This remarkably elegant 19th-century property with an inspiring façade stands tall and proud in the heart of Bristol’s historic Corn Street, occupying the former Lloyds and Midland Bank locations.

Take a plunge into the vault and find your balance in the ever-so-relaxing subterranean HarSPA, or make an investment in the former federal manager’s office’s speakeasy-inspired Gold Bar, home of the city’s finest drinks and suitable for liquidity fans.

Bristol Harbour Hotel and Spa, inspired by Jacopo Sansovino’s High Renaissance library on St Mark’s Square in Venice, retains many of its original and opulent features.

Step outside, and you’ll discover arty Bristol in all its eclectic glory right on your doorstep. St Nicholas Market, a maze of bohemian stalls and historic architecture, is only a few steps away. But when the sun goes down, the city comes alive with bars, restaurants, and theaters that are sure to pique everyone’s interest.

The city is small but perfectly formed, and it is ideal for exploring on foot. If you like street art, go on a walking tour and look for a Banksy or two before checking out the more historical works at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. 

Take a short walk through the bustling docks before seeing a show at Bristol’s Old Vic. If you want to go a little further, take in the view from The Clifton Suspension Bridge and marvel at Brunel’s brilliance.

Bristol Harbour hotel review

Description

Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa, located on Corn Street in the historic city center, provides contemporary, luxurious accommodations. With 42 en-suite bedrooms, a Kitchen, Bar & Terrace restaurant, the Gold Bar, and the indulgent HarSPA, In terms of city luxury, the hotel is unrivaled.

When you arrive, your room will include complimentary gin and sherry decanters, White Company products, robes and slippers, and other amenities to make your stay perfect. Our HarSPA has been renovated from the former basement bank vaults, which offers an exquisite urban getaway complete with relaxation rooms, a hydrotherapy hub, a pool, a tub, a sauna, and a steam room, with a gym and spa treatment rooms.

Dine in the Kitchen, Bar, and Terrace restaurant, which also has alfresco dining on Corn Street and serves a full A la Carte or Express menu and specializes in seafood.

The Gold Bar, a den of opulence with stylish banquette seating, cozy corners, and decadent lighting, serves daily-changing cocktails.

Scene

The hotel is built in a stately Victorian Grade II-listed edifice that once held two banks, one of which served as the former Lloyds headquarters. The design, which dates from the 1840s, was inspired by Venice’s 16th-century Library of St Mark’s. 

The former banking hall, Sansovino Hall, is an architectural masterpiece that now serves as an events space with a skylight and beautifully restored painted ceiling – you can see it as you go through the hotel’s main entrance before winding your way around to reception.

Muted neutral colors reflect the hotel’s calm feel and are complimented by beautifully upholstered furniture in the guestrooms and eye-catching antiques purchased from auction rooms around the hotel (a metal fish, a cello-shaped chest of drawers).

Location

On bustling Corn Street, immediately across from the Georgian-era Exchange building, which houses a piece of the fantastic St Nicholas Market, with its varied mix of independent stores (from reggae LPs to bike parts) and food outlets (from fancy cakes to Moroccan cuisine) 

Take a boat ride or visit the busy Harbourside with its clubs, restaurants, and cultural facilities like the Arnolfini gallery, Waterside, and We the Curious science center.

Rooms

There are 42 rooms available, including three suites. 

The rooms, like the rest of the hotel, are colorless, with pleasant, colorfully upholstered furniture and cozy leather seats (one of the corner suites has a sofa with a playing-card pattern; some rooms also have a large standing bath in the bedroom).

The rooms are small but bright, thanks to the large windows, and the supremely comfortable beds feature deep Sleepeezee mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets. 

White Company products are used in the bathrooms, which feature Italian marble and rainforest showers and tubs.

Features

The spa, hidden away in the old bank vaults (the massive safe doors remain), packs a lot into a small space. There’s a small resistance pool in what appears to be a cavern, a hydrotherapy pool, and an excellent gym with plenty of equipment, including a punchbag. 

The ESPA “Life Saving Back Treatment” (£65) and an ESPA Personalized Facial (£65) are among the treatments available. The attentive, helpful, and friendly service begins the moment you enter the small, perfectly designed lobby.

Food and drink

The brightly lit Jetty restaurant and bar, with its unusual design, Bristol Blue Glass windows, and aquamarine sofas, is a delight to eat in. 

There are bar stools overlooking the kitchen where you can enjoy a drink while watching your starter being prepared. With its vibrant colors, velvet banquette chairs and stools, and chandelier, the Gold Bar provides a slinky alternative for pre-or post-dinner drinks (the cocktails are inventive).

Chef Alex Aitken has produced a fantastic seafood-focused menu, similar to the Harbour group’s four other Jetty restaurants, with specialties such as octopus carpaccio (£8), stone bass with a small herb-crusted fish pie (£16), and veal Holstein (£18). There are also good vegetarian options and a decent wine list, with cocktails starting at £8.50. Breakfasts (from £11) are great, with a delicious self-service option as well as à la carte specialties like smashed avocado and lemon on toast.

Pros of Bristol Harbour hotel 

• To a certain extent, fold-up beds are available, as are children’s meals.
• The staff is extremely friendly, and there is plenty for children in the surrounding area.

Cons of Bristol Harbour hotel 

• This is a boutique hotel, so it is best suited to adults.

Restaurants near Bristol Harbour hotel 

• Salkaara
• Small Street Espresso
• Dirty Martini Bristol
• The Bristologist
• Pieminister
• San Carlo
• Urban Tandoor
• The Ox
• The Commercial Rooms