Homewood

Homewood, Bath: A Charming and Eclectic Countryside Escape

Homewood in Bath, a Michelin Key One-Key property, consistently receives high praise for its blend of luxurious comfort, unique style, and exceptional hospitality, making it a popular choice for relaxing getaways. Guests frequently describe their stays as "special and unique" and "luxurious but never formal or stuffy."

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Homewood generally garners a "Superb" rating, with guests loving nearly every aspect of their stay. The overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, often highlighting a relaxing, fun, and friendly atmosphere that feels more like staying at a friend's house than a hotel.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several aspects of Homewood:

• Design & Vibe: The hotel boasts an eclectic and quirky aesthetic, combining Georgian-inspired architecture with contemporary and Art Deco elements. Expect visual surprises like a life-size giraffe on the lawn, a plethora of clocks in reception, and vibrant artwork. The atmosphere is relaxed, fun, and friendly.
• Amenities: The spa facilities, including a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam room, are a major draw. Many rooms, particularly suites, offer private hot tubs. A complimentary pantry stocked with sweets, soft drinks, and fresh milk is also a thoughtful touch. The hotel is also notably dog-friendly, offering dog beds, bowls, treats, toys, and even a dog agility course.
• Service: The staff are frequently described as "amazing," "lovely and friendly," "super helpful," and "impeccably well-mannered," contributing significantly to the positive guest experience.
• Dining: The quality of the food, from breakfast to dinner, is consistently praised.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Homewood are noted for being spacious, wonderfully comfortable, and exquisitely designed. Each of the 21 main house bedrooms is uniquely styled with distinctive artwork and high-quality furnishings.

• Comfort: Guests frequently mention huge king-sized beds with Hypnos Lansdowne Cashmere mattresses, comfy sofas, and excellent sleep quality.
• Design & Features: Rooms often feature high bay windows overlooking gardens, Art Deco-style wardrobes, and large modern chandeliers. Thoughtful details include freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, sophisticated coffee makers, kettles, fresh milk, mineral water, fluffy dressing gowns, slippers, and floor-to-ceiling blackout drapes.
• Bathrooms: Luxurious bathrooms come with roll-top baths, separate walk-in showers with good pressure, and premium toiletries (e.g., Bramley, 100 Acres). A highlight for many is the inclusion of a Dyson hairdryer. Some suites feature freestanding bathtubs perfect for decadent soaks. While some rooms can be on the smaller side, bathrooms are often massive.

4. Dining Experience

The dining at Homewood is a significant highlight, with the Olio Restaurant & Terrace offering Mediterranean-British fusion cuisine, and La Taberna providing vibrant seasonal feasting.

• Dinner: Dishes are often described as delicious and creative, with options like home-cured gravadlax, burrata and heritage tomatoes, tender roast beef, baked cod, BBQ rubbed pork loin steak, or wild mushroom gnocchi. Desserts like delicate mille-feuille and sticky toffee pudding also receive high marks. The atmosphere in the restaurant is often described as easygoing and relaxed, even suitable for families. Private dining domes in the garden are also available for a unique experience.
• Breakfast: Breakfast is a "sumptuously drawn-out affair", with cooked-to-order options like bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage, and field mushrooms, alongside a first-class buffet of fresh fruits, yogurts, cured meats, and juices.
• Other: Afternoon tea is popular with both guests and locals. The hotel emphasizes sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients, some from its own no-dig kitchen garden.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Homewood is consistently lauded as "faultless" and a major contributor to the overall positive experience. Staff are frequently described as "friendly, helpful, and impeccably well mannered." Guests appreciate that the staff "don't seem like they work in a hotel, more like we stayed at their house for the weekend." Reviewers highlight staff being "always there to help in any way" and "super helpful." However, one older review mentioned a receptionist being pleasant but not especially warm or friendly, and some staff generally being a "little frosty" in demeanor, though this was based on a brief stay.

6. Location & Accessibility

Homewood is situated in Freshford, approximately a 10-15 minute drive from the center of Bath, nestled within 20 acres of picturesque Somerset countryside.

• Setting: The hotel offers a secluded and peaceful haven away from the city bustle, with beautiful gardens and parkland. It's ideal for those seeking a countryside escape, with opportunities for walks.
• Proximity to Attractions: While not in the immediate city center, it's an easy drive or train ride into Bath for attractions like the Roman Baths, Georgian architecture, and shopping. It's also within reach of Longleat Safari Park.
• Transport: The hotel has a large car park with EV charging. It is on a fairly busy A road, but noise generally quietens down at night. The hotel itself is unsuitable for wheelchairs.

7. Value & Pricing

While specific pricing can vary, B&B doubles generally start from around £195 per night. The value for money is rated well, at 8.3 out of 10 by some guests. Considering the luxurious amenities, high level of service, and comprehensive offerings (including the spa, award-winning dining, and unique design), many guests feel it is worth the cost for a truly special and indulgent experience. Special offers like complimentary nights for longer stays may also be available.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some minor criticisms have been noted:

• Spa Crowding: The spa area can feel cramped during busy times, suggesting off-peak visits for a more serene experience.
• Room Size & Furniture: Some rooms, especially those accommodating pets, can feel slightly small due to large furniture, though bathrooms are often spacious.
• Dining Ambiance (Winter): In the conservatory dining area during winter, some guests found it a bit cold and felt tables should be turned to face into the restaurant rather than dark windows.
• Maintenance: One review noted that the reception area needed some repainting, particularly the skirting. Also, an unemptied ashtray outside was mentioned.
• WiFi: There was an instance where WiFi in the mews wasn't working, though the team promptly moved guests to a main house room.
• Air Conditioning: During very hot weather, while fans and AC units are provided, some guests felt proper air conditioning would have been better for cooling the room, noting portable fans could be noisy.

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