Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa

The location is spot on for shopping, restaurants and nightlife, and the hotel itself is beautiful. The spa in the historic basement was lovely; my wife said her treatment was the best she’d ever had. We were also upgraded without asking, which we really appreciated. Every staff member we met was polite, friendly and helpful. Couldn’t fault it, highly recommend.

My street-facing room on the first floor was clean, spacious and well equipped, with a pleasant view. I stayed one Thursday night, but I’m unlikely to return. I paid £255 for the suite, although the same room was advertised on the official website for £160 on Friday. That pricing felt inconsistent and frustrating. The health suite was a bigger disappointment: the hydro pool was out of order without warning, and I had to ask reception to turn on the steam room and sauna. With a dedicated receptionist there, the service felt poorly managed and focused more on billing than on providing the advertised facilities. The continental breakfast cost an extra £12 per person and was nothing special. Radisson nearby offers a better breakfast for similar money. For the price I paid, I can’t recommend the experience.

The spa was lovely and the bed was very comfortable, but the rest of our two-night stay disappointed. We were put in an accessible room without asking, and its bathroom had a serious drainage problem. Water pooled and flooded the floor, something I’ve since noticed in other reviews too. With no turndown service, we had to use our towels to mop it up. We weren’t offered turndown at all, despite paying over £150 a night, which I’d expect as standard at a four-star hotel. When I complained, I was told it had been offered and declined, which simply wasn’t true. Even if the room is occupied, staff should return later after guests have gone out. The price made the problems all the more disappointing, and the drainage issue needs fixing.

We came home after two nights more tired than when we arrived. Street noise kept us awake past 2am, even on a Sunday and Monday, and then hotel staff were moving things loudly by the lift near our room from 6 to 6:30am on both mornings. We were in room 154, so if you’re given that room, I’d ask to move somewhere better located. The spa was underwhelming too, with low ceilings and darkness that made it feel like a cave. The steam room was out of order.