Luxurious Boutique Guest House Bath
Dukes is a boutique guest house in Bath. The term boutique hotel was first used in the UK in the 1980's to give luxury hotels and guest houses a mark of distinction from the mainstream four and five star hotels that were and are readily available today. Boutique hotels and guest houses like Dukes offer a superior level of service and comfort, as well as a unique, intimate and welcoming setting which you are unlikely to find even in leading branded hotels.
Dukes epitomises what a boutique guest house is all about: from its setting in the most magnificent of Georgian townhouses standing on one of the most famous Georgian boulevards in the world, right down to the fine antique furnishings, quirky Duke theming and individually designed and decorated rooms. With its high ceilings, tall doors and sash windows, log fires, scented candles, exquisite linen and luxury complimentary Penhaligon bath and body products, as well as staff providing impeccable service, this is probably the finest boutique guest house in Bath.
Boutique Guest House Bath – Find out what makes us special.
Each of our rooms is named after a Duke of notoriety. Richmond, for instance, was created several times in the Peerage of England, with the Dukedom being first created as the Duke of Richmond and Somerset for Henry Fitzroy the illegitimate son of King Henry VIII. Upon his death, the title became extinct, however it reappeared several other times, each time only to become extinct, until 1675 when it was recreated again for the illegitimate son of Charles II, Charles Lennox. He was then also given the title of Duke of Lennox a month later and then later still, the title of Duke of Gordon. Charles was the only Duke ever to hold three Dukedoms.
The Duke of Atholl was named after Atholl in Scotland and was created by Queen Anne in 1703. Before 1963 the Duke had the dubious honour of being the highest ranking peer without a seat in the House of Lords. The holder of the title also commands the only legal private army in Europe, the Atholl Highlanders.
The Atholl at Dukes is one of the grandest and largest of the rooms available. Decorated in Georgian style this room boasts 300 square feet with two separate rooms one used as a lounge area and the other housing the grand four poster bed, ornate furnishings and three large sashed windows offering fabulous views over Great Pulteney Street. With high ceilings edged in ornate original Georgian mouldings and cornices this is one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Bath.
There are two rooms which feature romantic and rather theatrical four poster beds, with their sumptuous fabrics, delicate oriental print wallpapers and floral designs, as well as views over Great Pulteney Street and beyond to the Somerset Hills, whilst others are decorated in a more contemporary style with bright whites, soft greys and tartan clad furnishings. The rooms are for the most part extremely spacious and many benefit from a beautiful sunny aspect. Soft furnishings help to create a sense of homeliness, and each room is carefully decorated in its own colour scheme: deep reds matched with oriental prints and antique Georgian furniture creates a style of its own in one of the standard doubles whilst others feature botanical themes, much favoured in Georgian times.
Not only is the interior sensitively considered from a design perspective, but the views from some of the rooms are particularly impressive and serve to unite the guest house within the over arching grand design of Bath.
At night the Palladian mansion Prior Park on the hill is illuminated and visible from a number of the courtyard side rooms at Dukes boutique guest house in Bath. Prior Park was Ralph Allen’s home which he built out of Bath stone in 1742. Allen owned and quarried this stone at Combe Down and Bathampton and made a fortune during the industrious development of Bath as most of the buildings were built making use of the Bath stone from his quarries. The stone is known for its warm honey colour giving it a very distinctive look and feel. The stone can be chiselled or crafted in any direction, enabling ornate designs to be created such as Palladian and Corinthian columns which make up so much of Bath's architectural features, in particular the curved line of the Royal Circus and the 1000 feet long and 100 foot wide Great Pulteney Street.
It was Allen who built and ran the Bath Post house and later went onto make a further fortune from the Bath stone that he owned and quarried. It was Prior Park and the Town House that he built close to the Post House in 1727 that inspired many others to design and build the terraces, mansions and vistas that we all enjoy today, setting Bath apart as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
As a boutique bed and breakfast in Bath, Dukes goes that little bit further to make your stay memorable. Whilst sensitive to its Georgian heritage, there are all the modern comforts at your fingertips. Each room comes with fluffy dressing gowns and towels, ironing board and room to room telephone service, complimentary tea and coffee making facilities, cable TV, gorgeous luxury Penhaligon toiletries, hairdryers, bathrooms or corner showers. Some of the premier rooms come with mini bars.
On arrival guests are offered the use of one of the guest house’s car parking permits. This is a complimentary service and passes need to be returned on check out.
Boutique Guest House Bath - To book a weekend or short holiday stay at Dukes boutique guest house in Bath call or to find out more call us now on 01225 787960