The Sunday Times
5th December 2010
The Halcyon with doubles from £99 is a boutique bolt hole with a Bloody Mary - perfect for breakfast!
Yet another A-lister in Bath, this time it was Camilla to turn on the Christmas lights and with the Chistmas market about to kick off this week the city is in festive spirits. As Camilla's family home is local to Bath she didn't stay The Halcyon this time but no doubt she considered it when she saw some of our mid-week offers!
The Christmas market is a great tradition and has become a major attraction in Bath, this year it is running for 18 days from 25th November and promises to be the best yet with 129 stores in wooden chalets located around the Abbey each one offering unique, handmade and unusual gifts, decorations and food items - everything you will need for the perfect Christmas celebration.
We are one of the closest hotels to the markets so the perfect location to start your shopping expedition. We'll give you a hearty breakfast to keep you going through the day and provide the perfect place to rest and recuperate after the shopping is done. we are essentially your Bath Christmas Market Base Camp!
Its been a week or celebrity spotting with even the sight of the paparazzi at the hotel! We've had a range of A to Z list celebrities in the last couple of months, international to very much local. The staff at The Halcyon are always on best behaviour (until the Xmas party) but the last few weeks has seen a couple of them make a special effort when a certain Hollywood star came to visit with his agent - obviously we are the height of discretion at the hotel and we can't possibly name names but i can tell you he wasn't wearing his pirates outfit this time!
And we had a few other famous celebrities - Wales and Wasps Rugby Coach Shaun Edwards, TV presenter (from River Cottage), music producers and Olympic skiers! With Michael Caine, John Cleese and Stephen Fry spending time in Bath recently no doubt they will pop in soon. Obviously there is word on the celebrity grapevine that The Halcyon is the place to hang out in Bath!
To get VIP treatment go straight to our reservations page and you will see what all the fuss is about!
Its been 6 months since we opened and the feedback we have received so far has been fantastic and based on our great start we have already decided to grow! We will be expanding to create a new bar and breakfast room area. We have agreed the purchase of the bar that was located under the hotel - this is great news for guests as we will be able to serve breakfast in a larger more comfortable room and offer a fantastic new cocktail bar.
The architects plans are already drawn up with the room incorporating a large circular bar, bespoke luxurious chesterfield sofas set within a warm panelled room decked with antique mirrors and lit by candle light. When the nights draw in there will only be one place in Bath that you will want to be! The bar is yet to be named but we'll keep you posted! Launch expected in November.
Conde Naste Traveller
June 2010
WHAT IS IT? A new boutique hotel in a double fronted Grade I listed Georgian townhouse on South Parade. Its right in the centre of town and a 2 minute walk from Bath Spa train station, which is a godsend as both the traffic and parking in Bath can be a nightmare.
BEHIND THE SCENES. Formerly a tired B&B called Georges' hotel, it was brought last year by Giles Thomas (a property developer who grew up in Bath), given a £3m makeover, and reopened as The Halcyon in February.
SLEEP. Headboards, Cushions and Blankets come in mustard yellow, scarlet or purple;contrasted with white bedlinen and pale grey walls, the effect is smart and stylish without being over blown. Else where the colour palette is subtle, with dark grey curtains and pale walls. Bathrooms have white metro style tiles, Phillippe Starck fittings and White Company products. The 4 studio rooms have a tiny kitchenette within a cupboard, so you can rustle up a basic meal. The original features have been retained, including charming Georgian panelling and beautiful cornicing. The rooms are small, so go for a Deluxe or a Studio if you can and ask for one at the front with views to Somerset Hills.
EAT: There isn't a restaurant but the hotel has a big kitchen and our breakfast, served in the lobby, was excellent and spectacularly good value. My husbands' full English was enormous and included all the usual trimmings as well as a delicious mashed potato patty and black pudding. The bar serves cocktails in the evenings and has a license to serve drinks out the front in Summer, when the hotel will also introduce a light lunch. I am told there will be umbrellas and a big wicker basket full of blankets and hot water bottles for when the weather gets a little nippy.
WHO GOES THERE: At the time of our visit it was Valentines day so it was mostly couples on a romantic break, but I gather the guests usually vary a great deal: couples young and old, families, singles people on business. As Bath is hugely popular with Americans, you can expect a few of them too.
WHAT'S THERE TO DO? The hotel is surrounded by beautiful Georgian buildings made from golden Bath stone and a wonder through the historic Bath streets is a must. Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths are within spitting distance, and the lovely Theatre Royal, which hosts several festivals and plays en-route to the West End is a 10 minute walk away.
WE LIKE: The price; the chic urban interiors in a town where chintz prevails; the jam jars of Smarties in the room;the hotels' bicycles for guests to use.
WE DON'T LIKE: Our room overlooked a flat roof and the back of another row of buildings, which was disappointing. Only 2 of the rooms have baths and they are small.
PRICE: Doubles from £99; Breakfast from £6.99; There is a 2 night minimum stay at weekends.
