Bath’s County Hotel, which was acquired by city-based hotel group the Kaleidoscope Collection earlier this year, has been rebranded as The Bird, Bath.
The new brand aims to give the Pulteney Road property, pictured, a distinctive new personality and coincides with the appointment of former Apex City of Bath Hotel manager Tim O’Sullivan as its new general manager.
The Kaleidoscope Collection, which is owned by seasoned Bath hoteliers Ian and Christa Taylor, said the new name better reflected the vibrant transformation of the hotel.
The initial phases of the refurbishment have refreshed public spaces and added more bedrooms, a new bar, a relaxed restaurant and meeting spaces, as well as bringing to Bath the city’s first pop-up beach bar, pictured below, earlier this summer.
The Kaleidoscope Collection, which bought the County Hotel in March, also includes the boutique hotel No.15 Great Pulteney and the four silver AA-star, 21-bedroom Homewood Park, which it acquired last month.
At the heart of The Bird’s transformation is an eclectic neighbourhood bar with a relaxed food offering, designed as social hub that can be a space for freelancers to work, friends to meet for coffee or a relaxed dinner. The bar also has a range of seating areas surrounded by vast contemporary pieces of art.
A separate meeting room also provides a creative space for workshops and get-togethers, private parties, celebrations and more.
The next phase of The Bird, Bath will increase the number of bedrooms from 22 to 31 and add a lift, as well as reconfiguring the smaller rooms to make them more spacious.
As with every Kaleidoscope property, the Taylors – who previously owned Bath’s Abbey Hotel – are working with local businesses and creative talent on The Bird’s new identity, with statement pieces of art and one-of-a-kind touches at the heart of this latest transformation, which is expected to take two years to complete.
Ian Taylor said: “Creating something new and exciting for Bath is something we love to do, and we’re really pleased with the transformation of The Bird so far.
“The new signage will be up in the next week or so and we have plans in the pipeline for some interesting dressing to the front of the hotel to coincide with our Winter Wonderland for the festive season. We don’t want to give too much away, but we hope people will come and experience it for themselves.”
The Winter Wonderland will aim to be the coolest party space in town, with woodland branches and spruces strewn with fairy lights, tables topped with flickering candelabra and chairs draped in Bavarian rugs.
Tim O’Sullivan, pictured, who coordinated the Apex City of Bath’s opening before leaving earlier this year, said: “I know Ian from his days working with InterContinental Hotels and have watched with interest how Ian and Christa have grown their business.
“Having worked with large hotel groups previously, I’m delighted to make the move into the boutique hotel sector and really make my mark on The Bird.
“The Kaleidoscope Collection really stands out as doing things differently in Bath and this is the ideal opportunity to be working with a great team of entrepreneurially-minded people.”
Ian Taylor added: “We’re delighted to have Tim on board to head up the team at The Bird. He has a genuine, hands-on approach and brings a wealth of experience to the hotel – we’re very much looking forward to the next chapter.”
At the heart of The Bird, the Taylors have also created a wonderfully eclectic neighbourhood bar with relaxed food offering, designed as social hub for work or play. A space for freelancers to work, friends to meet for coffee or a relaxed dinner, there’s a bar for seasonal drinks and various seating areas centred on vast contemporary pieces of art.
A separate meeting room also provides a creative space for workshops and get-togethers, private parties, celebrations and more.
Ian Taylor added: “Creating something new and exciting for Bath is something we love to do, and we’re really pleased with the transformation of The Bird so far.
“The new signage will be up in the next week or so and we have plans in the pipeline for some interesting dressing to the front of the hotel to coincide with our Winter Wonderland for the festive season. We don’t want to give too much away, but we hope people will come and experience it for themselves.”
