“The hotel is one of the most unique properties in the whole of the UK, “ says Gainsborough Bath Spa’s general manager, Marc Mac Closkey. The Dublin-born hotel manager is a natural raconteur, but he’s not putting a PR spin on what are the charms of the hotel, carved out of two Grade II listed buildings in the heart of Bath—it is genuinely one-of-a-kind.
The only hotel in the city of Bath—if not the UK—to harness the power of the city’s natural, thermal spring waters, Gainsborough Bath Spa has revived the ancient practice of social bathing for modern-day guests. The city’s ancient waters were first utilised by the Romans, who created the original bath houses surrounding the city’s springs, a practice which can now be tapped into at the hotel, with guests following a specially-devised one hour water circuit in its spa.
“Under the hotel, sits an ‘engine room’—our nerve centre—from where we drill down for the natural spring water and then purify it and cool it before pumping it into the spa,” says Marc. These waters are then celebrated across a series of pools found at the hotel’s Spa Village Bath–a modern replica of the Roman bath houses of old.
The Spa Village Bath.
“The water actually comes up from the earth at 120°F,” says Marc. “It’s too hot, so we also have to reduce it to 92°F to be used in the therapeutic pools.”
It’s a seductive place and easy to lose hours in the facilities, which feature two small balneo pools to relax in, and a main floating pool, found under a Victorian-style glass atrium, as well as traditional and infrared saunas, a steam room and ice chamber to while away the time.
Omorovicza treatments.
New for this year, the hotel has collaborated with cult Hungarian skincare brand, Omorovicza, with five new mineral cure rituals added to its treatment menu.
“It’s the perfect fit,” says Marc. “Omorovicza uses the healing minerals of Budapest’s thermal waters within its products and therapies, and it is a nice link to our own thermal springs found in the city.”
The Omorovicza treatments on offer include a Hungarian Mud Detox, a Mineral Mud Scrub and special facials and body treatments that use the properties of gold to reduce inflammation. All therapies also lock in the healing properties of thermal water, which helps with detoxifying the body and hydrataing the skin. A highlight is the Bespoke Mineral Revitalising Facial, which includes a mask made of Moor Mud, to decongest and refine the skin’s surface, and Omorovicza’s signature facial massage to leave skin firmer and lifted
The lobby is modern and sleek.
The hotel, which opened its doors to great acclaim in 2015, is the first in the UK by YTL Hotels, the Malaysian hotel brand, renowned for its hotels, boutique experiences and spa villages found across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Japan. Paying homage to these roots, the hotel has also introduced another update with a newly launched ‘Far East Meets West’ menu in the hotel’s main restaurant, the Gainsborough Brasserie.
Including dishes from the brand's sister restaurants in Malaysia and Japan, the fusion menu aims to showcase the best of Bath’s local produce while giving a nod to the cuisine of the East. Starters include the signature Dancing Prawns, coated in a citrusy aioli emulsion, and chargrilled Satay Skewers, cooked fresh over a coal fire and coated in a spicy chunky peanut sauce. For mains, there is Roti Cani with Lentil Curry, a fluffy, grilled flatbread served with a spiced lentil curry or the Free-range Chicken Rendang, a fragrant turmeric and chilli coconut dish.
The central staircase links the past and present interior design.
Named after the artist, Sir Thomas Gainsborough, the hotel dates back to the 1820s, and actually started life as a hospital. It was later reimagined as part of Bath’s art college. History oozes from its walls—from the honey-hued façade to the display of Roman coins in the lobby, part of the ‘Beau Street Hoard’—a cache of 17.500 Roman coins that were found in 2007 in the foundations of the hotel (the full collection is on display at the city’s Roman Baths).
YTL’s signature design style is slick and modern and this aesthetic works well against the Georgian elegance that is the skeleton of the hotel. New York based interior designers, Champalimaud Design, have given the interiors a vibrant sheen of gloss with polished floors offset against Georgian colours, think: china-blue, chocolate brown and golden yellow. Rooms have thoughtful touches, such as padded headboards covered in joie de toile fabric (the pastoral scenes are a nod to Gainsborough), modern four-posters in the suites and opulent drapes. There are complimentary minibars, Roberts radios and views over the rooftops of Bath, or across to the grand Thermae Bath Spa, which sits opposite the hotel.
Nods to the Georgian roots of the building can be seen in the suites.
Located in the centre of the city, the hotel puts guests within walking distance of Bath’s many exceptional sights and architectural wonders. Like the hotel, the city is multilayered in history, and has long attracted visitors due to its thermal waters and standout Georgian and Roman architecture. From the Royal Crescent, a semi-circular terrace of 30 houses overlooking Royal Victoria Park, to the Roman Baths (now a museum), wandering around the streets of Bath is like being in a living museum. In fact, it is the only complete city in the UK designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with its unique second inscription as part of UNESCO's Great Spa Towns of Europe.
Soon hitting our screens is the third series of Bridgerton, which famously and accurately portrayed the city as a much-loved resort town and the summer destination of choice for the well-to-do London set. It’s clear that not much has changed.
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2024-05-16 07:22:25Z
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