The Beaufort Bookstop is a unique and beautiful space situated above a bookshop in Bath. Suffused with natural light, the Grade 2 listed apartment is both calming and inspiring - the perfect base for exploring the city or working on that literary masterpiece. The friendly, hip neighbourhood of Larkhall is a 20min stroll from the centre of Bath and the apartment is yards from the Rondo Theatre and a range of great local eateries. The canal, Solsbury Hill and stunning nature walks are 5 mins away.
The space
* Please note that the apartment is on the first floor, so guests will have to ascend/negotiate a short set of stairs to reach the living space. There is no facility for a stairgate and I would suggest the apartment is unsuitable for younger age children in general.
A thorough refit of the apartment was completed in January 2020. The aim was to retain the heritage and identity of a 200 year old building, adding 21st century comforts and technologies.
Every element has been considered and no short cuts have been taken: the original wide wooden boards have been painstakingly renovated and painted; Bath stone features have been revealed; world-renowned ironwork specialists, Ironart, constructed a bespoke iron handrail for the stairs. I spent three days looking for the perfect glass shower door! Care has been put into how the apartment looks and how it makes you feel.
Natural light streams into the living room through the original 16 pane Georgian window and other windows in the space including a Velux in the kitchen and rooflight above the staircase.
In terms of its furnishings, the look we've gone for is relaxed mid-century. The wooden sideboard in the lounge contains a selection of board games and brochures for local visitor attractions. The table in the lounge seats 4 comfortably and we've positioned it so you can have breakfast looking over the village and surrounding hills - really feeling connected to your stay. There's a sofabed that converts to a good sized double, with fresh clean bedding stored within, and a soft leather armchair to snooze in or watch TV.
Talking of TVs and tech, there are two new high-spec televisions: one in the lounge and a small one in the bedroom. The high-quality technology continues in the kitchen, which is equipped with a Bosch dishwasher and oven/induction hob and a 3/4 size Liebherr fridge freezer. We also have a microwave if you need one. It goes without saying a kettle and toaster are there too.
The apartment is heated via three state of the art Quantum storage heaters. These take electricity overnight and then release it over the day as an even flow. They are jog dial adjustable and we will usually set the thermostat for 18 degrees before your stay, unless you request otherwise. If you are feeling a chill at any given point there is the possibility to 'boost' the heat too.
Everything should be easy to find in the newly fitted kitchen. Cutlery lives in the cutlery drawer. Pans live in the pan drawer. You get the idea. Next to the sink is a small window though which you can watch the light change over the hills on the other side of the valley. In summary, it's a clean, stylish functional kitchen with a bit of view.
What can we say about the bathroom and toilet? Well, there's no bath to start with - it's a beautifully tiled stand up shower instead. Outside the door is a heated towel rail so, with a little preparation on your part, you can step into a toasty dressing gown. A clean bright separate toilet space also features a wash basin with mirror and a unit beneath for you to store your toiletries if you wish.
Into the bedroom now. The bed itself is a Habitat oak frame with a very good quality medium firmness mattress. The duvet cover is very high quality white cotton and we have provided a mattress protector beneath the sheets. Storage space is limited. However, you have a stool, upon which you could place your bag/case, and hanging space on the wall, with clothes hangers provided for a few items. A 3/4 length mirror will help you adjust your finery before a big night out.
