The Bath Priory Hotel, Restaurant & Spa

The Bath Priory reopened in March 2009 following a refurbishment which heralded the arrival of Michael Caines as executive chef. Owners Andrew and Christina Brownsword also possess Gidleigh Park (see entry), where Michael has produced his style of creative modern European cooking since 1994, and as he himself puts it, "it is my intention to bring more synergy between Gidleigh Park and The Bath Priory, while retaining their unique appeal". And the appeal of The Bath Priory is in part due to its splendid location in four acres of impeccably maintained gardens just a short walk from the centre of the historic city. The Gothic-style mansion built of Bath stone is a tranquil oasis with beautiful landscaped gardens and magical terraces. Inside, a fine collection of artworks adorns the walls and deep sofas and roaring winter fires maintain the comfort factor. The Priory restaurant is a light and elegant room, with deep damask banquette seating, feather cushions, contemporary lighting and mirrors and white linen-clad tables. Service is formal but refreshingly unstuffy. The due diligence taken to source top-class West Country produce at Gidleigh has indeed been transported to Bath, where name-checked regional ingredients appear on the menus (fixed-price lunch, carte, a brace of tasting menus and a grazing option). A meal includes inter-courses to set the pulses racing, starting, perhaps, with a boudin of langoustines on a fine ratatouille, topped with a langoustine foam. Confit of Creedy Carver duck, foie gras, bitter leaves and a neat duck jelly containing orange segments is an auspicious, technically impressive first course, and roast fillet of mullet comes with braised belly pork, a raviolo of Brixham crab and lemongrass and ginger sauce in a refined and well-crafted main course. Dark chocolate millefeuille with praline and candied hazelnuts is a stellar finish to a meal.

Please telephone for directions or see website
Nearest station: Bath Spa

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