When you think of Bath, it's likely that spas, old houses and pretty streets spring to mind. So it's only natural that my first trip to the city would feature a stay at No. 15 Bath by GuestHouse a boutique hotel housed inside a listed Georgian building. GuestHouse provide luxury stays up and down the country, with sites everywhere from York to Margate, and each one offers something a little different.
Their Bath location is right in the heart of the action, promising 36 gorgeous bedrooms, a cocktail bar and basement spa facilities - as well as the enticing addition of a pantry full of snacks and drinks - free to everyone staying there. Firmly in tourist mode and on the hunt for some air con during the relentless UK heatwave, I was very excited to check in here.
Every stay at No.15 Bath includes free access to their pantry.
DesignMyNight's Review Of No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath
Need To Know:
- Address: 15 Great Pulteney Street, Bathwick, Bath, BA2 4BS
- Area: city centre, close to the rugby stadium
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: surrounded by parks and in the middle of a striking Georgian terrace, this hotel really delivered on the quintessential Bath experience. We were shown to our room by a lovely receptionist who pointed out some of the hotel's other features on the way - including the pantry, which conveniently happened to be directly opposite our door. This was packed with crisps, popcorn, soft drinks, sweet and freshly baked biscuits, and there was even a freezer full of ice creams, perfect for the hot weather. Despite being quite a spacious hotel, it maintained the charm of a townhouse, with winding corridors and high ceilings.
- Perfect for: a luxurious weekend away
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: from around £300 per night for a Pulteney Suite, depending on date, plus around £150 on food and drinks (including dinner and breakfast)
The bar at No.15 (left) and some of their signature cocktails (right).
Room Quality & Comfort
Room: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was suitably impressed by our room, which was enormous. Alongside
the super king-size bed, there was a small sofa and two other
chairs, a flat-screen TV and large wardrobe, and the desk space
came with both a record player and an adorable dolls house that
opened up to reveal teas, coffees and all the other amenities you'd
need. The bathroom was equally delightful, equipped with fluffy
robes and a selection of Wildsmith toiletries. These rooms are even
dog-friendly, and we saw several pups during our stay.
Dining Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While there isn't a full-blown restaurant on-site, we enjoyed some small plates in their pretty bar, which was more than enough for a proper lunch or dinner. Some of my favourites were the below:
- Harissa cauliflower tacos (£6) - these moreish tacos packed a real punch; the crisp cauliflower sat on a bed of lime hummus, topped with red onion, pomegranate seeds and a chilli sauce. My only regret was that I didn't double up on the portion size, as one each left me wanting more.
- Chicken karaage (£11) - the generous portion of bite-sized chicken thigh pieces was fried in a crispy batter, pairing nicely with a lao gan mayo dip.
- Oyster mushroom and caramelised onion sausage rolls (£9) - I was over the moon to find a veggie sausage roll, as these are something of a rarity (outside of Greggs). This was an upmarket take on the classic British snack, with flaky, seeded pastry, an earthy, flavourful centre and a rich brown sauce dip.
- Mini doughnuts (£8) - served with a delicious tiramisu dip, these doughnuts transported me straight to the seaside - soft, fluffy and coated in sugar.
Drinks: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cocktails are the real star of the show at this bar, and we tried a selection. Highlights included:
- Strawberry and basil paloma (£14) - the perfect drink for a summer day, this tequila-based blend came with a thick strawberry puree that made it almost smoothie-like in the best way, alongside basil syrup and soda. Definitely go for this one if you're a fruity drink fan.
- Pomelo Fizz (£14) - served in a Champagne glass, this elegant concoction was made with Chase Grapefruit and Pomelo Gin, strawberry, lemon, and Chapel Down Rosé, creating a sophisticated but easy-drinking mix.
Small plates at the bar and breakfast the next day (pictured).
Breakfast: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Breakfast is charged at a flat rate of £25 per person, including tea, coffee, juice, fruit, cereal, toast and any hot dishes you'd like to order. From the menu, we chose:
- Vegetarian full English - I opted for scrambled eggs, which were perfectly cooked and beautifully buttery. They came alongside fried halloumi, a giant tomato, mushrooms, cubed potatoes and spinach. This was an excellent fry-up which left me full for the day, though if it was down to me there would definitely have been some beans on the plate too.
- Mascarpone and raspberry waffles - ever the sweet tooth, my partner picked one of their waffle options, and the portion size was seriously impressive. The indulgent topping with equal parts creamy and fruity, coating the pillowy Belgian waffles perfectly.
My Overall Experience At No.15 Bath by GuestHouse
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I would strongly recommend this hotel to anyone, whether it's your first time in Bath or your hundredth. The location is perfect for exploring, and you'll feel right at home as soon as you walk in. The rooms are thoughtfully designed and well-stocked with all the essentials, and having an array of free snacks waiting for you is the dream. I was also very impressed by their food and drink options - the cocktails were incredible, and there was an extensive number of breakfast options to suit all tastes as well. Overall, our stay at No.15 was fantastic, and I'd love to visit more of GuestHouse's hotels.
