No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath

About No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath

No.15 by GuestHouse spreads across three Grade I listed townhouses on Great Pulteney Street, the broad Georgian boulevard that runs from Pulteney Bridge towards the Holburne Museum. The exterior is unchanged, but inside the hotel is deliberately playful: antique furniture is mixed with contemporary art, curiosity cabinets and bold colour, and the effect is closer to a private collection than a traditional country-house hotel.

The 40 or so bedrooms are all different, ranging from compact classic rooms to suites with roll-top baths and hand-painted murals. Standard fittings include coffee machines, good linen and generously sized bathrooms with the house bath products. Rooms at the front look onto Great Pulteney Street; those at the back are quieter and overlook the garden.

The Spa at No.15 occupies stone vaults beneath the building and has a hydrotherapy pool, cedar hot tub, barrel sauna and treatment rooms, and it has won recognition in national spa awards. Above ground there is Cafe 15 for breakfast and all-day eating, Bar 15 for cocktails, and a lounge that serves a well-regarded afternoon tea. The hotel is part of the small GuestHouse group, which also runs properties in Brighton and York.

Great Pulteney Street is about seven minutes' walk from Bath Abbey across Pulteney Bridge, which puts the Roman Baths, the Guildhall Market and the main shopping streets within easy reach while keeping the hotel away from the busiest part of the centre. It suits couples and friends looking for somewhere with character rather than uniformity, and anyone who wants a spa and a decent bar in the same building. Limited on-site parking is available and should be reserved in advance.