Absolutely Yorkshire takes a trip to No.1, York, and discovers everything you’d want in a short break, from fabulous food to a sustainable spa
GuestHouse hotels hold on to that nostalgic charm and add to it plenty of very-nice-to-have experiences to indulge in. It’s a best-of-both-worlds idea where luxury is without stuffiness and with plenty of fun and heart. It’s all about making guests and locals feel happy mixed with the sense of being perfectly at home. It started with a grand Georgian townhouse called No.15 in Bath. Then a gorgeous northern home, No.1, York, followed.
This happy marriage of treats and down-to-earthness lives in contrasts like their fancy Afternoon Tea and their no-nonsense food. That includes favourites like cheese scones with maple bacon, our signature cheeseburger and the oh-so-comforting Shepherd’s pie. Their spa menus create the starting point for personalised therapies like targeted massages and organic facials that are too restorative to miss. There are also things like help-yourself pantries and in-room turntables to play records on from their select-your-sounds vinyl library. They love coming up with ideas for keeping grown-ups, kids and dogs happy. And they plan to keep those ideas coming as they grow and put down roots around the country.
That no two bedrooms are the same is a fact they really like. They have five different types of rooms for you to choose from, going from cosy to lofty. Many have fireplaces, lots have leafy views and the two Bootham Suites occupy what used to be a grand drawing room and a luxurious library.
In all of them, you’ll find locally sourced antiques, art and curios that tell York’s stories in the most charming of ways. And just a little down the hall from all of them, you’ll find a Pantry full of complimentary treats for the taking.
Their kitchen and bar team cleverly invoke the essence of great British escapes to create flavours that feel familiar and original all at once. Try Afternoon Tea in The Marmalade Lounge or borrow one of their wicker picnic baskets and let them package up your afternoon tea so you can head to one of the many leafy parks in the city for a long lazy afternoon. In the bar at No.1 there’s signature cocktails to try, like the Parkin Old Fashioned that transports you to the fireside after a wintry walk in the dales. And the local honey so heather-fragrant that it’s as though you’re rambling in the wildest nature of the North York Moors. Those moments of escape from everyday life to revel in the wonder of our island’s charms is, for them, something to treasure and share.
Down in the warm, cocooning calm of the spa under the arches, you’ll find their down-to-earth treatment rooms with instantly soothing vibes, including one for shared rituals and an elegantly rustic relaxation room. You’ll also find their skilled therapists with a passion for wellness who are there to listen to your needs and tailor treatments to address them.
The eco-luxury products used in the spa are formulated and blended in Britain by Pinks Boutique. This expert team believe in more than pure, vegan, organic, sustainably-and-ethically-sourced products; they believe in stunning results and extraordinary spa experiences. Accredited by the Soil Association, this means that ingredients that can be fully traced back to the source, so there’s nothing more beautiful, nor naturally effective.
