Short Stay: Homewood Hotel and Spa, Bath, UK

Short Stay: Homewood Hotel and Spa, Bath, UK

Homewood, in ten bucolic acres of sweeping lawns and trees, brings relaxed yet elegant Mediterranean living to the rural village of Freshford: palm trees, olive trees in deep terracotta planters, Goddess sculptures and Modernist art. It's a sensual taste of the French Riviera between the Avon and Frome rivers. The Mediterranean theme is appropriate, given that Bath, with its rich Roman heritage, is just five miles to the north.

Parts of the honey-colored Cotswold house may date back to a 13th century Carthusian monastery, with Georgian and Victorian extensions added through the ages. Homewood is a bold contemporary celebration of eclectic style, particularly in a dining room of a dozen different chandeliers, lighting up 1978 sullen black-and-white photographic portraits of Peter Gabriel, a local prog rock star.

The reception is a veritable museum of clocks, over 40 of them drift seamlessly into a 1940s gallery Post photo covers with style icons: Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Sophia Loren and a young Princess Elizabeth.

Home

Immediately, a sculpture of a thoughtful monkey, cradling a fedora and offering hand sanitizer, tells you that Homewood will be fun, quirky, and welcoming.

A lot of the paperwork is done online before arrival, like confirming room and restaurant reservations, so it's really welcome rather than the bureaucracy of filling out forms.

A welcome pack includes a charming illustrated guide on a 90-minute family walk from Homewood to Ilford. Clearly, this is a hotel that takes care of its customers.

Bedroom

Manuka is a suite with an enclosed sun trap garden with a hot tub lit by a crystal chandelier, sheltered by a rustic pagoda. Laurel topiary, rocking chairs and upholstered patio furniture complete a relaxing garden.

Vibrant pop-art featuring a thought-provoking state of religion collage adorns a side half-timbered wall while a sprawling post-impressionist sea / sky canvas is the centerpiece of a Cotswold exposed brick wall .

The traditional leather gentleman's club armchairs blend into the avant-garde - a flock of geese flies in a loving sky on the thick lined curtains.

Add in Art Deco bedside lamps, a royal-sized bed and a SMEG coffee maker and you have warm accommodation that feels more like a cottage than a suite.

The bathroom

With such proximity to Bath, it is only fitting that the main bathroom, there is also a separate and spacious toilet, has Roman themed wall friezes of playing cherubim. There is a free-standing bathtub and a huge walk-in shower. Both are worthy of a Roman emperor.

There are plenty of full-size bottles of 100 Acres toiletries available - bubble bath, hand wash, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion in UK country scents created from all-natural ingredients.

Facilities

The days begin with breakfast in your room, in the restaurant or, better yet, on the terrace. While customers order their Full English Somerset, Full English Vegetarian, Shakshuka Baked Eggs, Mashed Avocado, or Smoked Salmon with Scrambled Eggs the night before, there is a breakfast board that comes standard: yogurt, fruit, juice, muesli and delicate mini pastries. .

Spa treatments include a harmonizing back massage, a Tibetan-inspired body treatment to relieve deep fatigue and sore muscles, and an energizing and detoxifying scrub that uses the ionizing properties of Himalayan salt crystals.

Location

Early in the morning there are romantic misty views over the gentle Somerset landscape of the Avon Valley. Ancient woods, green pastures, quiet pastures, and the banks of the River Frome are all within walking distance, as is a medieval hall, Palladian houses, and simple weavers chalets. There are great views of the landscape from the hot tub.

Five miles to the north is Bath. Prior Park Landscape Garden gives the best view for photographs of the Palladian Bridge. At the bottom of town there are the Roman Baths, the Fashion Museum and a host of independent shops.

To the south, a 30-minute drive, are the National Trust Gardens of Stourhead: including a mile-long walk around a lake with classic follies and poetic quotes from Homer and Milton. It is Georgian landscaping on an epic scale.

Other nice touches

Flip-flops and warm bown dresses are provided for the short walk to the outdoor pool, heated to 28 degrees centigrade year round.

Soon an adventure playground will be ready to keep the kids busy. You can't miss it. It's next to a full size topiary giraffe.

Dogs are also greeted with Woof boxes filled with Lily's Kitchen food and treats. Of course, dogs have their own beds.

Cost

Rooms start at around £ 185 per night and suites go up to £ 650.

The best song

The recently opened Olio Terrace is a slice of Mediterranean living with sunflower-colored umbrellas, pastel-toned Coco and Wolf patio furniture with fireplace and patio heaters if needed. Dresses can be casual shorts and flip flops, but they are usually designer shorts and designer thongs.

Throughout the day, there is a tapas sharing theme on the menus: small platters such as chili squid, grilled shrimp, a Scottish egg chorizo. Salmon, chicken and steaks can be cooked a la robata, a la plancha or in a pan.

The complex Ottolenghi-style salads - like caponata, pine nuts, red wine vinegar, and bulgur - are also meant for sociable sharing.

The service is neat and consistent, a number of employees having worked together to The Fou'Seasons Manor.

The final verdict

Homewood's bold art collection is fascinating, always a source of conversation. Soon, the hotel will open ten more rooms in The Lodge, four of which have spa gardens. Two of those with an idyllic view over the Avon Valley.

Currently owner Ian Taylor collects grandfather clock faces and he hopes they will feature as a work of art in one of the new rooms. Then again, he also acquired 60 hot water bottles and they may appear soon. Taylor believes in moving pieces, creating new collections, attracting guests to see the latest creative changes.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Homewood Hotel and Spa.