Luxury travel writer Nick Gibbens spends a long weekend in the heart of the Westcountry at the modern but elegant Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre.
Overview & location
Sitting proudly next to Bristol’s popular Cabot Circus shopping centre is the upmarket Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre. The contemporary and sophisticated décor of the hotel reflects the vibrant feel of the city on which it stands. But despite offering all the modern comforts you would expect with a four-star hotel, the establishment has cleverly retained some degree of elegant tradition.
The central location is its defining feature and, if you love shopping (like me), you are going to be in heaven as it’s located just a stones throw from a number of leading designer outlets such as Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser.
The city itself thrives on urban art, buzzing night life and a diverse music scene as well as great walks and an independent and community focused feel.
With the city’s many historical attractions just a few minutes away, including the world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Zoo and Brunel’s famous ss Great Britain, the hotel is the perfect place to explore what this charming city has to offer.
The bedroom
My room was well designed, air-conditioned, modern, clean and very comfortable; the décor offered simplicity and a sense of homely comfort (which I loved). The bed (a double by all accounts) was perhaps the biggest I’ve ever slept in (it could fit 4 people quite easily). It was wonderfully comfortable (you could instantly tell the bedding was of very good quality), giving me a very relaxing night’s sleep. In terms of bedroom facilities and appliances, I had an ironing board, safe, espresso machine, high-speed Internet access and a very large TV at my disposal. The bathroom was fully functional even though it was slightly on the small side.
The restaurant
The hotel’s main eatery, The Terrace Grill Restaurant, offers an excellent selection of Bristol-area produce (something that is very important to me), served in what I would describe as a casual and relaxed setting. For starters I enjoyed a beautiful dish of asparagus with a crispy duck egg. I loved the richness and smooth texture of the duck egg and this worked incredibly well with the perfectly cooked and fresh asparagus. This was a fantastic combination of both textures and flavours. I’m also a big fan of seasonal dishes so this box was also ticked.
As I was dining in a grill I felt it only fitting to go for a succulent steak – this was the first thing I could smell when walking to my table. I opted for the 10oz rib eye steak, which was served with a portion of skinny fries and a juicy looking tomato. I also ordered three sides; an English garden salad, crispy onion rings and sautéed mushrooms. I thought the steak was delicious, it was cooked medium rare and was seasoned perfectly (my pet hate is poorly seasoned meat). I loved the meat to fat ratio and this ensured a lovely caramelisation. The fries were crispy and the other elements of the dish worked well. Overall this was a highly enjoyable and very filling plate of food. I decided that a dessert was one course too many so I went back to the bar to rest my stomach and sip on a Long Island Iced Tea.
On the second night of my stay I ventured into nearby Clifton and enjoyed a range of fabulous flavours at the fine dining Indian restaurant, The Mint Room. This place is certainly worth a trip if you are staying in the city and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
The hotel offers a range of different breakfast options, catering for a wide selection of tastes and dietary requirements. I enjoyed the vast buffet selection, which included fried eggs, thick cut bacon, sausages, black pudding, hash browns, tomatoes and mushrooms. This is always the best way to start the day.
The facilities
This four-star hotel houses an impressive range of health and fitness options. The Beauty Room offers a varied choice of treatments, including manicures, pedicures, waxing, massages and facials. The Fitness Club has everything the health fanatic could ever wish for. The gym is well stocked with a number of high tec running machines and a good selection of weights. A large swimming pool, steam room and sauna complete the package.
The hotel offers outstanding business meeting and conference facilities and is one of the city’s leading wedding venues.
Getting there
I enjoyed a trip to Bristol on the train via Cross Country Trains, which services England, Wales and Scotland. Seated in first class I was treated to some hot breakfast items chosen from a menu, a cup of coffee and a relaxing, comfortable trip in a calming atmosphere with really friendly staff on hand to help whenever required. The hotel is about a ten to fifteen minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads train station.
In a nutshell
With a central location and truly outstanding amenities, the award-winning Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre provides a perfect mix of elegant tradition and modern comfort. It’s close to all the major businesses in Bristol and is ideally situated near to the city’s main attractions, restaurants, bars and designer outlets.
Address: 2 Lower Castle St, Bristol BS1 3AD / 0117 929 4281
