The Bristol Hotel, Bristol, England, UK

The view of The Bristol Hotel from the Harbourside

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​The Bristol Hotel is part of the Doyle Collection, a group of eight Irish family-owned hotels in the UK, US and Ireland.
The hotel is a perfect example of the expression ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. From the outside the hotel looks like a drab 1960s office block, but step inside and it’s a much sleeker affair with modern décor featuring comfy sofas and chairs and bright, quirky lamps for a bit of creative flair.

This contemporary 4-star hotel conveniently overlooks Bristol Harbour and the buzzing Bristol Harbourside, which features a wealth of water-front shops and restaurants, making it the perfect base for exploring the sights of Bristol.

Upon arrival at the hotel, we received an exceptionally warm greeting from the receptionist who was quick to provide helpful recommendations of what to see in and do in the local area. Given that the weather wasn’t very cooperative during our visit (it was cold, grey and rainy), we decided to stay close to the hotel. ​

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Before we headed off to explore the Harbourside, we dropped our bags in our room with its cracking view of the Harbour and enjoyed a quick espresso from the in-room Nespresso machine. We also noticed that the staff had left us a lovely plate of fruit with ‘welcome’ scrolled in chocolate – a lovely, personal touch that was a great start to our visit.

Some of the sights within a short walk of The Bristol Hotel

​Exploring Bristol on foot
The Harbourside area is perfect for exploring on foot. We spent our afternoon strolling along each side of the harbour banks, taking in the wealth of shops and restaurants. If you visit Bristol on a Saturday, ensure you check out the local market, which features vendors selling everything from books to vintage clothing. Near the waterfront, you might also witness a few brave people bungee jumping from a crane, which seemed to be a popular attraction!

Once you’ve taken in all there is to see along the harbour, head to Queen Square to take in the lovely Georgian architecture. If you happen to visit on a warm day, it would be a great place for a peaceful picnic.
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After a long day in the dreary weather, we retreated to our room for a cheeky late afternoon nap before heading downstairs to dinner at The River Grille – the hotel’s stylish on-site restaurant. 

​The River Grille
The restaurant with its lofty dimensions and floor-to-ceiling windows with its views of the harbour and the aubergine walls with brightly coloured art, creates an inviting atmosphere. We were lucky to have visited on a Saturday, which was perfect timing given that the restaurant has a live jazz trio every Saturday evening to provide a sense of occasion.

The traditional menu focuses on classics such as steaks, rack of lamb and a variety of fish dishes.  

The vegetarian risotto verde with tender stem broccoli, broad beans and wild garlic was the perfect comfort food on a cold day and my husband loved the mussels marinière (his favourite) and turbot, which was fresh and flaky.

​Given we weren’t drinking, we tried ‘The Big Juicy’, a refreshing mocktail with soda water, cranberry juice, pineapple juice and lime, which made us feel as though we were on holiday- even if the sun wasn’t shining.

​After a lovely meal, we headed to bed and returned to The River Grille the following morning for a hearty breakfast to set us up for the day.  

Breakfast options include a hot buffet (serving bacon, sausages, eggs, grilled mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and hash browns) and a selection of pastries, breads, fruits and yogurts. 

Although we were only in Bristol for one evening, the hotel provided the perfect base for enjoying all that the Harbourside area had to offer and the fabulous staff were some of the friendliest we’ve come across during our travels.

The Bristol Hotel
Prince Street
Bristol
BS1 4QF
 
www.doylecollection.com/bristol
 

Best bits
The impeccable service and the convenient Harbourside location, which is perfect for watching the world go by
 
Worst bits
The unattractive hotel frontage
 
Most suited for
Anyone visiting Bristol that wants to be centrally located and only a moment’s walk from the Harbourside bars and restaurants

Our experience overall
The property: ★★★★
Food and drink: ★★★.5
Staff attentiveness/friendliness: ★★★★★

During this trip I was hosted by the lovely team at The Bristol Hotel. All words, opinions and photos are my own. ​
 
A.A. Miln
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