Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa has become the third in the Bath area to be accredited by a global network of luxury hotels.
The 19th-century, 32-bedroom country house hotel near Warminster, which was acquired by Bath-based boutique hotel group Kaleidoscope Collection in June for £5.5m, is one of just 28 hotels in England to gain accreditation from Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH).
It joins Bath’s five-star, 99-room Gainsborough Hotel and the 31-bedroom Homewood at Freshford – also part of the Kaleidoscope Collection – in SLH. It is also the first hotel in Wiltshire to gain SLH accreditation.
SLH is an exclusive collection of more than 520 privately owned boutique hotels cross 90 countries united in their independent-minded approach.
It says its purpose is to “match the world’s independent travellers with the most individual, intimate and intense hotel experiences”.
Set in 27 acres of countryside along the River Wylye with a Doric temple and other historic Grade II listed monuments, Bishopstrow, pictured, has a spa and wellness facilities and the Maple Bar and Terrace as well as 32 bedrooms.
At the time of the acquisition, Ian and Christa Taylor of the Kaleidoscope Collection said they had ambitions to make the hotel heavily outdoor-oriented.
The couple are known for buying small hotels and transforming them into upmarket boutique venues full of idiosyncrasies and unusual décor, often with items from their own art collection.
The Kaleidoscope Collection also owns The Bird, Bath – formerly the County Hotel – on Pulteney Road.
Ian Taylor said: “Since we took ownership of Bishopstrow in the summer, it was our ambition to join the prestigious SLH collection, alongside one of our sister properties Homewood.
“Small Luxury Hotels represents the pinnacle of boutique hospitality: properties which are more than somewhere to lay your head, that capture your heart and mind during a stay, and provide unique, memorable moments.
“To be accepted into SLH at the beginning of our ownership at Bishopstrow speaks volumes for the journey we’re embarking upon.
“I am so proud of our entire team at Bishopstrow, who strive daily to deliver a luxury experience with a touch of playfulness and an infectious spirit.”
Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa managing director Jonathan Walker added: “We have been long looking forward to becoming a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World; at the heart of what we do and what we stand for is to be passionately independent.
“Therefore, SLH is a perfect partner as we invest and further enhance our guests’ experiences at Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa over the coming years.”
