Sink into hidden corners of beautiful Bath with our snug
There's something rather wonderful about a secret worth keeping. After six o'clock, when the daylight softens over Queen Square and the hotel settles into evening, the snug becomes yours.
The door hatch opens, or you're led by our doormen, Alex or Jerry, to the snug, a hidden residents lounge tucked in the ground of the Francis Hotel. A hideout, if you will. A beautifully curated retreat for those who know.
By day, we will plan to host the occasional events, mid-week gatherings that bring a little life to these Georgian walls. But as evening draws in, the snug returns to what it does best: offering warmth, quiet, and that rare feeling of being somewhere that's truly yours, a guest at Francis Hotel.
A bookcase of troves from Mr B's Emporium
In the depths of our snug, you will see our shelves are lined with titles hand-picked by Mr B's Emporium, Bath's award-winning independent bookshop on John Street, a neighbour of ours. Mr B's has twice been named the UK's best independent bookshop, and in 2015, the Guardian placed it among the ten best bookshops in the world. Lucky for the Francis Hotel, they have partnered with us to design a library for travellers and novelists spending a night or two with us. Their passion for matching readers with the perfect book means every volume here has been thoughtfully chosen. Inspiration from fired-up cooking like Emberwood to the curiosities of Bath, and a few novels by the classics of Bath, Austen, Dickens and more.
These aren't just books to fill a shelf; they're recommendations from people who spend their days immersed in stories, and it shows.
Games to settle down with...
On the side tables, you'll find games from Roomytown, a Bath-based design studio that reimagines historical and vintage treasures into something rather special. Roomytown specialises in historical and vintage-inspired homeware, art prints, and gifts that blend heritage with modern living. Inspired by a classic speak-easy-feel where people would settle down for the evening, or even Dandies and Georgians sharing tea and card games, we offer a selection of entertainment alike. Think a moment away from technology, a staycation is about the quality time spent together. Find our packs of playing cards with botanical illustrations, each deck a little work of art in itself. Or pick up a wooden game from another fellow British supplier for those who prefer a wooden traditional board game.
These aren't your standard hotel features; they're our touch on your experience with us. To make our hotel your home, a place to detox from the digital if you please, or a spot to find some serenity. Our games are beautifully crafted pieces that make the act of playing feel like something worth lingering over.
Art That Tells a Story
Dotted with consideration for our mulberry walls, our artwork carries its own narrative. Local pieces, sourced by a curator who understands Bath's creative pulse, sit alongside a few treasured frames, works that have earned their place through character rather than simply filling space. Each piece has been carefully chosen to complement the room's Georgian style while adding a contemporary and vibrant touch to the atmosphere.
Jazz drifts through the room, curated to match the ambience. Not too much, just enough to make the silence feel warmer. And come Christmas, a beautifully lit tree takes its place, dressed with a bow and nothing more. Simple, elegant, glowing.
This is the sort of space that makes a hotel feel less like accommodation and more like home, your Georgian townhouse for the evening, complete with all the warmth you'd expect from a very hospitable (and wittingly imaginative) family.
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