Located in the very heart of Bath, The Francis Hotel Bath, a unique Regency townhouse hotel, combines sumptuous 21st century elegance with the splendour of an era when the rich and famous ‘took the waters’ of Bath’s therapeutic, natural hot spring for their health.
The Francis Hotel dominates the south side of classical Queen Square, which was built between 1728 and 1735 by architect and town planner John Wood the Elder, creator of so many of Bath’s prestigious buildings.
When John Wood the Elder developed his grand vision for Queen Square, the south side comprised nine private townhouses, united by a single façade. Seven of these survive – seamlessly interconnected to form the splendid, newly restored hotel in Bath.
The luxury English hotel has subsequently experienced many changes, thankfully without ever losing the 18th century style of its origins – or the Francis name.
Today, the luxury hotel is entering an exciting new era, with its townhouses enjoying a £6 million restoration featuring 98 luxurious bedrooms and boasting splendidly vibrant interiors that celebrate the vivaciousness, freedoms and occasional
quirks of the Regency period.
The opulent and diverse interior design and décor of the Francis Hotel rooms offer truly eclectic elegance in a Regency townhouse setting. From the moment of arrival, guests, who are personally greeted and hosted, will recognise that a unique experience awaits them.
Instantly, the Francis Hotel exudes a warm, homely feel and an atmosphere of exclusive privacy and comfort. The gentle chimes of an eight-bell longcase grandfather clock set the tempo. Soft jasmine scents discreetly and smoothly float in the air. The gorgeous colours in the reception area are vivid and vibrant, reflecting the boldness of the Regency period – ultramarine blue walls with bold geometric floor tiling and gold lighting. Corridors are split into different areas by cross-corridor doors. And these subdivisions roughly mark boundaries of the different houses by the use of wallpaper in heritage colour and pattern. As guests go from one house to another, the wallpaper above the dado and the paint below changes colour.
Overall, refurbishment of the hotel has been sensitively and sympathetically planned to ensure the original properties, with their many rooms, corridors and nooks and crannies, retain their identity and, in a sense, tell their own story.
Francis Hotel, Queen, Square, Bath, BA1 2HH, United Kingdom, tel +44 (0)1225 424 105, mgallery.com or accorhotels.com.
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