I had the opportunity to attend a work conference in Bristol recently and needed somewhere to stay. While there is a plethora of hotels near the city centre and the conference venue, I was put-off by their location being either too close to the high street or to the traffic. There were also issues with parking. It seems that it's difficult to find accommodatin in Bristol that has their own parking space. I initially wanted to stay at The Bristol Hotel because of the cashback I could get by using my American Express card, but they have no vacancies. I then looked into staying at the Bristol Marriot Royal, but I found out that there was a concert happening nearby which puts me off. I really want somewhere less busy and quite private, away from the concert crowd. After pondering around Google maps, I managed to find a hidden gem.
Tucked opposite a square not far from the Bristol Museum and Art gallery is the 4-star, multi-award winning luxury accommodation - Berkely Suites, which forms part of Berkeley Square Hotel and nestled amongst the row of converted Grade II listed Georgian terrace houses. Some are residential dwellings and some were turned into offices. According to Google maps, it is roughly 10 minutes walk from the harbour.
They also have a parking garage with limited spaces operated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Just so happen I was lucky enough to get one of the last spaces in the private garage.
Although the reception desk, lobby and restaurant are located in the main building, the suites themselves are located in a nearby cresent. There are 5 suites altogether, one occupying each floor, in one of the renovated Georgian terrace houses.
The suite I stayed in was divided into three separate areas. First, there is a little hall where a coat hanger and a luggage rack was made available. This then leads to a separate living area, and bedroom with an ensuite bathroom.
The living area itself was nice, light, and airy, with spaces to relax, eat, and read. There was also a compact kitchenette equipped with a microwave, kettle, nespresso coffee machine, toaster, mini fridge, hot plates for cooking, and even a dishwsher. Although, I found out on the last night of my stay that the dishwasher was not working. Included as well was some basic cookware, crockery and utensils. They also provide rice and pasta, and some basic cooking ingredients such as olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sauces however, not included.
No television in the living area. Instead, there was a projector that I can watch terrestrial television on, or connect it to my laptop via HDMI cable if I want to watch YouTube videos or Netflix. There was also a complimentary bottle of sherry (which was superb by the way) and a bowl of fresh fruits to enjoy.
The bedroom was simply styled, with a very comfortable double bed, bedside tables and a small wardrobe. In the many hotels I have stayed in, the bed was one of the most comfortable.
Also include was a hair dryer, ironing facilities and a small safe in the wardrobe. The safe however, was not working. As it was a teeny-tiny safe that could only keep my wallet and small valuables, I did not bother reporting it. There was also a DAB radio and an old fashion alarm clock, which unfortunately also did not work as it may have ran out of battery. The alarm clock that is. There was however a large flat screen television in the bedroom. Most of the power outlets also comes with USB outlets, so charging electronics were a doddle.
The bathroom was also styled minimally. Adequate amount of Elemis toileteries was supplied. Included with the usual hand and bath towels were very soft and comfortable bath robes. I do need to find out where to buy them from. Additionally, there was also cotton buds and swabs for skin care use, and eye gel to help with tired eyes. They even provide a temple balm to help with sleep, not that I needed it.
I did include breakfast with my stay. They consists of the usual coffee, tea, and juices. I was also able to help myself to some fresh fruits, yoghurts, smoothies and pastries while waiting for my cooked breakfast to arrive. The pastries (croissants and pain au chocolat) however was quite underwhelming as they seem to be rather flat and shapeless, as though they came from a frozen pack. Their selection of cooked breakfast was rather good, with vegan and vegetarian options available. On the first two days of my stay, I had the full English. I'm sure it comes with toasts but I was never offered any, nor did I ask for any. While they are acceptable, I would recommend using a better quality sausage considering it only comes with just one. On the final day of my stay, I decided to order something different. I had the French Toast with Maple Bacon. I have to say it was very yummy. Not particularly healthy but it was rather delicious. Not something you want to order frequently. Then again, neither the full English.
In total I spent just shy of £390 for a 3 nights stay in the suite, including a 10% discount from their "Stay 2 Save 10% package". I also paid an additional £15 per night per person extra for breakfast, and another additional £15 per night to park in the private garage. All in all, the suite was simply decorated, sympathetic to its history and location. While I do recommend you staying here and experience the suite yourself, there are some things you must know before you book your stay.
The suites are located in a different location, away from the main building. You will have to check-in at the reception desk located in the main building then proceed to a crescent one minute away. If you do get to park in their private garage, which is also located in a different location about 2 - 3 minutes walk from the main building, depending on how fast you walk. You will get your own key fob to enter the garage. Do bear this in mind if you have small children or coming with heavy baggages.
While you will pretty much have the whole floor to yourself, remember that this is a Grade II listed building. There is only so much the planning permission would allow them to do. There is no lift to take you to the upper floors. You will have to walk up and down the stairs. The highest located on the fourth floor, which was the one I stayed in. I did however requested for it knowing full well I have to do this. If you are fit as I am, it should not be a problem. If you are not, perhaps consider the suites on the lower floors. Perhaps they might even be nicer. I am sure the layout would be different depending on which suite you stay in. Also forget clean lines like you would get in modern hotels. It is an old building. Expect to see wonky floors and walls. That is part of the charm staying in an old building. Also expect the feel some draughts. There are howevers heaters available for the cold seasons, and fans in case you are feeling a bit warm.
The suites are perfectly located near the high street where there are an abundance of pubs, cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and shops around. Having say that, you might be able to listen to the noise from the pub nearby if you were to open the windows. That and the church bell that goes off every hour. I personally was not disturbed by the noise as I found them to be quite faint. In fact, I slept with both bedroom windows opened and stil managed to get good night sleep thanks to the comfy bed. You could argue that I had the top most suite so the noise was for me very very minimal.
Despites the many hits, I also found some small misses during my stay. Other than the out of order dishwasher, alarm clock and little safe in the wardrobe, I am pretty certain there should be a guest information pack in the suite which I could not find. I was also quite surprise by the lack of kitchen towel when there is a cooking facility. The housekeeping arrangement also baffles me. There was room service on the second day of my stay where I even get delivered some fresh orchids to the room - a very nice touch. No housekeeping the next day however. The suite I stayed in does not have ventilation fan in the bathroom. Not sure if this is the same with all suites. Keep that in mind if you are planning to stay with someone and wanting to do the second number. There is however a Velux window where you can open using the special pole. You might not know this if you are not familiar with roof windows, if you are an overseas guest perhaps. The final quirk that baffles me however was that they did not accept American Express, which I found rather odd considering they are classed as a 4-star hotel. These are of course small quirks which does not bother me much. More baffling than bothersome. Did I mention the free WiFi?
Staff and customer service however was excellent and are always ready to help (special thanks to Miguel). As long as you do not go around asking for something silly (or illegal), I am sure they are more than happy to assist you. In short, you should still give Berkeley Suites a try if you are into old world charm and quirks. Besides, you will see plenty of it in Bristol.
You can find more information on Berkeley Suites or book your stay directly on their site at https://berkeleysuites.co.uk/