The Gainsborough in central Bath is a beautiful, immaculately decorated spa hotel right near the Christmas market. Frequented by many a celebrity passing through the South West, it is the perfect venue for a spa weekend, shopping trip or business meeting.
Dan Moon, their fantastic head chef, has devised a four-course lunch menu and is offering it to diners for just £30 for two people, and you even get a free glass of mulled wine with it as well. From Thursday 24th November until Friday 30th December from 12 noon until 2.30pm (excluding 24th, 25th & 26th December), you can enjoy this fantastic offer.
Whether you’re planning a spot of shopping, visiting the Christmas market, or relaxing in the Thermae spa – we highly recommend scheduling a trip to enjoy this delicious offer.
My partner and I went along one crisp Thursday lunchtime in late November and were both impressed by the grand building that is the Gainsborough. As we sat in the lounge, we were diligently catered for and were able to look out over the stunning pool that resides in the centre of the complex. It was also ideal for a spot of people-watching as we sipped our delicious drinks. The hotel was incredibly serene, and the tasteful Christmas decorations made us feel very festive.
No sooner were we seated in their spacious restaurant than the restaurant manager Attila was promptly over with a glass of mulled wine – the perfect start to what was to become a fantastic festive lunch. Ham hock with watercress, piccalilli, foie gras and a quail’s egg came out first, delivered by the friendly and knowledgeable waiter – it was perfect in its presentation and just enough of a portion to leave us hungry for the next course.
Attila soon returned with his recommended wine to accompany the next course – a glass of crisp La Serre Rosé de Syrah, which was absolutely perfect to accompany the ballotine of smoked salmon with horseradish mousseline, pickled cucumber and caviar.
Our appetites thoroughly whetted, we were eager to find out about the main. We didn’t have to wait long – Attila soon returned with a glass of Gran Ducay Gran Reserva Carinena from 2010 that he assured us was light enough but still with sufficient tannins to complement the main. The waiter soon appeared with our roast red leg partridge with honey roasted parsnip, creamed sprouts and chestnut. It was so perfectly cooked and so packed with flavour that, it made us reconsider turkey on Christmas Day. We were now starting to feel really quite replete and there was still the delicious sounding dessert to come.
Our delightful host Attila was back again on cue – he really was second to none when it came to looking after his guests. He had chosen an Els Pyreneus – Maury Grenache 2014 to accompany our dessert – a deliciously sweet red wine that is full-bodied and rich with intense flavours and aromas of dried red fruits, chocolate and coffee.
Attila had got four out of four accompanying drinks absolutely spot-on. The dark chocolate torte arrived accompanied by orange sorbet, ginger jelly and candied orange. Although the other three courses were presented so beautifully, the dessert was really the icing on the cake, and the presentation was matched by a superbly rich taste and texture.
