After a protracted working week my boyfriend and I met at London Paddington station on Friday evening, able to catch a practice to Bathtub Spa. Our weekend away to Bathtub had been within the diary for a few months, and we couldn’t wait to get out of London for a relaxing weekend with good meals, new environment and some little luxuries.
Our journey was completely easy. A direct practice from London Paddington to Bathtub Spa took 1 hour and half-hour, which glided by with no delays or stress – an ideal begin. Once we arrived at Bathtub Spa, The Francis Resort was a ten minute stroll from the station (there actually was no want for a taxi). To this point so good.
First Impressions
The Francis Resort is centrally positioned on Queen Sq. and is made up of a protracted row of particular person Georgian homes. From the surface, the sandstone façade appears good and sometimes Bathtub, while the Union Jack flag flying above the principle entrance makes the institution look fantastically British.
The Best of Test-Ins
We stepped by way of the unique revolving doorways and into the principle reception space, which as cosy and alluring. A pleasant receptionist checked us in and inside a couple of minutes we had been handed our room keys and directed to the raise.
The Room
The room itself was not overly spacious nevertheless it was fantastically designed with plush furnishings and stylish options. Quirky particulars equivalent to gold leaf mirrors and a retro phone gave the room a pleasant little bit of character and our welcome reward of strawberries and sponge cake bites made for a considerate contact. I additionally cherished that there was a little bit bottle of recent milk within the fridge to have with teas and coffees.
Complimentary nonetheless and glowing water was positioned by our bedside and the toilet was nicely stocked with toiletries and tub robes. The perfect a part of the room was simply the mattress. With fluffy down pillows and crisp white sheets, it was precisely as an opulent lodge mattress needs to be.
A Weekend Breakfast
I completely love taking my time over a leisurely breakfast on the weekend so in terms of accommodations, breakfast buffet is all the time excessive on the precedence record. With an expansive breakfast buffet and an inclusive a la carte menu, The Francis had it spot on. The a la carte menu included all of the British breakfast classics such because the Full English, Eggs Benedict and porridge, all of which are inclusive within the value of your keep.
The Grand Gallery
Probably the most spectacular a part of the lodge is its lengthy and grand gallery that runs alongside the entrance of the lodge. Color accents of pink and turquoise run as the overall theme and luxe furnishings and native Bathtub particulars make it cosy, and alluring. The lodge’s a lot cherished afternoon tea is a well-liked previous time within the gallery and there may be additionally a bar for night drinks and evening caps.
Brasserie Blanc
An enormous advantage of staying at The Francis lodge can be that you simply’re on the doorstep of certainly one of Bathtub’s greatest eating places; Brasserie Blanc Bathtub. The lodge and restaurant share interconnecting doorways so that you don’t even have so step foot outdoors the lodge for a scrumptious French-bistro type meal. Throughout our keep we loved a beautiful 3-course meal at Brasserie Blanc and my expectations on meals, service and setting have been all completely exceeded.
My favorite course of the meal was surprisingly the starter, which was potted Cromer Crab served with heat bitter dough bread on the aspect. The crab was extremely wealthy, tasty and recent and when unfold on to the bread it was a comforting starter. I believe I loved it a lot as a result of it’s a dish I wouldn’t usually go for, however was strongly advisable by our unbelievable waiter Rami.
My primary course was one of many day by day specials; baked cod with a sauce of butter, lemon jus, parsley, capers, shallots and lentils on a mattress of creamy mashed potato. Scattered across the fish have been small deep fried croutons which gave an indulgent crunch alongside the sunshine and attractive fish. It was fantastically put collectively.
If chocolate souffle is on the menu, it’s not typically I can resist it. The souffle was precisely as you dream them to be, baked on the surface, fluffy and gooey on the within. Paired with pistachio ice cream and dusted with icing sugar, it was the right finish to this cosy French bistro meal.
The perfect price obtainable at Francis Resort begins from £129 for a Traditional Room on a mattress and breakfast foundation.
