Bath luxury hotel Homewood is going ahead with its plans to open a new 10-bedroom lodge, outdoor kitchen and al fresco terrace this summer, despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Owners Ian and Christa Taylor revealed the expansion to the 21-room hotel, pictured, in Freshford in January when they recruited a number of new staff, including a new general manager and executive head chef. 
The new lodge will have four suites, each with a private balcony and a hot tub, two junior suites and four deluxe king-size rooms.
The Taylors, whose Kaleidoscope Collection also owns the 31-bedroom The Bird, Bath on Pulteney Road, hope to open the lodge in August, even though building work has been stalled due to Covid-19.
Ian Taylor, said: “We are continually sourcing interesting art works, collections, books, fabrics, lamps to give each room an individual personality.
“Items are already being earmarked from our warehouse which will give a quirky feeling and design inspiration.
“We have recently purchased 68 artists’ paintbrushes, so one bedroom will have an interior feel of an artist in residence.”
The new terrace and outdoor kitchen will house a Japanese-inspired Robata grill, pizza oven and barbecue area.
A new Mediterranean-style menu for the terrace and outdoor kitchen has been designed by executive head chef Jamie Foreman, who joined the hotel in January. It will include tapas and small plates, grilled meats and fish, plant-based salads and potted desserts.
The Taylor’s Kaleidoscope group bought Homewood, which is set in 10 acres of gardens, from Longleat Group Hotels in 2018.
The couple are as known for shuffling their portfolio of hotels as they are for creating highly distinctive boutique venues adorned with artworks.
Last year they sold No.15 Great Pulteney three years after transforming it from a row of unloved Georgian terrace houses into a multi award-winning 40-bedroom hotel.
