The Queensberry Hotel

About The Queensberry Hotel

The Queensberry runs through four Georgian terraced houses on Russell Street, a short and unusually quiet road between the Assembly Rooms and the Circus. The buildings were commissioned in the 1770s by the Marquess of Queensberry, and the hotel has been in independent ownership for decades, which shows in the way it is run - the staff are long-serving and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than starched.

Twenty-nine bedrooms are graded from Club through Classic, Superior and Deluxe up to Master Deluxe rooms and suites, and the differences are mostly about size and floor level. Decoration is calm and modern with original cornicing and shutters left in place; the top rooms have separate seating areas and, in one case, a four-poster. Beds and bathrooms are of a consistently good standard across all grades.

The Olive Tree Restaurant in the lower ground floor holds a Michelin star and four AA rosettes under head chef Chris Cleghorn, and is the main reason many guests book. Tasting menus are the focus, with a shorter lunch offering. The Old Q Bar serves lighter plates and drinks, and there is a small courtyard garden at the rear that is used for a drink in warm weather. Valet parking is offered, which is worth taking given how difficult city-centre parking is.

The location works well for the Fashion Museum, the Royal Crescent and Milsom Street, all within a few minutes on foot, with the Roman Baths about ten minutes away downhill. It suits couples, food-minded travellers and business guests who want somewhere central, personal and quiet. There is no spa or pool, so anyone set on those facilities should look elsewhere in the city.