The Gainsborough Bath Spa is one of Bath’s most-recommended destination hotels, with a five-star rating and its luxurious and recharging Spa Village, including a range of exclusive signature therapies. This year, the hotel launched a new brasserie concept to add even more panache to its already high-class offering…
When it comes to five-star luxury in Bath, there’s no doubt that The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel stands out with its elegant spa and first-class facilities. Built in the 1800s, the hotel occupies two Grade II-listed buildings with distinguished Georgian and Victorian façades and is named after the Bath resident and artist Thomas Gainsborough. With its beautiful three-pool complex, this is the only hotel in Bath offering access to the city’s natural thermal mineral waters. The hotel is designed by New York-based Champalimaud Design to be welcoming, elegant, vibrant and social – a modern interpretation of a classic design. Dining at the hotel is another major attraction. Meals are served in the contemporary-styled Gainsborough Brasserie, featuring wooden floors, dark wooden tables, leather armchairs, and original artwork. The Brasserie offers a gourmet delight with an internationally-inspired menu, delicious food and a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. It’s no wonder the hotel has received rave reviews from critics, journalists and guests from around the globe.
We sat down with the Gainsborough’s ever-hospitable general manager Marc Mac Closkey to learn more about this highly successful Bath restaurant…
The dining concept at our Brasserie is a kaleidoscope of globally inspired gourmet experiences with new flavours where East meets West, featuring the freshest and choicest ingredients to make up its diverse spread of gastronomic creations.
The Brasserie’s signature dish is ‘Dancing Prawns’, hot wok’d prawns coated in our secret house-made citrusy aioli emulsion and sprinkled with crystalised walnuts. For a unique experience, I would recommend the Yukibana Creamy Sashimi Pasta, which is our carbonara of the sea with chilled capellini pasta (hugely popular in Japan) scallop, salmon, spotted shrimp, salmon roe, crab sticks and finished with a creamy egg yolk sauce. For something more traditional, try our classic honey mustard-crusted rack of lamb, portobello mushroom confit, charred asparagus, pomme purée and chimichurri.
We have a very talented brigade of passionate chefs who have worked at some of the most renowned kitchens in Kuala Lumpur. They are led by chef Oon Tin Jie, who oversees the daily kitchen operations and personally ensures that every dish is cooked to perfection.
The menu evolves around the seasons with a core selection of our most popular dishes supplemented with some seasonal creations to keep everything current and diverse.
Plant-based dishes are in big demand so we included several on the menu – our most popular would be the Roti Canai with Lentil Curry – crisp and fluffy grilled flatbread with tempered heritage spiced lentil and cauliflower hummus. Children are always welcome and we have a specific menu available.
We have crafted a wine list to complement the food – diverse and international with a focus on some grape varietals that pair well with Asian cuisine, as well as some traditional options that work very well with the Western cuisine. Our team of skilled bartenders serve delicious innovative cocktails tailored to your personal taste, along with traditional classics – or simply choose from our stellar collection of Champagnes, artisan gins, martinis and local ales.
We have retained the original interiors of the restaurant – Georgian architecture, original artwork and an impressive wine wall create a refined yet relaxed dining environment – a place where you can spend quality time with your friends and family.
I believe the right time to open a restaurant is when you have the right concept and the right people to make it happen. With a diverse and interesting menu of globally inspired gastronomic experiences, a collection of talented chefs and a five-star service team I believe that our new, more relaxed approach to dining will be a huge hit with hotel residents and visitors to the city alike, as we want everyone to enjoy treasured moments with friends and family at the Gainsborough!
Brasserie opening hours: Breakfast: 7.30am-10.30am (Mon–Sun)
Dinner: 6pm-9pm (Tues, Weds, Thurs) 6pm-9.30pm (Fri and Sat)
The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Beau Street, Bath, BA1 1QY;
01225 355336; thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
