Enjoy A Luxury Harbourside Getaway At The Bristol (Bristol, UK)

The Bristol has to be one of our favourite waterside getaway destinations of 2016. The hotel combines wonderful views, a top harbourside location and a luxurious and modern interior to create a highly memorable destination. We are big fans!

Across from the hotel there is a vast selection of bars, restaurants, museums, an aquarium, access to shops and areas from which to take hourly boat trips. There really is a plethora of things to do, for all ages and interests. It is also worth noting that Bristol is at the centre of the South West’s thriving foodie scene which is characterised by its abundance of locally sourced food ingredients and drink, including a growing selection of craft beers and ciders.

For those worried about parking in such a busy city, fear not! There is secure, weather-proof car parking available to overnight guests in the adjacent NCP for a fee of £5.

Sleeping and relaxing

This modern hotel is home to over 187 rooms, ranging from standard level to suite level. Our deluxe room with king bed was as impressive inside as it was outside. The room overlooked the harbour and we had a total view of the surrounding area. At night the area is beautifully lit and thriving with life.

Inside room was tastefully neutral, spacious and modern. There was also a strong range of mod cons to keep us happy, such as complimentary Wi-Fi, a 35” flat screen TV, a Nespresso machine and fab Temple Spa toiletries. Plus, the bed was sumptuously comfortable and we had a wonderful evenings sleep.

Dinner at The River Grille

The River Grille at The Bristol is an exquisite space in the evening. High ceilings, dark wooden floors and vast glass windows to take advantage of the waterside view. All of these elements adds up to a space which has a feeling of elegance and this was accompanied by a buzzing atmosphere on the evening we visited.

The menu is an eclectic mix of seasonal ingredients, local produce and European cooking techniques. The restaurant specialises in 28 day aged West Country beef, cooked on their Josper grill and the best of local seafood catches.

During our visit we tried the pre-theatre menu and it was a real hit. If you arrive before 6.45pm, then you can take advantage of this mind-blowingly good offer of only £15.50 for 2 courses or 3 for the price of £18. When you consider that the main dishes can be found on the a la carte menu for around £15 -£17, then this really puts into perspective how great the value of the deal is.

A warming butternut squash soup of the day made for a delicious, autumnal dish and tasted fantastic. We also tried the house calamari with aioli. The calamari were cooked to perfection and the batter was light and dainty. Both dishes were wonderful.

One of the highlights of the meal was a wonderfully cooked chicken breast, heritage tomatoes, yellow courgettes, romesco sauce and herb oil. This dish had a true taste of the Mediterranean and the romesco sauce made the dish dance with flavour. Superb. My partner opted for the 10oz Sirloin steak with chips, salad garnish and a peppercorn sauce. The steak itself actually came rather on the rare side and yet still had a strong flavour and melted in the mouth.

To finish off the meal and to cleanse the palette, we both went for the delicious lemon tart and this rounded off a pretty perfect meal.

The dishes we tried were all from this menu and we were highly impressed. If we lived locally, then myself and my partner both agreed that we would visit at least twice a month to take advantage of the high-quality, great value menu.

Breakfast at The River Grille

Breakfast is also served in The River Grille restaurant. And unfortunately, due to the layout on entry, this meant queues and a bit of a chaotic start to our day. Once we had navigated our way to the table, we were given another warm welcome and o

The breakfast buffet offered a broad selection of cooked breakfast items, yoghurts, fruit, smoked salmon and a plethora of other treats. We were very happy with the selection and there really was something for everyone.

Drinks at the Shore Café Bar

After dinner, we retired to the Hotel’s Shore Café Bar (right of the below), where the atmosphere was slightly more relaxed and informal. The bar offered a series of bar snacks and a concise food menu, with a selection of local craft beers from the local Bristol Beer Factory. Comfortable ans stylish, this space is reportedly inspired by Bristol’s industrial heritage and aims to appeal to a broad market of casual drinkers. A great space for a post meal drink! Plus, there is a great harbourside terrace with cosy seating and outdoor heaters.