Few hotels in Bristol speak so directly to the city’s layered architectural history as The Bristol Hotel, part of the Doyle Collection. Set on the harbourside, the building was once a modernist car park, and you can still feel that muscular 1960s pragmatism beneath its polished new skin. The concrete grid remains, softened by glass, light and a sense of waterfront ease. This tension — between function and refinement, past and present — mirrors Bristol itself: a city forever editing its industrial soul into something contemporary, without quite erasing the scaffolding underneath.
Who Is The Bristol Hotel For?
Bristol Hotel is an ideal base for those who appreciate design with history, professionals seeking proximity to the city centre, or weekend visitors drawn to the harbourside’s cultural energy. The atmosphere is businesslike during the week but relaxes into a sociable, urbane rhythm by Friday night.
Accommodation
Bristol Hotel room
The Bristol has 187 rooms, which offer views of either the city or the harbour. The rooms are understated, finished in muted greys and polished woods that complement the building’s modernist bones. Many overlook the harbour, framing the evolving Bristol skyline — cranes, repurposed warehouses, and contemporary glass. It’s a view that encapsulates the city’s identity: pragmatic yet quietly romantic. Beds are large and comfortable, the soundproofing excellent, and details like Nespresso machines and Temple Spa toiletries add a discreet sense of luxury.
Food & Drink
The River Grille continues the modernist-meets-maritime dialogue — a spacious, light-filled restaurant with river views and mid-century lines. The menu focuses on locally sourced British dishes, though it’s the harbourside bar, with its convivial hum and sharp cocktails, that best captures Bristol’s spirit.
Facilities
Alongside its well-equipped meeting rooms and private parking (a nod to its past life), the hotel offers 24-hour room service, fast Wi-Fi, and complimentary access to a nearby fitness centre. The staff are polished but personable, reflecting the Doyle brand’s Dublin heritage.
How much
Cosy Rooms from £110 per night. CHECK AVAILABILITY
What’s Nearby
The Bristol’s location is superb — steps from Watershed, M Shed, and the Arnolfini, and a short walk to St Nicholas Market, College Green, and the Beacon Tower, another relic of Bristol’s modernist era.
Verdict
More than a place to stay, The Bristol Hotel feels like a footnote in the city’s ongoing architectural story — proof that even concrete can acquire warmth with time, texture, and a little human intention.