Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel

The Grade II-listed building was built in the Italianate Renaissance style in 1869 and the hotel has been known as The Grand since 1874. An extensive £5 million refurbishment was completed in 2017 before being re-opened as the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel.

For the most part, the hotel’s recent refurbishment has preserved the historical nature of the building; however, there are a few modern flourishes in the hotel’s public areas that look out of place.

The hotel has a rich history and former guests have included royalty, diplomats and celebrities including Cary Grant, Winston Churchill, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones (who were famously refused entry to the hotel’s bar because they were not wearing jackets). In 2019 the BBC television series, the Trial of Christine Keeler, was filmed at the hotel.

The Mercure Bristol Grand has 182 guest rooms, which all have comfortable beds, a small work desk, a flatscreen television, ironing facilities, tea and coffee making facilities and en suite bathrooms. The hotel’s Privilege rooms are larger than the standard rooms and include extra features such as a Nespresso coffee machine and minibar with complimentary soft drinks. Four of the hotel’s rooms are wheelchair accessible.

The rooms have a modern decor which contrasts with the heritage style of the hotel’s public areas.

Keepers Kitchen & Bar is the hotel’s in-house restaurant with a British and European influenced menu and a bee-themed decor. However, the hotel’s city centre location ensures that there are plenty of other eating and drinking options nearby.

The hotel also has a fitness centre with a steam room, sauna and a 10m (33 ft) swimming pool in an annexe across the road.

Free Wi-Fi wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel.

Despite its reputation as a grand hotel, the Mercure Bristol Grand can sometimes be a surprisingly affordable place to stay; however, room rates do vary enormously depending on seasonal demand.

The hotel is located at the northern end of Bristol’s Old City. Its location at the northern end of the Old City means that it is just a short five-minute walk to the heart of the city’s main shopping district and the Georgian-era Queen Square is not much farther in the other direction.

Nearby points of interest include Castle Park and St Nicholas Markets, both less than a two-minute walk away. Many of the main waterfront attractions (including Arnolfini, Bristol Aquarium, the Matthew of Bristol, M Shed and We The Curious) are between a 10 and a 15-minute walk from the hotel.