“No stilts, pogo sticks, space hoppers, flaming torches or whips in the bar.” Such are the rules of the house, a nod in deference to the 9th Marquis of Queensberry, whose family built this street, and who wrote the rules of boxing in 1865. As for the hotel, it occupies four gleaming Georgian townhouses on a grand old street around the corner from Royal Crescent. It’s an extremely comfortable base, with an elegant sitting room, a snazzy bar, a beautiful courtyard garden and some of the best food in town. Potter about and find fresh flowers, contemporary art, the daily papers, kind staff on hand to help. Bedrooms come in different sizes, but all are full of their own delights: Vi Spring mattresses, stylish fabrics, bold colours, flat-screen TVs. Smaller rooms overlooking the garden are lovely – size doesn’t matter here – though one of the suites does come with a chaise longue in its super-stylish bathroom. Chris Cleghorn’s delicious food waits below, perhaps langoustine tail with cheddar gnocchi and basil or anjou pigeon with celeriac, shallots and hazelnuts.
A superb hotel and we had a gorgeous room. The Olive Tree Restaurant was memorable.