Hotel du Vin & Bistro, Bristol, the third in this acclaimed chain, indicated a shift for Hotel du Vin, both in the nature of the property and also in the style of decoration employed inside.
While the hotels in Tunbridge Wells and Winchester were originally private homes, Bristol is created from six Grade II warehouses dating back to the 1700's, known as The Sugar House. Inside, the Bristol hotel employs a more contemporary 'loft-living' style, partly due to the almost total dereliction of the premises when acquired by the Group.
Walking through the entrance passageway from the street and into the hotel's courtyard, guests are struck immediately by the entrance, which is guarded by a 100 ft brick chimney that rises from the reception to dominate the skyline. A high wall of steel and glass displays the reception where a steel and oak staircase sweeps to the first floor, whiles outside tables are arranged around the fountain for drinks and al fresco dining on warm days and balmy nights.
Walking inside and to the right of the reception desk, guests pass the wine cellar and walk-in Havana Room cigar humidor, to reach the Sugar Bar, which specialises in rums from around the world. Evoking the building's industrial past, the bar has exposed stone walls and raw wooden supports that reach from the floor to the beams in the ceiling. However, any austerity is avoided by the presence of large, scattered rugs, generous sink-in sofas, and invitingly low, leather armchairs.
Climbing the staircase to the first floor of the hotel, guests reach the Christies Library, a lounge lined with bookcases filled with Christies catalogues and decked with stylish artwork. On the same level is the Janneau Billiards Room, another place in which guests can relax.
In keeping with the wine theme, each of the bedrooms is sponsored by - and named after - a celebrated wine house. Outside the door to each room, there is an inset displaying the appropriate bottle and inside, the rooms are hung with painting relating to the room’s name. The loft style prevails throughout all 40 rooms, with many of the industrial features of the building being preserved. Exposed beams and girders, rough hessian fabrics, steel and brickwork are complemented by dimple modern décor and warmed by natural woods. Dazzling white Egyptian bed linen, delicious duvets, comfy cushions, and large beds create a sense of user-friendly luxury. Tables and desks are decked with magazines, stationery, and information about the hotel and city, whilst cupboards conceal the hi-fi and mini-bar (where there is a jug of fresh milt to accompany the tea and coffee making facilities).
But it is possibly in the bathrooms where hedonism truly takes off! Huge sheets of opaque aquamarine glass separate walk-in showers from large freestanding baths. Mosaic tiling, shiny chrome fittings and huge fluffy bath sheets and robes add to the air of brilliant opulence. This excels in the seven suites - some of which have bathrooms raised on a mezzanine level for spectacular sky-views through the overhanging windows. One of these even features his-and-hers bathtubs that stand side by side. All bathrooms offer plentiful supplies of HdV bathroom products, made exclusively for Hotel du Vin by Arran Aromatics.
It is in the ground floor Bistro that visitors will see a return to the familiar characteristic style of décor that has been preserved though all the Hotel du Vin properties. Offering the 'serious but never stuffy' dining ambience, the room evokes the same Parisian fin de siècle exuberance of its sister hotels. Here the walls are decked with wine-related prints and pictures, fireplaces and windowsill are stacked with wine bottles, and tall windows festooned with dried hops. The dark wooden floor boards, majestic pillars and deep hued tables and chairs create a classic bistro ambience, filled with natural light during the day and set to the flicker of candles and low lighting in the evenings.
Contact details:
Address: The Sugar House, Narrow Lewins Mead, BRISTOL, BS1 2NS
Tel: 0117 925 5577
Web: www.hotelduvin.com
Email: info@bristol.hotelduvin.com
Room rates:
Twin/Double Room from £135
Superior Doubles from £165
Studio Room from £195
Loft Suite from £215
Extra bed for children £10
All room rates are inclusive of VAT
Continental breakfast £9.95 per person
Full English Breakfast £13.50 per person
Bistro:
A three-course a la carte meal for two people, including coffee and house wine, costs about £80.
Getting there:
By plane: Bristol International Airport is 30 minutes drive away; Heathrow Airport is 1½ hours drive away.
By train: Bristol Templemeads Railway Station is a 10 minute drive away.
By car: 1½ hours drive from the M25 (see www.hotelduvin.com for detailed directions).
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