Hotel of the week

Queens Hotel Cheltenham

WHERE AND WHY: In a prime spot on one of Cheltenham’s most beautiful Regency streets, the Queens Hotel is an impressive sight.

It overlooks the Imperial Square and Gardens with its magnificent floral displays and statue of local hero, composer Gustav Holst. And it’s also ideal for exploring Montpellier, the Georgian spa town’s most fashionable district.

Although the hotel first opened in 1838, it oozes modern luxury, with its signature rose scent inspired by Queen Victoria, drifting through the building. We were most impressed by the atrium, a truly stunning piece of design.

The hotel has 84 individually styled rooms, some with statement beds, colour-popping soft furnishings, roll-top baths and walk-in showers. And all come with complimentary White Company bath products.

Staff are very helpful and umbrellas are available to borrow if you visit on a rainy day as we did. There is a car park right next door, with an additional charge, and it’s a 22-minute walk from Cheltenham Spa train station. A free postcard – given to guests on arrival, which the hotel will send for free – is a nice touch.

CHECK-IN: Covid measures are in place across the hotel, with signature scent hand sanitisers dotted all around. An intensified cleaning regime has been adopted, with buttons on the lift and car park barrier regularly disinfected.

ON THE MENU: Victoria’s restaurant is a beautiful setting for dining, with huge windows and aubergine-coloured walls lined with indoor plants. Ingredients are sourced from the best producers in the Cotswolds, and we particularly enjoyed the “not a scotch egg, scotch egg”, made up of smoked mackerel and a quail egg.

Vegetarian options are available and the mushroom on toast was elevated from what could have been a simple uninspiring dish, to something truly delicious. Starters from £6, mains from £14, desserts at £7.

There is also a fantastic selection of wine. Guests can choose between a continental or hot cooked breakfast.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Take a stroll along The Promenade, a famous avenue of elms and horse chestnut trees with a range of upmarket shops and restaurants. Head for a walk in Pittville Park, with its magnificent Pump Room, historic gardens and lakes with rowing boats, or take a refreshing dip in Sandford Parks lido, one of the country’s largest outdoor pools which dates back to the 1930s.

WAKE-UP CALL: B&B from £112, queenshotelcheltenham.co.uk