Hotel No.131

For the two years we lived next door to each other in Montpellier, our daily walks into Cheltenham to shop, eat, drink and see were met with this old Georgian, empty, sad looking building. We used to say if we had the money we would buy it and turn it into an exclusive members club or just a really good jazz club and bar, something Cheltenham is missing!

Alas, 3 years later, the brilliant Lucky Onion chaps have worked their magic again. Transforming a huge empty regency building into the luxury and very trendy Hotel No.131 and Crazy Eights club and bar. 

So we decided to try it out for Soph's Birthday. She fancied something different so she booked 12 of us in for a brunch. We met at 11 and had a big table down in the conservatory room, complete with feature fireplace, heaters and a real indoor outdoor feel. We ordered Bucks fizz, served in  champagne sauces, sharp bloody Mary's (Meg was hung over...hair of the dog!) and although 11am the boys couldn't resist some classic Bobby Beer.

The menu choice was a mixture of classic breakfast dishes, done in the typical style of the Lucky Onion group...a bit rustic, locally sourced ingredients and good sized portions!

Most of us went for the English Breakfast. Deliciously thick bacon, creamy scrambled eggs and a slice of sour dough fried bread to go with the rest of the dish. Scrummy! Others went for something a little different including smoked haddock and poached eggs, avocado on buckwheat risotto with poached eggs. For those real adventurous types Oysters or steak were also contenders!

We loved the crockery they were served on, each plate being totally unique...and there were 12 of us! The coffee cups we recognised from cosy stop off's at the Wheatsheaf in Northleach, another one of our faves from The Lucky onion.

 

 

 

We spent a couple of hours in our little indoor/outdoor nook of the building. Listening to the array of jazz they had on the sound system, drinking coffee and a few more glasses of fizz, eating a birthday cake brought to us by the staff for Soph and in general spending a perfect Sunday morning together in a beautiful Georgian hotel that we once dreamed of owning!

The food was delicious, the atmosphere relaxing, the décor enticing... this is fast becoming one of our favourite places to be!