This month, The Michelin Guide unveiled its first ever ranking of the most outstanding hotels in the UK, and it’s hardly surprising that the likes of The Savoy, The Connaught and Claridge’s all made the list.
Despite being beautiful though, these world-renowned spots aren’t really within our budgets, as some start at a whopping £1,000 per night.
However, an eclectic little hotel just an hour-and-a-half train journey from the capital also made the list — and you can stay there for £158 per night.
The Artist Residence Bristol earned a Michelin key for its interior design, quality of service, character, value for money and guest experience, with judges describing it as a ‘very special stay’.
Having been transformed from its previous usage as an old boot factory, the Georgian townhouse comprises 23 rooms alongside its Boot Factory Bar.
And this isn’t the only accolade its won either: The Artist Residence was also named as the best place to stay in the South West by The Times, and upholds an impressive 4.5-star rating on Tripadvisor.
About the Artist Residence
This building itself is packed with plenty of history, but the rooms at The Artist Residence Bristol are bright and airy with a hint of boho about them.
Food and drink throughout your stay will be provided at The Boot Factory, which is described as a ‘buzzing neighbourhood hangout’ and is open to both guests and locals, from breakfast to bedtime.
Your breakfast will cost anywhere between £6.50 to £12.50 per person depending on what you order, with the offering including omelettes, fresh bread and pastries, fresh fruit and homemade granola.
Brunch dishes include delights like sweetcorn fritters or banana bread french toast, while the drinks offerings include locally sourced wines and pale ales.
If you’re keen to bring your four-legged friend away for a trip, the hotel is dog-friendly in certain rooms, but you’ll need to pay £15 per dog per night.
While the £158 spend will get you a small double room, if you wish to splash out you can get a large double from £264 per night.
Looking for an extra swanky break? A deluxe room with a bath tub is available from £357, while a split-level apartment with its own private terrace accessed by a spiral cast-iron staircase comes in at £400 per night.
The hotel even offers yoga sessions every Monday and Tuesday evening which looks very zen, if we do say so ourselves.
As it’s a chain, there are also Artist Residence hotels in London, Brighton, Cornwall and Oxfordshire – all of which also earned one Michelin key for their offerings.
What to do in Bristol
Located in Portland Square, The Artist Residence Bristol is actually nestled in the sixth coolest neighbourhood on the planet.
Named by TimeOut as the coolest neighbourhood in the UK, Stokes Croft and St Paul’s is a happening place to be.
There’s no shortage of things to do in this creative and vibrant hub. In fact, if you visit the hotel in June, you’ll be able to experience St Paul’s Carnival – supporting African Caribbean arts and culture.
Or, if you enjoy arts and crafts, there’s Pot Heads, a ceramic studio, where you can take a two hour class to make heads out of clay.
Food-wise, Poco Tapas Bar has been a cornerstone of the neighbourhood for over a decade, celebrating seasonal and sustainable food from local producers.
There’s also Baba Ganoush Kitchen which serves Middle Eastern food – and if the food tastes as good as the outside looks, you’re in for a treat.
For a classic little cafe, look no further than vegan community space Cafe Kino. From burgers and breakfasts to cakes and coffees, there’s something for almost everyone.
Other affordable Michelin hotels
- The Yard, Bath – £165: An 18th-century Georgian coaching inn turned boutique hotel, complete with with 15 rooms and freestanding bath tubs.
- The Queensberry Hotel, Bath – £195: A hotel formed of four adjoining Georgian houses owned by a married couple with an art-deco feel.
- The Old Rectory, Hastings – £135: A bed and breakfast with just eight rooms, as well as spa treatments and a gorgeous garden.
How to get there
As we said, Bristol is just a 90-minute train ride from London, with tickets starting at a mere £14, meaning getting there isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg.
You’ll want to travel into Bristol Temple Meads, which is a 20 minute walk from the hotel – or you can hop into a taxi.
If you prefer to take the car, then it’ll take you just under three hours to drive from London to Bristol, although bear in mind, The Artist Residence Bristol doesn’t have parking.
Instead, you’d need to head to the NCP Bristol St James Barton car park which is a five-minute walk away, but it’s not cheap at £26 per day.
For those of you travelling by coach, Bristol coach station is a 10-minute walk from this Michelin abode.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
MORE : The wild parkrun course where you cross into a whole other country
MORE : 10 London deals you don’t want to miss from bottomless sushi to Dungeon experience
MORE : Sun, sea, sujuk, and being spoilt rotten: The Turkish Riviera is an off-season paradise
Get need-to-know travel news, inspiration and advice from Metro every week.
Sign up here…
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.