointed. Although the cakes from the sweet trolley looked very attractive, the signature orange cake I ordered was one I will remember for a long time.
Although the night life in Bath may not be on the same level as Bristol (sorry Bath), or maybe I’m looking in the wrong places, the city still has a good offer and it was great on a Friday night. Located in the heart of Bath, the Francis Hotel is ideally located for exploring the city on foot.
If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, the dark Pirse is always a great choice. Feeling in the mood for something quiet, we decided to head over to the Everyman to check out the many things that are being talked about. Ahe Mary project.
A three-hour movie, we both feel ready for bed when we get back to the hotel. Both of us being parents to young children, we are very happy not to have little alarms in the form of three year olds at 5am.
After a good night’s sleep, we head downstairs for a buffet breakfast at the hotel. There is a wide variety of choices, from cakes, fruits, cereals and processed foods. The eggs made to order were delicious, I thought.
Sadly, after breakfast, it’s time to head back to real Bristol – but we feel refreshed and refreshed after a night out.
You can find out more about Francis Hotel here.
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