From schoolboy teas to filming in Bath
From schoolboy teas to filming in Bath, director Giles Foster has been returning to the Francis Hotel for much of his life.
Our seven townhouses hold many stories beyond those in the history books. Untold Bath is a place for the people who know the Francis Hotel to share theirs. Giles’s begins with afternoon tea and a welcome break from school food.
Giles grew up near Bath, but boarded at Monkton Combe School from the age of seven. Visits to the Francis with his father were a treat. He still remembers the stands of sandwiches and cakes.
As Giles grew older, tea became dinner. His father loved the comfort and service of traditional hotels. Smoked salmon and roast lamb were his favourites.
Before dinner, they would sit together on the soft chintz sofas in the lounge. They returned to the same spot for coffee afterwards. His father would tell stories of his own schooldays in Bath. The lounge is now the bar, but Giles can still picture those evenings.
Back to Bath
Giles went on to become a film director. Bath remained part of his life. He has filmed seven productions in the city, including adaptations of Jane Austen and Rosamunde Pilcher. He often stayed at the Francis while working here.
Now 78, Giles enjoys the hotel’s new rooms and facilities. Much has changed since those visits with his father. What stays with him is the team’s “kind professionalism”.
“Welcoming, unpretentious,” he says. “Still like the good old days.”
Is the Francis Hotel part of your story, too? Tell us about your memories. We’d love to hear them.
Giles Foster is a BAFTA award-winning director of character-driven drama. After school in Bath, he studied English Literature and completed an MA at the Royal College of Art.
