A Bath boutique hotel is to be the launchpad for a new national hotel brand that will reimagine historic buildings in cities across the UK as “wonder-filled” venues.
The former No.15 Great Pulteney Street, which was acquired by family-run Guest Holdings in 2019, will be rebranded as the first GuestHouse ahead of reopening in May.
Headed by the Guest brothers Tristan, James and Tom, the London-based business is also looking to develop a new generation of hotels that will offer guests what they are calling “an indulgent treat while retaining the warmth and character of the traditional guest house experience”.
Following the Bath reopening on May 17, the GuestHouse brand will be rolled out across cities in the UK, including the complete remodelling of two heritage hotels in Brighton and York.
The brothers say the brand will bring “wonder-filled hotels to historic buildings on Britain’s most desirable streets”.
The hotels will be fun and easy-going and feature imaginative interiors by British designers while remaining in keeping with their surroundings and respecting the heritage of their iconic buildings, according to GuestHouse.
Rooms will include vinyl record players and each hotel will curate special spa and wellness experiences for the individual needs of guests.
Regional makers and community artists will be invited to use the hotels as a showcase for their talent while the offering will make the most of small-scale local farms, bakers and growers.
GuestHouse says the restaurants will be informal community-hubs to “gather with friends, families and dogs for a high-quality and honest dining experience”. The dishes and drinks at the first GuestHouse, for example, will champion local specialities such as Bath chaps and buns.
Guest will also be encouraged to explore each GuestHouse city with ‘The Guest List’, a guide compiled by local experts to uncover art galleries, food markets, hidden bookshops, hard-to-miss historical sites, and lesser-known boutiques.
The Guest brothers said their purpose was to “create a hotel brand that has a special warmth and represents the best of British hospitality”.
They added: “The welcoming smile, passion for the local area and relaxed informality blended with a sense of creativity, indulgence and surprise.
“We hope to present an alternative to the typical British rural getaway and inspire people to fall in love with our thriving and beautiful historic cities whilst still enjoying the escape from the day-to-day.
“Each hotel will champion our group ethos yet celebrate connection with the local destination – be that in the food and drink, the interiors of the hotel or the advice that we can offer on the best local experiences.”
The brothers acquired the 40-bedroom Grade-I listed No.15 Great Pulteney Street from Bath-based hoteliers Ian and Christa Taylor for an undisclosed sum.
The couple had taken over what was an unloved terrace of Georgian townhouses three years earlier and transformed them into a multi award-winning boutique venue, adding eight further bedrooms.
It was named ‘Outstanding New Hotel’ at the Independent Hotel Show in October 2017 and went on to win Gold at the 2018/19 Bath, Bristol and Somerset Tourism Awards in the Large Hotel of the Year category in November 2018 and Silver in the South West Tourism Awards in early 2019.
Ian and Christa Taylor’s company, the Kaleidoscope Collection, also owns the 31-room The Bird, Bath, on Pulteney Road, and the 32-room Homewood hotel in Freshford.
