Yorkshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



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<p>This Regency beauty of a boutique hotel is the third from Guesthouse (the others are in Bath, Margate and soon to be in Brighton in November), an indie hospitality group created by a band of three brothers, Tristan, James and Tom Guest. And it’s pretty darn special.</p>



<p>Perfectly located just outside York’s city walls, <a href="https://www.guesthousehotels.co.uk/no-1-york/">No.1</a> is just a five-minute walk from all the action. It feels quieter and less frenetic here but within touching distance of the city’s best bits. Arrive by train and it couldn’t be easier – the hotel’s cool cargo bike will whisk your luggage back to the hotel so you can start exploring. It’s also super-easy to access by road and has a decent sized car park at the rear.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



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<p>Moody, dark and seriously cool. Black walls studded with black violins, long dark curtains, lit-up cabinets of curiosities and lots of lantern lights greet you as you walk through the grand Regency entrance. A giant dolls’ house with glowing windows is the backdrop to the reception desk and is home to the room keys. It feels welcoming, warm and playful.</p>



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<p>Explore beyond the stylish lobby and that playfulness steps up a notch with the Marmalade Lounge, a feel-good treat of a room in sunshine colours and whimsical touches everywhere you lay your eyes. Glass tables are filled with tape measures and bobbins (a nod to York’s lacemaking past), bold, contemporary artwork brightens the walls and there’s a beautiful bureau of boardgames (including the art deco edition of Scrabble).</p>



<p>The bar is different again, more Regency feeling with a darker colour palette and an eclectic mix of art on the walls. This room alludes to York’s railway history with locomotive artwork in the mix, framed tools and even a toy train that puffs around the room overhead every 10 minutes or so. &nbsp;There’s a treat around ever corner and you’ll feel like a wonder-filled kid exploring this place</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pillow-talk">PILLOW TALK</h2>



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<p>Unlike the personality-drenched communal rooms downstairs, bedrooms are less quirky but are cool, calm havens of tranquility. Colours are neutral, with crisp white bedlinen, terracotta-hued lamps and chairs and earthy accents. Tons of texture (think vast rattan ceiling lampshades, jute rugs and painted wooden floors) adds a splash of warmth and comfort and light floods in through large Georgian windows framed by floaty, muslin curtains. I was upgraded to a stunner of a suite where the focal point was a vast colonial-style, muslin-draped, contemporary four poster (sooo comfy), but I had a nose around the smaller rooms and the four poster seems to be standard, albeit taking up more space. If it’s a special occasion, it’s worth the upgrade – ask for one of the Bootham Suites (room 12 is particularly gorgeous).</p>



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<p>There are some cool touches like Crosley record players – with a vinyl library to borrow from downstairs – and tea and coffee-making facilities hidden away in cute dolls’ houses.</p>



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<p>Bathrooms are unfussy, functional and high end. In my room, the fabulous freestanding Victoria+Albert bathtub is a beaut’ (although took me a while to fill) and is part of the main bedroom, cleverly hidden with mirrored, wraparound low walls. There’s a separate shower room and toilet too for more privacy and all products are from Brit botanical brand 100 Acres.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



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<p>The restaurant, <a href="https://pearlycow.co.uk/pearly-cow-york/">Pearly Cow,</a> is accessible from the hotel via an apothecary cabinet-lined corridor, but is popular with locals as an eatery in its own right so also has its own pillared street entrance. It’s a whole different look in here again – giving off Prague fine dining vibes with its part tiled walls, whimsical tablecloth-draped ceiling lights and vintage-look banquette seating with velvet bolsters. Brass-topped tables and shiny black wooden floors give a shot of evening elegance.</p>



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<p>It seems popular – it’s packed out for a Tuesday night, mainly with couples and a handful of older family groups. I start with a ‘while you wait’ tacos of beef fillet, smoked watermelon, chilli and lime which punchy and delicious. For main course I go with the roasted corn-fed chicken with parsnips, pancetta and chestnut – flavours that deliver. Hearing several other tables wax lyrical about the ‘best steak they’ve ever tasted’ I slightly regret not opting for one of the three cuts. I even squeeze a dessert of chocolate tart with clementine and pistachio.</p>



<p>Cocktail fiends are well-taken care of here, as are vinophiles, with a one-of-a-kind wine list of unusual picks to pique your interest and your palette. Still peckish? You&#8217;ll find a free, open-all-hours pantry upstairs packed with homemade cakes, posh crisps and popcorn, jars of sweets and even a freezer full of ice cream.</p>



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<p>Breakfasts deserve a mention. Pearly Cow takes on a completely different, fresh feel with the morning light flooding through the French doors and the menu is a belter. Everything from a full Yorkshire to scrummy fruit salads and granola.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



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<p>If you arrive by train, you can get a head start on York&#8217;s indie shops, museums and city walls as No.1 will collect your luggage by bike (pictured). York is bursting with cool things to do and most are a short stagger away. At the end of the road you&#8217;ll find York Art Gallery, York Minster, the Theatre Royal and the gatehouse at Bootham Bar (from where you can hop onto the Roman city walls for a stunning 3km stroll). Stop off at brilliant <a href="https://www.northsouthyork.co.uk/">North South café</a> and have a nose around gorgeous interiors haven <a href="https://www.upsidedowndesign.co.uk/">Upside Down Design</a>. En famille? Head to <a href="https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/">Jorvik Viking Centre</a> and the <a href="https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/">Railway Museum</a> for hands-on interactive shenanigans, or get lost in the cobbled medieval streets of the <a href="https://visityork.org/business-directory/category/shambles">Shambles</a> (very Diagon Alley). The hotel also has a couple of Brompton bikes for guests to use if you fancy a spin.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-spa">THE SPA</h2>



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<p>The subterranean spa tucked away beneath the hotel under the arches is a cocooning, cosy, treat of a place. My shoulders dropped as soon as I walked into the dark, candlelit spa lounge. With earthy, soft, natural textures everywhere &#8211; hessian, jute, dried lavender, black painted wooden floors, terracotta lamp bases and dark lampshades casting a warm glow. I felt even more cossetted and cared for once my 60-minute <a href="https://no1york.try.be/items/61829d08879e826bee573db5/lessen-your-stress-60-min">Lessen Your Stress</a> massage and facial began. A dream of a treatment, expertly delivered by Amber who struck just the right gentle tone, guests can also book it as a <a href="https://no1york.try.be/items/637ff5517735f03991065678/time-together-60-min-for-two">Time Together</a> treatment in the especially-for-two treatment room.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-friendly">DOG-FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>Yes. It&#8217;s £25 per night, per pooch in all rooms (except the small rooms as they just don’t have the tail-wagging space). No dogs in the restaurant, but you can dine in The Bar or Marmalade Lounge with your four-legged-friend.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kid-friendly">KID-FRIENDLY?</h2>



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<p>Yes, especially for tiny tots. Mini tipis, a funky Yoto audio player and polaroid cameras await littlies in the bedrooms and a pantry of kid-catnip, help-yourself-treats is always open.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Sybarites, pleasure-seekers and stylish souls. No.1 is a special place for a romantic escape, but equally perfect for a getaway with the girls or catching up with a friend.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> While tiny tots will love the kid-friendly extras, there aren&#8217;t that many bedrooms with stacks of space for extra beds, so it&#8217;s better suited to small families with younger children.</p>



<p><strong>The damage:</strong> A standard Guest Room costs from £148 and the Bootham Suite from £268. <a href="https://guesthousehotels.co.uk/offer/fall-feels-staycation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book in quick</a> and you&#8217;ll bag 20% off one night or 25% off two night stays the autumn.</p>



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Muddy stays: No.1 by Guesthouse, York

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