Avon Gorge Hotel du Vin

The Avon Gorge Hotel was recently acquired by Hotel du Vin and given an extensive £16 million renovation before being reopened as the Avon Gorge Hotel du Vin. Hotel du Vin, like Malmaison, has a knack of renovating grand old hotels and giving them a modern spin while still celebrating the building’s historical roots. This hotel’s restoration takes advantage of the charming Grade II-listed Victorian-era building, which was originally known as the Grand Clifton Spa and Hydropathic Institution when it opened in 1898.

The hotel has 78 rooms and suites and the historic nature of the building means that they all have a charming traditional character while still offering all the mod cons (even the oil paintings in the rooms have the latest technology). Rooms are all air-conditioned and come with comfortable beds, a work desk, a flatscreen plasma television and Nespresso coffee machines and the en-suite bathrooms come with drench showers. All rooms have Wi-Fi wireless internet access.

Guests have a choice of rooms with a village view or a more expensive gorge view. The gorge view, which features views of the suspension bridge, is the most sought after but even the village view is nicer than you may expect.

Like other hotels in the Hotel du Vin chain, the emphasis here is on quality food and wine and Goram & Vincent, the hotel’s restaurant, is well regarded. The big drawcard here is the view of the suspension bridge from the outdoor terrace and the restaurant’s large floor-to-ceiling windows.

Goram & Vincent has a meat-heavy menu inspired by classic British and French dishes and it features an extensive wine list with a sommelier on hand. The prix fixe menu is reasonably good value for a restaurant of this standard and they also do a very good, but somewhat pricey, afternoon tea. The restaurant is noted for its excellent three-course Sunday lunch which is a must if you’re here on a Sunday.

The hotel’s White Lion pub is a great spot for a drink and its massive terrace has outdoor seating with wonderful views of the Avon Gorge, making it a great place for a drink even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

In addition to the pub and restaurant, the hotel also has a cosy lounge bar with a clubby atmosphere, which makes it the perfect place if you don’t have the connections to get into the nearby Clifton Club.

Despite being located in Bristol’s suburbs, the location is one of this hotel’s biggest assets. Firstly, Clifton is one of Bristol’s nicest areas and secondly, the hotel’s location on Sion Hill means that it offers spectacular views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the hotel’s bar and restaurant and from many of its rooms.

Nearby points of interest include not just the bridge but also Clifton Observatory, which is within walking distance from the hotel.

Photos: Hotel du Vin [CC BY-ND 2.0]