In our ongoing quest to find the best places to spend Christmas 2017 in the UK, we head to the historic City of Bath and take a look at the yuletide offerings from two of the city’s finest hotels, No.15 Great Pulteney and the Abbey Hotel.
With the Abbey Hotel’s ever-popular Après-Ski Bar, back for its fifth season, and No.15 shaking up the most inventive festive cocktails Bath has ever seen, this is the place to celebrate Christmas.
Start the countdown…
The Abbey Hotel will be kickstarting celebrations with the return of its fabulous snow-capped Après Ski Bar from 23 November. With plenty of hearty Alpine goulash to go around, ski-boot cocktails, steaming mugs of mulled wine and marshmallow-topped hot chocolates, the Ski Bar is a firm fixture on the Bath festive calendar, bringing a true touch of the Alps to the heart of Bath. Fondue feasts amongst family and friends – with lashings of melted cheese and crusty bread for dipping – are the order of the day.
Guests can get down to their favourite festive tunes each Sunday, as the Ski Bar lights up the afternoons with a series of laid-back DJ sets.
In-keeping with the theme of wining, dining and dressing up, Allium Restaurant at the Abbey Hotel will form the perfect backdrop for a good old festive get-together – whether guests are looking to entertain clients or spend quality time with loved ones. Head Chef Rupert Taylor will be serving up delicious winter warmers from a festive menu showcasing the best of seasonal produce, matched with the finest wines.
Fizz-fuelled festive afternoon teas can be enjoyed at both No.15 Great Pulteney and the Abbey Hotel – each setting wonderfully quirky and one of a kind – and sure to inspire plenty of Christmas spirit.
Shake it up!
Where better to enjoy a couple of curious cocktails than in the chic Bar 15 at No.15 Great Pulteney? Guests can stop by to warm up by the fire with a carefully-curated cocktail in hand. The Old Fashioned 15 – a smooth blend of Jameson Irish whisky, Angostura bitters, ginger and orange essence – or one of the others from the seasonal specials list are the go-to choice on a winter’s evening.
’Tis the season
Celebrate with the best company at one of the Abbey Hotel’s Dinners and Disco nights – a three-course dinner followed by plenty of dancing in Allium – or go one step further with a private dining experience in one of two Boltholes for up to 16 guests. For smaller groups, ArtBar makes for the ideal venue, or think big and hire Igloo out for an exclusive private party for a minimum of 50 guests.
Meanwhile over on one of Bath’s most beautiful Georgian streets, The Pulteney Room and The Dispensary at No.15 are the stars of the show. The elegant interiors of The Pulteney Room set the tone for an intimate evening, seating up to 18 guests; for a dining venue with a difference, The Dispensary – its walls lined with antique apothecary bottles and vintage kitchenalia – is the obvious choice for a long-table feast for 16-38. Fabulously festive three-course lunches and four-course festive dinners will be served within these quirky surrounds – an unforgettable experience, guests will be guaranteed to be talking about for weeks to come.
During Christmas week
Three-night Christmas breaks (24–27th December) at the Abbey Hotel and No.15 are true indulgence. From the moment guests step through the wreathed gateway at No.15, they will be greeted with a champagne afternoon tea, while the Abbey Hotel will have a decadent cream tea and mince pies at the ready. No.15 will be organising horse-drawn carriage tours for guests on arrival – the ultimate way to experience Bath’s historic sights, lit up as dusk sets in – stopping off for a spot of last-minute shopping at the city’s individual boutiques and Christmas market. There will be the opportunity to attend the very special Midnight Mass at the iconic Bath Abbey – followed by mince pies and mulled wine.
Whether staying at the Abbey hotel or No.15, Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be filled with culinary delights, each Head Chef bringing their own individual take on the festive classics. The three-night escapes will also include tickets to the Theatre Royal’s matinee performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, or a pampering spa afternoon – a 30-minute facial or massage at Spa 15 for guests of No.15 – or in the case of a stay at the Abbey hotel, afloat in the world-renowned Thermae Bath Spa.
Bring in 2018 in style…
For an opulent New Year celebration, look no further than No.15’s New Year’s Eve House Party. Champagne will be flowing throughout the night, to accompany an indulgent five-course supper – on the menu: foie gras, hot smoked salmon, roast Wiltshire venison or pithivier of roast butternut squash, topped off with orange pannacotta with gingerbread crumb – after which guests will be free to dance the night away…
As for New Year at the Abbey Hotel, guests really are spoilt for choice. Not just one but two parties with be thrown – Hollywood Glitz and Glamour at Allium with canapés and cocktails on arrival, a delicious five-course supper and champagne at midnight; or a 1970s extravaganza down in Igloo, the hotel’s very own vaulted venue with ice-effect bar, Northern Lights inspired lighting and large dance floor – time to don those flares and psychedelic florals.
And when it all gets too much… guests can disappear into the two hotels’ individually-designed bedrooms for a deeply comfortable night’s sleep.
Prices and reservations
The Après-Ski Bar at the Abbey Hotel will be open daily 10am – 11pm, from 23 November to 21 December 2017.
Overnight stays at the Abbey Hotel during the Christmas Market from £131 based on two sharing, inclusive of VAT and subject to availability. www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk; 01225 805895.
Overnight stays at No.15 Great Pulteney during the Christmas Market from £149 based on two sharing, inclusive of VAT and subject to availability. www.no15greatpulteney.co.uk; 01225 800509.
Three-night Christmas stays at the Abbey Hotel start at £589 per adult, and two-night New Year stays start at £395 per adult, based on two sharing a double/twin room and subject to availability.
Three-night Christmas stays at No.15 Great Pulteney start at £875 per adult, and two-night New Year stays start at £550 per adult, based on two sharing a double room and subject to availability.
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