
The Bristol spa hotel with award-winning restaurant and salt sauna
Along with a Rosette award-winning restaurant, here's everything you need to know.
Advertisement
2
Homely touches and neutral-coloured rooms matching the hotel's spa feel
Where is the hotel?
It is just off the M5 or a 10-minute drive from Bristol Parkway.
With only a short 15-minute drive to Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, it offers the perfect recipe to relax – spa and shopping.
What is the hotel like?
While the hotel is unassuming to look at, it has everything you need for a luxurious and relaxing spa break.
What is there to do there?
The Himalayan salt sauna and steam room is one of the best places to unwind, along with the hotel's hot tub, or clock up some laps in the pool.
Advertisement
There is a gym with up-to-date equipment and make sure you book in for a spa treatment.
But the spa is the big draw. I enjoyed a blissful 50-minute back treatment (from £80), although there are plenty of options.
What is there to eat and drink at the hotel
?
You will be well-fed at its Rosette award-winning restaurant, Curious Kitchen.
It has everything from comfort food – hand-raised pie of the day (£17.50) – to miso-glazed pork chop (£25).
Advertisement
Most read in News Travel
Exclusive
Without leaving the grounds, you can grab a pizza and even freshly prepared breakfast at the Black Sheep coffee shop and kitchen opposite the hotel.
What are the rooms like?
The double rooms are from £84 or £117.90 including breakfast for two.
Its homely touches and neutral colours are comforting via bathrobes, Lavazza pod coffee machines, fresh milk, and White Company toiletries.
Keep an eye out for discounts, especially before the busy summer months.
Advertisement
Is the hotel family-friendly?
Its fantastic signature family room offers a big bed and a sofa bed, or interconnected rooms.
A bonus for kids is the optional £30 charge per child, per night, for little robes, homely cookies and milk, and an activity pack.
Is there access for guests with disabilities?
Yes. It offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests.
Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.
Advertisement
2
The hotel offers a relaxing space with loungers and a large pool perfect before the spa
Credit: Booking.com

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
24-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Hotel review: Is this the perfect base for a trip to Kerry's north and west county?
Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa; Tralee, Co Kerry Our rating: 9/10 Location: Killarney may be the tourism epicentre of the Kingdom, but venture just 20 minutes further north to Tralee and you'll discover this stellar property for a weekend getaway. The family-run estate, operated by the McGillicuddy family for three generations, is conveniently tucked between the N21 and N69 and is impressively set across 180 acres of native meadows, wetlands and woodlands with views stretching out to the rather mesmeric Slieve Mish Mountains. This literal crossroads setting can mean a distant rumble of traffic (when wandering the grounds) however you're only five minutes from the heart of Tralee and ten from Blennerville, the gateway to the Dingle Peninsula — all making the property an ideal base for exploring both North and West Kerry. 8.5/10 Style & Design Ballygarry impresses from the get-go with a fine main gateway leading to impeccably maintained grounds and car park areas, all lending an elevated country club feel. Though the hotel has expanded over the years, guests encounter the property's original heart: a characterful facade featuring a traditional glass-panelled porch, embellished by a fine Japanese maple and a fleet of branded Ballygarry bicycles for guest usage. Inside, the ornate lobby with its imposing staircase and coffered ceiling leads to several relaxation spaces, from cosy drawing room nooks to a light-filled conservatory; prime afternoon tea territory. There's a warmth, cosiness and heritage to the spaces and even corridors — so often no-man's-lands in hotels — feature an appealing selection of art. Beyond the hotel, the estate's grounds feature a new wedding ceremony venue The Lodge, which, inspired by New England barn architecture, almost gives an air of Vermont to the summery meadows. 9/10 Service There is a very welcoming (and smartly uniformed) team here with a mixture of warm, confident seasoned pros and enthusiastic newer staff. Owner and GM Padraig McGillacuddy is a charismatic presence around the hotel while his nephew Owen Healy, a recently appointed guest relations manager, signals a future for the family's continued involvement in the hotel. 9/10 Guest Rooms The Superior room at Ballygarry Ballygarry offers 64 rooms, including classic doubles and newly introduced family rooms, many of which feature bespoke bunk beds fitted with nightlights and charging ports to please Gen Beta kids. I stayed in a charming signature suite where rustic elegance was brought to life through warm, textured soft furnishings, antiques and local art works and views over the courtyard garden. An ensuite shower room with twin sinks, botanical wallpaper and wainscoting wall panels bring a harmonious country chic character. For an off-grid luxury base, Ballygarry has recently added new estate cabins to its offering — luxurious pods embellished with locally inspired interiors nestled within the estate grounds. 9/10 In-room Perks All room categories receive a turndown service and offer of a daily newspaper, though standard rooms are only kitted with instant coffee versus Nespresso machines in suites. Bathroom amenities are by Voya. Cabin guests receive a welcome board and drink which includes O'Donnell's Crisps and Dingle Gin with Poacher's Tonic. A complimentary copy of Image magazine is in the mix too. 7.5/10 On the Menu The buzzing Brasserie is Ballygarry's informal yet slick dining space which is also highly popular with locals and day visitors — consider it a very tempting option for any Wild Atlantic Way trip. I dined at Restaurant 58 (named after the property's original opening date in 1958) which is the hotel's suave fine dining restaurant with a mix of plush booths and scenic gardenside seating. They offer a four-course table d'hôte menu for a reasonable €55, with dishes like seared striploin with root vegetable purée, braised beef cheek croquette, caramelised banana shallots and tenderstem broccoli, showcasing local produce on a plate. Breakfast features an inviting buffet and cooked-to-order options including a tasty chickpea hash with guac. 8.5/10 Activities & Amenities New cabins at Ballygarry Ballygarry's Nadúr Spa is an impressive wellness sanctuary, offering a full gauntlet of treatments as well as outdoor bathtub experiences in the spa's oasis of a garden. The Balance Fitness Studio, meanwhile, is an impressive 24-hour gym which trumps most hotel offerings. Ballygarry's expansive grounds, managed under concerted sustainability efforts are arguably the property's finest asset, however. Impressive regenerative projects, including rewilding vast tracts of land and creating an integrated wetlands, make this one of the country's greenest properties and a wonderful space to switch-off in this polished yet nature-focused estate. 9/10 Checking in The bill? B&B for two from €219. Room to improve? At this price point I'd expect Nespresso machines in all rooms. €75 for a 45min Voya seaweed bath seems pricey. Accessibility? Two accessible rooms. Family-Friendly? Yes, ten family rooms and amenities including a fairy trail. Dog-Friendly? Service dogs only. EV chargers Four, Ballygarry was the first hotel in Ireland to install Tesla chargers, in fact! Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa Leebrook, Tralee, Co. Kerry The Hotel Examiner was a guest of Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa.


The Irish Sun
16-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
The Bristol spa hotel with award-winning restaurant and salt sauna
THE Aztec Hotel and Spa in Bristol is the perfect escape for people who love to unwind in a sauna or swimming pool. Along with a Rosette award-winning restaurant, here's everything you need to know. Advertisement 2 Homely touches and neutral-coloured rooms matching the hotel's spa feel Where is the hotel? It is just off the M5 or a 10-minute drive from Bristol Parkway. With only a short 15-minute drive to Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, it offers the perfect recipe to relax – spa and shopping. What is the hotel like? While the hotel is unassuming to look at, it has everything you need for a luxurious and relaxing spa break. What is there to do there? The Himalayan salt sauna and steam room is one of the best places to unwind, along with the hotel's hot tub, or clock up some laps in the pool. Advertisement There is a gym with up-to-date equipment and make sure you book in for a spa treatment. But the spa is the big draw. I enjoyed a blissful 50-minute back treatment (from £80), although there are plenty of options. What is there to eat and drink at the hotel ? You will be well-fed at its Rosette award-winning restaurant, Curious Kitchen. It has everything from comfort food – hand-raised pie of the day (£17.50) – to miso-glazed pork chop (£25). Advertisement Most read in News Travel Exclusive Without leaving the grounds, you can grab a pizza and even freshly prepared breakfast at the Black Sheep coffee shop and kitchen opposite the hotel. What are the rooms like? The double rooms are from £84 or £117.90 including breakfast for two. Its homely touches and neutral colours are comforting via bathrobes, Lavazza pod coffee machines, fresh milk, and White Company toiletries. Keep an eye out for discounts, especially before the busy summer months. Advertisement Is the hotel family-friendly? Its fantastic signature family room offers a big bed and a sofa bed, or interconnected rooms. A bonus for kids is the optional £30 charge per child, per night, for little robes, homely cookies and milk, and an activity pack. Is there access for guests with disabilities? Yes. It offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests. Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here. Advertisement 2 The hotel offers a relaxing space with loungers and a large pool perfect before the spa Credit:


Irish Independent
08-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Promoting Sligo as top-class tourism destination for visitors from Germany
The mission aimed to position the northern half of the Wild Atlantic Way – including Sligo – as a must-visit destination for German travellers seeking nature, adventure, and authentic cultural experiences. The delegation from Sligo highlighted the county's stunning natural beauty, world-renowned landscapes, and its vibrant activity and adventure offering – from hiking and surfing to wild swimming and cultural discovery. Sligo's unique cultural rhythm, shaped by music, myth, and heritage, resonated strongly with German travel trade professionals and media who attended. Key tourism partners from Sligo took part in the event, including Rebecca Stevens from the National Surf Centre in Strandhill, Jennifer Howley from the Ocean Sands Hotel Enniscrone, Sligo, and Paula Scallon from Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo. Their presence underscored the county's readiness to welcome international visitors with a diverse and high-quality tourism offering. The sales mission formed part of a collaborative campaign alongside neighbouring counties to promote the northern stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way. This joint approach gave travel trade contacts in Germany a deeper understanding of the region's value as a touring destination, encouraging longer stays and increased interest in multi-county itineraries. The German market remains one of Ireland's most important for inbound tourism, with visitors placing high value on sustainable travel, unspoiled nature, and outdoor experiences – all of which Sligo delivers in abundance. This initiative builds on the momentum of ongoing international marketing efforts and strengthens Sligo's reputation as a world-class, year round destination full of adventure, culture, and natural beauty.