The Francis Hotel Bath: Georgian Heritage & MICHELIN Dining

A £15 million renovation has transformed this collection of seven Georgian townhouses on Queen Square into a four-star boutique hotel with a MICHELIN Guide restaurant and a city-centre spa. This review draws on the property’s official site, guest reviews on TripAdvisor and Expedia, editorial coverage from The Telegraph, and the MICHELIN Guide to give you a grounded look at what the Francis Hotel Bath offers today.

Last checked: 2026-07-26

Hotel Name: Francis Hotel Bath · Location: Queen Square, Bath, Somerset, England · Star Rating: 4-star · Restaurant: Emberwood (MICHELIN Guide) · Heritage: Grade I listed Georgian building · Renovation: £15 million refurbishment

What is the new restaurant in the Francis hotel Bath?

The on-site restaurant, Emberwood, opened as part of a £15 million property-wide refurbishment and is listed in the MICHELIN Guide. According to the hotel’s Expedia listing, it serves British cuisine across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and children’s meals. Before Emberwood, the hotel’s dining spaces operated under different concepts: a 2017 The Telegraph review mentioned meals taken in Boho Marché, described as French-Moroccan, while earlier editorial coverage from The Arbuturian noted a partnership with Raymond Blanc’s Brasserie Blanc as an interconnecting option.

Emberwood: A MICHELIN Guide Restaurant

Emberwood focuses on fire-cooked dishes, a technique that aligns with the MICHELIN Guide’s emphasis on craftsmanship. The restaurant is open to both hotel guests and outside diners. For those on a room-only rate, a buffet breakfast is available at an additional cost — listed around £20 per person in recent Mr & Mrs Smith listings.

Fire-Cooked Dining Experience

Afternoon tea is another signature offering, served in Emily’s Tea Room and the lounge/gallery, according to Yelp reviews. Multiple reviewers on that platform describe it as popular and well-executed, though the exact menu rotates seasonally.

What is the history of the Francis hotel Bath?

The building occupies seven interconnecting Georgian townhouses on the north-east side of Queen Square, a development that dates to the early 18th century. The The Telegraph notes that the hotel’s architecture is Grade I listed, the highest designation for architectural significance in England, meaning the facade and key interior features are protected.

The hotel underwent a major refurbishment costing approximately £15 million, as recorded on Wikipedia. That renovation added Emberwood and a new city-centre spa complete with an Espuro thermal suite comprising three treatment rooms. Prior to that investment, the hotel was already part of Accor’s MGallery collection — a portfolio of distinctive boutique properties — according to HRS.

Grade I Listed Georgian Architecture

The interior design has been described by The Telegraph as a “jaunty neo-Regency style,” with silk-wallpapered lounges, gilded mirrors, and hand-illustrated scenes of old and modern Bath. That editorial review draws a direct line between the building’s Georgian bones and the playful, colourful décor that now fills the public spaces.

Recent £15 Million Renovation

The transformation touched all 98 bedrooms, many of which now feature city views, Egyptian cotton linens, and rainfall showerheads. Some bathrooms include floor-to-ceiling tile backdrops depicting Bath’s King’s Bath or Roman Baths imagery, according to a 2012 review by The Arbuturian. The same source confirms that complimentary toiletry kits, bathrobes, and flat-screen televisions are standard across room categories.

What is the Francis hotel famous for?

The hotel’s reputation rests on three pillars: its architecture, its location, and its 4-star boutique positioning. The official website emphasises the Grade I listed building and the designer interiors as signature elements. The Queen Square address places the hotel less than five minutes’ walk from the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey, a proximity consistently praised in guest reviews on TripAdvisor.

Architectural Significance

Being a Grade I listed building means the hotel’s exterior cannot be altered without special permission, preserving the character of Queen Square. According to Travelocity, the property is non-smoking and provides self-service laundry, dry cleaning, and tour/ticket assistance — practical amenities that complement the heritage setting.

City-Centre Location

Multiple TripAdvisor user reviews from 2023 describe the hotel as within a 10–15 minute walk of Bath Spa railway station. One reviewer in June 2023 specifically praised the central location for its proximity to The Circus, parks, shops, and restaurants, though the same reviewer noted that some guests feel room rates are high relative to size.

4-Star Boutique Appeal

The hotel’s MGallery affiliation places it in a curated set of properties that emphasise individuality over uniformity. On Expedia, approximately 671 of 1001 reviews (as of May 2026) gave a perfect 10/10 rating, with location and staff being the most frequently cited strengths. The pattern, however, is that while location and service earn top marks, some guests mention that rooms can feel compact and occasional noise from the street is a factor, according to a 2024 editorial stay at The Travelista.

Alternatives to the Francis Hotel Bath

For travellers weighing their options in central Bath, several comparable 4- and 5-star properties offer different trade-offs. The table below summarises three well-regarded alternatives that compete directly with the Francis Hotel on location, heritage, and service quality.