Pips and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. Apparently we were 2 years old when we met, so it’s been a while(!), and I can’t imagine life without my little pocket rocket. They say opposites attract and that couldn’t be more true for us. I mean, there’s the obvious height difference, which is only exaggerated by my love of heels and her love of flats, but there’s also her devotion to finding the best curry – a food I detest (but will always devour to celebrate her birthday), her platinum blonde to my “never been dyed since that terrible experiment with highlights at 16”, my almost entirely neutral wardrobe to her technicoloured jumble of prints, layers and sparkles, and the list goes on… but those differences only serve to inspire us.
Pips is the most effervescent person I know, as well as being kind, loyal and stupidly funny. She’s someone that I know I can count on, and who I can be my real true self with. We support each other through everything, and whilst in the past it’s been boy drama and work pitfalls, this year we’re lucky enough to be celebrating work highs and the excitement of both getting married (and being bridesmaid for each other) in the same year, so there’s even more to catch up on at any given opportunity. So when MGallery by Sofitel offered to send us to their beautiful Francis Hotel in Bath for a girlie night away to try out their new Inspired by Her range in honour of International Women’s Day 2018, we jumped at the chance.
Yes, we see each other all the time, but a night away together really gave us time to wander around a new city, taking in the beautiful surroundings, whilst chatting through all the important things, as well as the completely irrelevant, mindless things, and all in a setting where our needs had been thought about and catered for.
Bath is just an hour and a half by train from London, and with history, culture and lovely little independent shops, it’s the perfect destination for a quick city break. It doesn’t hurt that it’s as beautiful as can be, particularly on a sunny, crisp day like we had.
The MGallery collection features properties that have something a little special, whether it’s a rich heritage, a stunning location, an inspired aesthetic, or all of the above, and this is certainly true of the Francis Hotel Bath. The property occupies 7 adjoining townhouses on the south side of Queen Square – a grand Georgian development from the 18th century by local architect John Wood, who intended the square to look like a palace with an open forecourt, and it’s just a super short walk from the old Roman baths and the imposing Royal Crescent, which are both must-sees when you’re in town.
Today, the hotel retains the old school charm, but with updated interior designed rooms, and special amenities in all of the rooms from the Inspired by Her range, an offering which has been designed by women for women. Forgotten your eye cream, not to worry – the Francis Hotel Bath provides miniature Cooling Eye Cream by The White Company. Left your toothpaste at home (like we both did, expecting the other to bring theirs) – just call down to reception (on the beautiful vintage telephone) and they’ll deliver a dental kit. Need a pair of tights, to file your nails, some lip balm – they can help with all that too. Everything has been thought of, even the bathrobes. So, whilst I love a huge oversized hotel robe, they may just be a little too oversized for some people… so the Inspired by Her range let’s you pick your size to fit. It’s a tailored approach to hospitality that stands out in today’s world.
MGallery by Sofitel has hotels all over the UK, and after our wonderful experience in Bath I’ve been eyeing up the other properties for another evening away. How about the elegance of Queens Hotel in Cheltenham, the history of Castle Hotel in Windsor, or a staycation a little closer to home at Victory House in London…?
In collaboration with: MGallery by Sofitel
