In my family the time has come to carefully consider uni options for my 17 yr old daughter and to us, that means road trips to explore various cities - oh yes! Granted, Bath Uni was not welcoming visitors at the time of our trip, but did that stop us? Absolutely not! 'It's all about the milieu of the city' was my daughter's surprisingly eloquent comment!
I love Bath for the mishmash of cultures that shaped it, its beautiful Georgian architecture and the way the city balances a genteel feel with vibrant contemporary culture. This feel-good city was built for pleasure and relaxation and it still holds true today.
We stayed at the recently renovated Hotel Indigo Bath which is part of the worldwide Intercontinental Hotels Group which offer unique boutique hotels from Shanghai to New York under the Indigo umbrella. A project five years in the making conjoined Pratts Hotel and The Halycon to form the spacious 166 room Indigo Bath. This beautiful honey-coloured, upmarket establishment effortlessly manages to ooze both classic and eclectic, thoroughly modern yet never losing touch with its 18th-century roots. It may well be part of a 'chain' but there is no such feel except perhaps in the knowledge of knowing that staff are trained to a very high standard.
Location
Fantastically located in a quiet cul-de-sac right in the city centre, ensuring easy access to all the sights and the hustle and bustle of the city while also peaceful enough for sweet slumber. The train station is close by and the paid-for car park is a stone's throw away.
Atmosphere
The quirky decor is a feature in itself with splashes of colour, pictures of animals in military uniforms and carpets of butterflies and flowers up and down the hallways. We enjoyed how every corner seemed to be a flight of fancy while all the while maintaining the integrity and character of the historic building and city of Bath. The staff were thoroughly knowledgeable in both the history of their hotel and the surrounding city and the ease at which they delivered excellent service made for a laid back and trendy feel.
Rooms
Bedrooms at Hotel Indigo are contemporary with a traditional twist, reflecting the age and style of the building while also catering for modern tastes. Rooms are loosely themed, reflecting the influences of architects and novelists of olde and ours was inspired by the literary history of the city. Our bed was plush and fabulously comfy with luxury Egyptian cotton linen and chocolates on our pillows.
We enjoyed the surround sound feature in the bathroom which allows you to listen to the tele while in the shower. All rooms feature spa-inspired bathrooms, Nespresso coffee machines, air conditioning, high speed Wi-Fi and a variety of channels on your 40” flat screen TV. Not all bathrooms have bathtubs so be sure to check when booking, if that is important to you. No need to carry your shampoo and conditioner with you, the complementary, all natural range by Bramley is absolutely heavenly.
Dining
The Elder restaurant is not run by the hotel, but it occupies a set of elegant and atmospheric dining rooms within. It is steeped in the principles of sustainability with meat, fish and veg grown or harvested humanely and with care.
“Our wild food offering is unique in the UK - as land managers we control wild deer herds on private estates and process the venison in our own FSA regulated larder.” – What a fantastic offering by restauranteur Mike Robinson.
The menu presented tempting classic dishes with a twist such as a ploughman's platter starter served as a terrine (not expected by my 17yr old!) and the wild fish of the day served alongside 'nosotto', a delicious potato risotto. The aged Hereford sirloin was exceptionally tender, flavourful and cooked to perfection but the highlight of our meal had to have been the Hot Ilanka Chocolate Fondant which was declared as 'the best dessert I've had in my life!'
Accessibility
Hotel Indigo Bath has a number of wheelchair accessible rooms with walk-in showers.
Pet Policy
Unfortunately, only service dogs can be accommodated at this time.
