As you may have noticed, I spend a lot of time in the Mediterranean; therefore, having the opportunity to stay closer to home out of season was an absolute treat. We were invited to Hotel Indigo Bath, and even though it’s only an hour away, I’d not been to Bath for years (my last stay was at The Gainsborough ). It’s often referred to as “the prettiest town in Britain” so it was nice to return.
In many ways, Bath hasn’t changed much since the times of Georgian gentleman Ralph Allen and writer Jane Austen, both of whom fell under the spell of this city, with its golden stone buildings and neoclassical architecture. Hotel Indigo Bath is itself set in a beautiful honey coloured Georgian Terrace and opened its doors in September 2020 after a multi-million-pound major restoration project.
Staying at Hotel Indigo Bath
The hotel is situated on the peaceful street of South Parade, just steps from the city centre, it is easily accessible from the train station or you can park opposite (it’s also perfectly situated for Bath rugby). The grey skies on our visit didn’t dampen our mood, as when we stepped into the beautiful building, its colourful interiors and attention to detail made up for the outside mood.
Of the 154 rooms – 73 are Standard, 57 are Superior, 18 are Superior Premier, 3 are Suites and 3 are accessible rooms. These include ‘Romance & Mischief’ rooms, ‘Literary Hideaway’ rooms, ‘Architectural Beauty’ rooms, ‘Garden’ rooms and ‘The Vaults’. Modern and stylish, they reflect the influences of the architects and novelists who made Bath famous for its storytelling and passionate social scene.
All rooms are equipped with comfy Hypnos beds with luxury Egyptian cotton linen, spa-inspired bathrooms and Nespresso coffee machines, ours certainly didn’t disappoint, the mix of classical interiors and contemporary styling.
As we’d arrived late afternoon, we relaxed in our room before our dinner in the restaurant within the hotel, sinking into our comfortable beds wrapped in our robes before dinner.
Dining at Hotel Indigo Bath
Within the building sits “The Elder”, an exciting restaurant from multi-award-winning West Country restaurateur Mike Robinson. Part of the hotel, The Elder restaurant and bar are independently run and owned by restaurateur Mike Robinson with a focus on sustainability, seasonality, locally-sourced and wild produce.
We were both looking forward to our meals, ironically Laura and I who are best friends, our choice of food is very different, I’d like to say I’m a vegan 99% of the time (unless there’s cheese involved) and she has a far more balance diet than my plant-based decisions.
Starters were the perfect size to begin with, followed by mains; Laura had chosen steak and I’d chosen the gnocchi. Beatifully presented, each of us were impressed by our choices, the steak was from what I could gather amazing (we were both quiet whilst eating – that is always a good sign) the gnocchi was perfectly oversized resembling pillows on my plate (I’m a fussy pasta eater, too much time in Italy).
The final course was the pudding, as you may have gathered by my previous articles, I love food, so we are never ones to skip dessert, and I’m glad we didn’t as the chocolate tart was to die for. Rich and decadent it was the perfect end to a lovely and authentic meal.
Also, within the hotel is ‘Brasserie Beau‘ which is located on the ground floor with an outdoor terrace. Brasserie Beau celebrates the best of Britain, using only the finest British ingredients. The restaurant, which has 100 covers, is open seven days a week, offering visitors a sanctuary where they can eat, drink, and unwind away from the bustling city centre.
Brasserie Beau champions wild food and supports small producers, ensuring that the menus evolve daily, guided by the seasons and the availability of ingredients. Executive Chef Liam Goldstone and his team orchestrate a symphony of taste, infusing each creation with care and seasonal magic. Liam has previously worked as the Head Chef at Morston Hall in Norfolk where he held a Michelin star throughout his tenure.
After our incredible dinner, we thought we’d attempt to walk off some of our amazing dinner and have a nightcap in one of the independent bars. Bath is home to a wonderful selection of small bars and it was so nice to walk around and get a drink in one of the cool basement bars.
We were literally asleep as soon as our heads hit our pillows, so after a blissful late start we had breakfast in The Elder, you may have also gathered we are breakfast fans from my previous articles! The buffet was excellent, there were rustic tables set with everything you could image for the first meal of the day, we also ordered Avocado on toast for me, and a Full English for Laura – both without fault.
Hotel Indigo Bath is the perfect backdrop for a staycation with friends or a partner. It’s perfectly located less than two hours from London and there’s so much to do for a long weekend. Whether you eat in or wander the streets of Bath, Hotel Indigo Bath is the perfect bolt hole from which to explore from.
Hotel Indigo Bath, an IHG Hotel
2-8 S Parade
Bath
BA2 4AB
United Kingdom
