Bailbrook House

Breakfast was fabulous, and they catered for food intolerances with alternatives to wheat and cow’s milk. The breakfast staff were friendly and engaging, making the meal more enjoyable with lots of conversation and laughter, and recommendations for walking into Bath. From the moment we arrived until we left, the welcoming, helpful staff made sure we had what we needed. Our room was warm, inviting, spotless and comfortable. It’s a beautiful setting with stunning grounds, elevated for some historic natural charm, and access to Bath’s main routes, including the M4, was easy. We had a perfect overnight stay, will return and highly recommend it.

We accidentally left some luggage behind, and the staff handled it extremely well. Their friendliness and efficiency stood out throughout, along with how clean the hotel and rooms were and the very tasty breakfast. This was a real treat, and I found it much better than other local places.

The afternoon tea itself was really tasty, with a brilliant tea selection, and I wouldn’t advise anyone against trying it. If you’re visiting Bath and want a nice hotel, Bailbrook House is definitely a good place to stay, and I’d still recommend giving the tea a go. But people looking for the kind of tea experience that includes lots of care and attention beyond the food may find it falls well short of its potential. Staff were helpful and cheerful, and I don’t think the serving team were responsible for the shortcomings. To me, the management and owners showed less care than those at Fawsley, and that small drop in effort made a noticeable difference. That’s why four stars feels a little harsh, since we did have a very nice time, but I can’t give more than four when I compare this with our previous visits to Fawsley House, another Handpicked Hotels location. We felt disappointed throughout, even though we enjoyed ourselves. We’d booked afternoon tea at both places for birthdays and told them in advance. We did arrive a little early at Bailbrook, but the main birthday difference came at the end, so I don’t think that was affected by our early arrival. Some things were outside the hotel’s control. The building and our room weren’t as nice as at Fawsley, though Bailbrook is still well cared for and a very nice building. At Fawsley, you’d visit to spend time in the house and grounds. Bailbrook felt more like a nice nearby hotel for a trip to Bath. The smaller details added up. At Fawsley, we had a second table for the tea stand, but here our table felt cramped, with barely enough space. The plates were nicer at Fawsley, and each tea came in a different china teapot. Here the basic metal teapots all matched. The first strainers were less effective, with holes big enough for bits of loose tea to fall through. The strainers with our second pots were the same better kind used at Fawsley, so I don’t know why they weren’t provided at the start. The scones looked nicer at Fawsley, and there was more jam and clotted cream. Here it didn’t feel like we had enough for four scones, though the lemon curd was a nice touch. The chairs at Bailbrook were awkward for eating from. They’re comfortable to sink into with a book or a nap, but when I sat upright to serve cake for myself or my girlfriend, I felt I might slip off the front. At Fawsley, the chairs were more comfortable for eating. Fawsley also brought out an extra little cake with an edible happy birthday sign, which we didn’t get here. These are small, nitpicky things, but together they made the experience noticeably lesser, which was a real shame. The tea and food were still very nice, but having experienced the standard Handpicked Hotels can reach, anything less felt disappointing. It’s a shame because these touches wouldn’t add much cost or effort, yet would make a real difference.

Our family travelled from abroad, and we also had a guest with mobility issues. The staff took great care of everyone and made sure they were comfortable, which meant so much to us. Our wedding at Bailbrook House Hotel in the Mansion House was everything we hoped for. The beautiful old house, full of period character, and the impeccable grounds made a romantic, timeless setting and a stunning backdrop for photos. Staying in the decadent John Eveleigh Suite made the day even more special. It was a lovely place to relax, get ready and take it all in. The team’s attention to detail was exceptional, and everything ran smoothly, so the day felt relaxed and stress-free. Lorella and Elina went above and beyond, coordinating seamlessly with our suppliers. Nothing was too much trouble, and their calm, professional manner let us simply enjoy ourselves. The food was delicious, the wine selection fantastic, and many guests commented on both. We couldn’t recommend Bailbrook House more highly for a wedding or special stay. Beautiful setting, amazing staff, and an unforgettable experience from beginning to end.