Bailbrook House Hotel

Location: Bath, Somerset

Bailbrook House is a Grade II listed property set within 20 acres of private grounds with commanding views towards central Bath and adjoining countryside. The property was originally built as a private residence in the early 1790s and has had a number of uses over the years.

The hotel has recently undergone an extensive £10 million refurbishment. The Mansion House has been reconfigured to create 13 prestigious feature bedrooms, many of which offer additional touches such as original fireplaces, roll-top baths and large bedroom spaces.

Bailbrook Court is adjacent to the Mansion House and offers 81 classic and executive bedrooms, all of which have been completely refurbished to a high contemporary standard.

Bailbrook House is now a member of the Hand Picked Hotels Group as a four star property.

For more information about the hotel please visit their web site

Bailbrook House Hotel Photo

Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th July 2024

Event type: Murder Mystery Weekend
Plot: Bury The Hatchet
1 Night Stay: From £240 per person

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th September 2024

Event type: Murder Mystery Weekend
Plot: (New Autumn Weekend)
1 Night Stay: From £240 per person

These prices are based on two people sharing a standard double or twin bedroom

History

Originally built for a wealthy lawyer, Dr. Denham Skeet, Bailbrook House was designed by the well-known Bath architect John Eveleigh. Eveleigh was also responsible for a number of other landmarks in Bath, notably Camden Crescent, Grosvenor Place and buildings in Grove Street, just across Pulteney Bridge.

Work began in 1790 but due to interruptions and the uncertainties caused by the Napoleonic War, was not completed until early in the 19th Century at about the same time as Jane Austen took up residence in Bath.

By this time Dr. Skeet had sold the property to Valentine Jones, a merchant and official in the West Indies who became Public Secretary in Barbados and Commissary General for the British forces stationed in the Leeward Islands. When in Bath Jones entertained lavishly, including among his guests at Bailbrook Prime Minister William Pitt the younger. Sadly the temptations of his office proved too great and Valentine Jones was tried and imprisoned for his part in corrupt dealings relating to the misdirection of Treasury bills through an accomplice in Philadelphia and fraudulently supplying the British forces in the West Indies.

Bailbrook was taken by The Crown as reparation and sold in 1814 to Thomas Walters, ironically the head of the leading Batheaston family from whom Dr Skeet had originally bought the site in 1790.

The Walters family then let Bailbrook to Lady Isabella King, daughter of the Earl of Kingston. Lady Isabella was never married but instead devoted her time and energy to charitable and benevolent work, becoming associated with many prominent figures in the Evangelical Revival. As Patroness of a number of charities, her work was particularly targeted at street beggars, aiming to ?save the innocent and the unprotected from the dangers attendant on idleness and poverty.? Initiatives included a knitting school and a button-making school for children.

Whilst still in residence in 1815, she set about converting Bailbrook into a home for The Ladies Association - ?A community for the ladies of gentle birth and their servants?, the wealthier members effectively subsiding others on very modest incomes. Preference was given to the widows and daughters of clergymen and of naval and army officers. The community in their turn helped in the running of a school for orphaned girls, like the ladies ?to be of gentle birth?, which was established close by.

Other patrons of the association included three bishops, two duchesses, two marchionesses and Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III who paid a visit to the house in 1817 with her son the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV).

The Ladies Association eventually moved from Bailbrook and the house was adapted as a private nursing home, remaining in this use until well into the 20th century.

Eventually Bailbrook was purchased by the Post Office and converted into a training college with new buildings added in the 1970?s and later. Passing on to RCA (the Communications Company) and then Serco, the college became dedicated to the training of air traffic control personnel. Sundial Group purchased Bailbrook in 2001 and refurbished this wonderful property. The hotel was then acquired by the prestigious Hand Picked Hotels group in June 2012 and entered an extensive programme of refurbishments in 2012-2013 which have restored the hotel to its former glory.

Click on a photo below to see the full size image

I was at the Bailbrook Hotel, Bath on New Years Eve attending the Duckham fundraising event. Shockingly my party and I witnessed not only indecorous conduct by the fund raising team but also a brutal murder. We assisted, to the best of our abilities, uncovering the dastardly perpetrator. Unfortunately we fingered the wrong collar and were rewarded with sound advice, a practical activity, and a certain amount of good humoured ridicule, to improve our efforts for next time. With the Killing Game's
reputation I fear there will be another time and another death.

We all enjoyed the evening immensely. The cast were great at keeping to the plot but also taking on board the banter thrown at them and making it a fantastic, fun evening.
Thank you for a fantastic weekend in Bath sleuthing. We witnessed the dramatic demise of people in the motivational speaking and personal development field which in itself was satisfying, but being thrown in with 50 strangers, plenty of booze and a series of great performances from The Killing Game actors, it made for a great way to weather Storm Dennis. The Bailbrook House Hotel Bath was lovely. The room, bed, bathroom, towels, food, bars and staff were great. Fabulous location, very convenient and warm welcome. Highly recommended. I was stumped what to get my wife who has everything she wants and is tough to buy presents for. A friend suggested a murder mystery weekend and it turns out, a great idea. We both had lots of fun, laughed almost constantly, had plenty of time for naps between meals. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Thank you also to Nicholas at the main office who couldn't have been more helpful or responsive.
My wife and I attended the last weekend's Murder Mystery weekend at the Bailbrook House Hotel. Whilst this is not our first Killing Game event, Bloody Minded was by far the best. The plot, the actors, the hotel all were superb and despite only solving two of the murders we were far from disappointed and thoroughly enjoyed our weekend. A big thanks to all concerned and rest assured that once our deductive powers have been restored (not to mention our nerves!) we will be back for more.
I enjoyed every moment. The whole event was very slickly managed. Booking (I am told-- I had no part in it) was easy. The venue was just right.... The actors are particularly to be commended. They stay in character, mingling and improvising. I actually felt awkward quizzing them about what they had been up to when, say, their fictional spouse, brother, sister or whoever had been murdered a few minutes before. This was not a presentation, but a sort of interactive play. One of the most important things for me was that all of the actors seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the rest of us. Apart from the fictional characters I met some lovely other people. I went wildly astray in my own solution. That's what happens if you treat every red herring as a clue and try to reconcile all the contradictions. Sometimes you have to discard a detail.... Next time--- there will definitely be a next time--- I shall know better!
Just back from the Bath (Bailbrook House) event and wanted to say to Chrissy, Amber, Tom,Elliot, Hannah and Izzy thank you for a really great time . Well done - lovely memory for me my wife and our kids - proper job.
I have just returned from The Murder Mystery weekend at Bailbrook House Hotel in Bath and I would like to say how fantastic the event was. The actors were very professional and knowledgeable about the scenario. I would also like to say a massive thank you to the hotel chef for providing vegan options which were described to me when each dish was served. They tasted amazing. Thank you again for making my birthday present a memorable experience. I hope to participate again in the future.
Just wanted to stay a big thank you for a fabulous night last night at Bailbrook Hotel. Thank you again and Happy New Year.
May I take this opportunity to thank all the players at the Bailbrook House Hotel last weekend. It was an excellent experience and both my wife and I throughly enjoyed ourselves. Well done to the cast and all the backroom staff at The Killing Game.