Sugar and spice and all things nice: that’s what this hotel is made from. Situated midway down Great Pulteney Street (aka Bath’s second-most-famous street), No. 15 by GuestHouse augments its inherent Georgian elegance with a predilection for all things feminine.
Buttery-soft pinks, sandy beiges and that Millennial favourite, rose-gold, are used liberally throughout the bedrooms and wider building. Other cute decorative twists include old-timey dolls’ houses to encase the tea-and-coffee stations and framed embroideries in the bathrooms, which also feature beautiful ceramic washbasins and oh-so-deep freestanding bathtubs. If you wanted somewhere for a genuinely decent (and sophisticated) version of a - whisper it - ‘hen’ weekend, this is your place.
It’s not as flat-out-fancy as some Bath hotels, but its low-key aura is very much part of its charm. Dinner is served in the cosy bar which, true to form, has dried flower installations and glass tables filled with vintage dressing-up jewellery and trinkets. The menu skirts the line between wholesome and indulgent, with the burnt orange and sheep’s cheese salad, and the harissa cauliflower, being real highlights. But leave space for grabbing some treats, including theatre-interval-sized ice creams and homemade vegan brownies, from the complimentary pantries for in-room nibbling (possibly in the bath).
But its absolute best bit is hidden below ground. Never stay here without booking into the perfectly proportioned basement spa. The 60-minute ‘Lessen your stress’ treatment is a combination of massage and facial - with an emphasis on the ‘massage’ element - that made me feel like a happy cat lying in a pool of neroli-scented sunshine (purr, purr, purr). My stress was, indeed, very much lessened.
Neighbourhood
Accurately described as simply ‘that street’ linking the centre of town to the recently-expanded Sydney Gardens, Great Pulteney Street is where neo-Georgian dreams come true. You couldn’t be better placed for all the main attractions (Bath Abbey, Roman Baths, shopping etc) while also enjoying the greenery of three (!) semi-concealed parks and extreme proximity to Bath Rugby Club (pretty fun on match days).
Nearby
Holburne Museum: For wandering its varied temporary art exhibitions - and taking selfies by the Shondaland-endorsed facade.
Opium Bar: For an eclectic cocktail menu in an even more eclectic underground setting.
Henrietta Park: For picnics under the huge copper beech trees and koi-spotting in the Garden of Remembrance.
Time Out Tip: Arrive in ample time for your spa appointment and sip infused water in the spa lounge with its vintage apothecary decor and soothing atmosphere.