Stay

The first record of Ms. Pocock’s Lodgings appeared in Gilmore’s Map in 1694 and whilst The Grapes has experienced something of a potted history since, the building has welcomed many prominent visitors to Bath over the centuries.

Intro

Amenities

Booking

Further Information

Intro

Originally built as an Elizabethan townhouse for the wealthy to take the nearby Waters of Sulis, today our recently refurbished upper floors provide sleeping for eight in four period bedrooms, named after famous female residents of Bath.

We are in the very centre of the old city and as such our neighbourhood is quite lively but we have sound proofed between each floor and each room has acoustic, blackout curtains to keep disruption to a minimum.

This does mean that you have the Theatre Royal, Thermae Spa, clubs, bars, restaurants and shopping on your doorstep. Check out our Guide Book for the best places to visit to live like a local.

Please note we only book one set of guests at any time, so you will have the place to yourself whether there are eight or two of you.

Amenities

Pococks Lodgings is set out over three floors above our bar, The Grapes. The house has its own entrance and you will find the kitchen and living room on the first floor which you are welcome to use for breakfast.

Guest accommodation is on the second and third floors with four bedrooms and a luxury shower room. Due to the listed status of the Elizabethan building, there is no lift, so visitors will need to be able to climb the stairs to get to the accommodation.

The rooms are fitted to a high standard and all linen, towels and other items that make your stay comfortable are provided, as well as places to get ready for a night out on the town.

Booking

For more details of our place, check out our Airbnb listing and enter the number of people in your group and the dates you wish to come and stay. Should you wish to book directly, you will get a 5% discount on the Airbnb price.

A further 5% discount is offered to anyone arriving by bike or train and we have secure overnight bike storage in our cellars. Should you wish to have your luggage collected from the station on our cargo bike, just let us know at the time of booking.

Further Information

Check In – From 3pm though you are welcome to drop off bags earlier if you would like to get a head start on exploring the city.

Check Out – 11pm, though again you are welcome to leave your bags in our secure luggage area if you’re not quite ready to leave yet.

Car Parking – Please note Westgate Street is closed to traffic seven-days a week between 10am-6pm. The nearest overnight parking is at Charlotte Street Car Park What3Words location paper.long.known

Access – keys are provided for each room and can be found in the doors to your room. All keys also come with a front door key and fob to access the bar. When checking out please just leave the keys where you found them.

Owners Ellie and Jonny live on-site and ask that you please leave the place as you expect to find it but most of all, treat it like a home from home.

Ellie and her family/staff are really friendly and the accommodation is clean and beautiful. You won’t get a better location. It is a busy street as she stated so not for folk who need silence when settling but you don’t hear all the fun from the pub.

Jenny

November 2021

Perfect location for eating drinking and shopping. It is on a busy street so you will hear noise from party goers but this didn’t bother us as we were there to have a good time. Beds super comfy and Ellie was friendly and accommodating.

Would definitely return

Janice

November 2021

Highly recommend staying at Ellie’s she is a fantastic host and the staff are super helpful and friendly. The accommodation is cosy and perfectly situated to explore Bath and plenty of great restaurants are a stones throw away, not forgetting the Thermae Bath Spa (a must!) looking forward to staying again soon!

Thanks Ellie for having us until next time.

Sarah & Nat

November 2021

Amazing location and really comfortable rooms

Samantha

October 2021

Fantastic host, fantastic location and accommodation in an incredibly interesting building with history. We visited for a friends 50th and were able to walk everywhere.

Stairs are a little uneven which is expected of an old building so probably best not to book if not steady on your feet!

I’d love to go back and stay again as we really enjoyed our night, shame it wasn’t longer

Sian

October 2021

Right in the centre of Bath, we stayed at Ellie’s place for a wedding. The king size bed is massive and super comfy. Very easy to check in and out. Clean, large rooms with real character.

Amanda

October 2021

Great location so easy to find and then explore Bath. The rooms and bathroom were very clean and Ellie was a lovely host!

Maninder

September 2021

All round excellent stay, perfect location, lovely building, would highly recommend and would definitely stay again. We will be back!

Hayley

September 2021

Our Neighbourhood

We know we’re biased but our neighbourhood is pretty cool. We have a Roman Bath and the Thermae Spa right behind us and the Theatre Royal just around the corner but this guide is intended to sign point you to the places we love, that might not show up on the first couple of pages of a search engine.

The centre of the city can get really busy too, so we’ve also added a few quieter neighbourhoods to the list….especially relevant to the house hunters among you. Have a little look through before your visit so you can live like a local while you’re here.

Kingsmead

The Grapes is situated in the Kingsmead Ward of the city and if you turn left out of our door, you’ll be at Kingsmead Square within less than a minute. Full of coffee shops, restaurants and a world famous cocktail bar (more on that later), a massive tree in the middle provides shade for the many benches underneath where you can take a rest and watch the world go by. Saw Close just around the corner is the site of the Theatre Royal and also boasts a plethora of eateries from wood fired pizza at The Oven to the Bath institution that is Schwartz Bros, serving the best burgers in the city for over 40 years.

Green Park

Strolling past Kingsmead Square for a further few minutes and you’ll end up at this former railway station that is now home to an all week market and lined with independent shops and stalls. The beautiful cast iron roof, not only provides year-round shelter but also houses Bath Farmers’ Market, the first of its kind in the UK and a Saturday morning visit is a must, with a wide array of traders selling the best that Bath and the surrounding countryside has to offer.

Walcot Street

Known as the Artist Quarter of the city, Walcot Street is just a 10-minute walk away and home to some fantastic independent shops including the quirky second hand clothes emporium that is The Yellow Shop, with the adjoining American Dreams Comics. There are some lovely restaurants lining the street and towards the far end, lies another of Bath’s institutions, The Bell.

Widcombe

If you head out to the back of Bath Spa Railway Station, there’s a little footbridge that takes you across The Avon and on the other side you will find the villagey neighbourhood of Widcombe Parade. With everything from takeaways to restaurants, delis and gift shops a must visit is The Ring O’Bells and at the far end of the parade, just around the corner, sits the Bath Botanical Gin Distillery & Herbal Apothecary where they offer private gin tastings.

Larkhall

A bit of a longer walk but definitely one for the house hunters amongst you, Larkhall sits on the edge of the city at the end of the London Road. The village atmosphere is bolstered by independent shops including Larkhall Butchers, a farm shop, delis, cafés, florists and even a co-operative printing workshop. If you’re a walker, it is then just 45 minutes to get to the top of Solsbury Hill made famous by Peter Gabriel who lives nearby in Box .

Breakfast Spots

We recommend some of our favourite eats in the city from our own neighbourhoods of Kingsmead, to slightly further afield.

Kingsmead Kitchen – 1 Kingsmead Street (2 min walk)

We love the Kingsmead Kitchen. The best place for a fry up or something more adventurous such as their yummy Shakshuka if you’re in the mood, will set you up for a days sightseeing.

With tables both inside and out, you may need to queue for a bit but you shouldn’t have to wait too long.

The Thoughtful Bakery – 19 Barton Street (4 min walk) closed Mondays!

A gorgeous neighbourhood bakery, owned by our mate Duncan, you should definitely try their sourdough bread if you get the chance. Brownies and an array of sweet treats, washed down with a delicious coffee are adored by Bathonians, so expect to queue to get a table.

This is also a great place to get a takeaway for a picnic later if you plan to be out walking all day.

Café Au Lait – 12-14 Dorchester Street (12 min walk)

A cute little place full of Bath stone walls and hanging pot plants opposite the entrance to Bath Spa train station, this place does the best sweet or savoury pancakes in town and is a great place for a spot of people watching if you can get a spot by the window.

Bath Coffee Co – 14 Kingsmead Square (2 min walk)

If you’re not a breakfast person but love your coffee, this place has the best in town, from their own roastery in Wiltshire.

The cakes are delish and they make a mean smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. It’s basically right next door to the Kingsmead Kitchen.

Out to Lunch

The Raven – 7 Queen Street (5 mins walk)

It was a bit of a toss-up whether to put this great independent pub into our drinks section instead but honestly, if you love a pie and who doesn’t love a pie, then The Raven is the place to go. Oh, that and the fact they have some amazing beers, ciders and real ales. We send so many people there it’s ridiculous and they always come back saying how fab it is.

Noya’s Kitchen – 7 St James Parade (3 min walk) closed Mondays!

Vietnamese food to die for in the cutest Grade II listed little restaurant just around the corner. Friday nights are Supper Club nights with an exciting five-course set menu and if you’re sticking around past the weekend, they run Cooking Classes on Monday evenings between 6-10.

Schwartz Bros – 4 Saw Close (1 min walk)

Serving the best burgers in Bath for over 40 years, this is take-away only but you won’t regret it. The chicken burgers are a worthy opponent to their beef burger and the wide range of toppings will get your head in a spin. Take a pew outside in Saw Close but watch out for the seagulls who have become quite adept at snatching them out of your hands.

Chai Walla – 42 Monmouth Street (1 min walk)

If you walk to the corner just by the local convenience store, you’ll almost certainly see a queue of people outside a shop front little larger than a hole in the wall. The queue is for a good reason with Chai Walla serving vegetarian Indian Street Food that will get your taste buds tingling….as an aside, they also launched the first samosa into space in December 2020.

Dinner Dates

Corkage – 5 Chapel Row (10 min walk)

Just around the corner from the beautiful Queens Square, Corkage is absolutely one of our favourite treats in the city. Seasonal, exciting small plates that will surprise and delight all under the basic listing of ‘fish’ or ‘carrots’ but when they come to your table, you won’t believe what can be done with such simple ingredients, so listen carefully to the descriptions before ordering.

The wine list is vast, so you’re better off asking for a suggestion. They have recently added a spectacular outdoor dining space to their garden. GO!

The Scallop Shell – 22 Monmouth Place (8 min walk)

This place is just so much more than Fish n’Chips. For a start Marco Pierre White loves it so much, a review of his is written on the walls but honestly folks, from the bath tub on the main counter showing off the daily fish display on a bed of ice, to the cute little Cornish pottery and the delicious prosecco to get your meal started, if you love fish, then the Scallop Shell is a must visit.

Pintxo – 31 Barton Street (4 min walk)

A cute little Tapas place, with the friendliest staff, Pintxo do not take reservations and waiting in the queue is always a social thing to do and could even come with a drink if you have to wait too long.

They have a gorgeous courtyard Sherry Garden out the back and always play great music. Perfect for an hour or two before heading out to discover Bath’s nightlife.

Bath Pizza Co – Green Park Station (8 min walk)

Sitting in what was once the ticket hall of the old station sits Green Park Brasserie who host some amazing Jazz at the weekends but not only that, at the back of the restaurant you will find their award-winning wood fired pizza hut, with seating under the canopy of the old station that looks across to all the indie businesses and maybe the odd Salsa class.

This is a fun night out with friends, the team are amazing and the food…Nom!

Late Drinks

The Dark Horse – 7a Kingsmead Square (2 mins walk)

The accolade as one of the 10 Best Coolest Cocktails Bars in the World is richly deserved, so a visit to our neighbours at the Dark Horse, just past the huge tree in Kingsmead Square is a bit of a must when visiting the city. The décor is dark, rich and enveloping and the cocktails, often using locally sourced ingredients, are great way to start or end the evening. Booking suggested.

The Bell – 103 Walcot Street (15 mins walk)

This community owned pub with its large beer garden is another Bath institution. Specialising in Live Music and like us, paying their staff the Real Living Wage, The Bell is the place to live like a local and the Pizza Bike in the garden, goes perfectly with their wide range of beers, real ales and local ciders.

The Old Green Tree – 12 Green Street (4 mins walk)

A must for real ale lovers, this teeny, tiny pub is a Mecca for CAMRA members and visitors alike. No music and cash only, the bar is all about the beer and the kind of company you keep. The perfect place to whittle away a few hours and plan your next move on the sightseeing agenda.

Chapter One Brewpub – 1a Piccadilly Place (22 mins walk)

A bit of a walk up onto the London Road but well worth it, this neighbourhood pub not only has fantastically friendly and knowledgeable owners, Emma and Michael, but serves a diverse range of indie beers in their eclectic, pared back bar, they now brew their own beers on site at the Verse Brewery in the basement. You’re in for a treat.

Our Top Ten Things to Do

Komedia – 22-23 Westgate Street (30 secs walk)

Hosting the weekly Krater Comedy Club on Saturday nights is just one of the 400 events this community owned live entertainment venue hosts a year.

Housed in the splendour of the former Beau Nash cinema, the building is Grade II listed, and we’ve seen so many great bands here and spent many a night boogie-ing away to their themed club nights. Be sure to check out their What’s On before your visit for one of the best nights out in Bath.

Bath Artisan Market – Queens Square & Abbey Green (different Sundays of the month)

With it’s pretty white and red gazebos and often with live entertainment, the Artisan Market hosts between 30-80 local artisans from Bath and the surrounding area depending on location and the season. Selling everything from handmade candles, rugs and cards, to pottery, jewellery and pens, there is also a vibrant street food area and local breweries selling their wares.

Mr B’s Emporium – 13-15 John Street (2 mins walk)

Our local bookshop is freakin’ amazing. Cute and fun and a bit of a labyrinth, with every corner packed with something new to look at, if you love books, then whiling away an hour or two at Mr B’s will have you in heaven. It’s not just us that thinks so too. Voted Best Independent Bookshop in the UK twice and named as one of the 10 Best Bookshops in the World by The Guardian, you have to check this place out.

The Mayors Guides – meet outside the Pump Room, next to the Abbey (2 mins walk)

A free walking tour of the city, that has been going for 86 years and runs everyday but Christmas Day. The Guides, of which there are about 80, are all volunteers and the comprehensive tour lasts around 2-hours. Twice a day at 10.30 and 2 everyday but Saturday which is the morning slot only. Book your place but do let them know if you can’t make it as they are extremely popular.

Bizarre Bath’s Comedy Walk – meet outside The Huntsman 1 Terrace Walk (5 mins walk)

Taking a hilarious rather than historical, irreverent look at the city, the Comedy Walk costs £10 per person, or £7 for students and normally runs every evening at 8pm from April to October. Crowd participation and lots of giggles along the way, make this a unique experience of Bath.

The Two Tunnels – 13-mile circuit (1 hour by bike) Ebike hire available at Green Park Station

Starting with the ¼ mile long Devonshire Tunnel, you will then move on to the impressive Coombe Down Tunnel which at just over a mile is the UK’s longest walking and cycling tunnel and not creepy at all thanks to the audio-visual installation ‘Passage’ created by United Visual Artists. You then proceed onto the stunning Tucking Mill Viaduct and then onto the Dundas Aqueduct which is on the Kennet & Avon Canal. This then leads to back to the River Avon and back into the city.

Paddle Boarding on the Avon – with Wild Original

For a unique way to explore the city, setting off with a group of getting a 1:1 tour via the river, is certainly a fun way to go. Starting with the basics to get your confidence levels up, you’ll then set off, ending up at the world famous Pulteney Bridge. There’s time for some wild swimming and you can even request a pub stop on the way.

Crazy Golf – Royal Pavilion, Royal Victoria Park (15 mins walk)

To be honest, Vicky Park has pretty much got it all. An ice rink in the Winter, a huge playground for kids, skate park, places to picnic, play tennis and even a Botanical Garden and all with the stunning Royal Crescent as its backdrop. If you fancy a laugh for an hour or two, the beautifully landscaped 18-hole, Victoria Falls Adventure Golf can be played until dark.

Boules – Queen Square (6 mins walk)

Bath doesn’t immediately strike as the place to play this French game, also known as petanque but every year thousands of pounds are raised by Bathonians for local charities, with the stage set in Queens Square to hold the event. So, grab our in-house boules set and head to Queens Square with something nice to drink and while away a couple of hours with the locals.

No.1 Royal Crescent (20 mins walk)

We couldn’t really do a small guide to Bath without mentioning Bridgerton. The show has been seen on Netflix by an estimated 92 million people and is a showcase for our wonderful city. No. 1 Royal Crescent in the home of the Featherington’s but the rest of the time is a museum run by The Bath Preservation Society and well worth a look. Pre-booking advised.