Murder Mystery Weekend - Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th February 2010

Situated in the heart of the city, The Mercure Francis epitomises elegance and Regency grandeur for which Bath is famous. The Hotel has an unsurpassable location and offers the enviable position of being within walking distance of Bath's major attractions including the Roman Baths, Pump Room and Thermae Bath Spa.

An elegant Georgian building with 95 en suite bedrooms, Square Restaurant, Wood Bar and Lounge with limited, chargeable parking at the rear, The Francis provides style and comfort for your stay.

Dating back to 1728, The Mercure Francis Hotel was built as 6 private houses as part of famous architect, John Wood’s ambitious Queen Square project. Some 50 years after completion, the houses in The Square were mentioned in Jane Austen’s 'Persuasion’ and finally became a Hotel when bought by Emily Francis in 1884.

During WW2, in revenge for British attacks on heritage cities, Germany bombed a number of beautiful English cities also famous for their heritage. In 1942, during WW2, the original building was badly damaged by an HE bomb killing 3 people; builders had to dig down 30ft to remove the bomb before re-building could commence (the cap of the bomb is still buried under the Hotel). The Hotel was rebuilt in Georgian style and extended, retaining many reminders of its past combined with modern facilities, re-opening in November 1953 with 70 bedrooms. In the 1970’s a further wing of 24 modern rooms was added to the Barton Street side of the Hotel bringing it to its present size of 95 bedrooms.

Allegedly, there is a ghost in the Hotel who ‘visits’ from The Theatre Royal. Her appearance is usually accompanied by the strong scent of jasmine. She is dressed in 18th Century evening dress with feathers in her hair. She has no colour, her whole figure appears as grey. At times she appears solid although sometimes as a wispy, smokey figure.

There are differing accounts as to her origin. The most popular version is that she is the ghost of a lady who killed herself after her husband killed her lover in a duel. The second account is that she fell madly in love with an actor at the theatre and spent all her time watching him from the top box. As her love was unrequited she committed suicide. The third version is the same as the second one except that the roles of the lady and the actor are reversed. Her suicide is agreed in all versions. She hung herself behind a door in the Garrick’s Head, the theatre’s own pub. The Grey Lady’s favourite haunt in the theatre is the top left hand box facing the stage, although she has also appeared in the opposite box. She has also been seen in the corridor of the Dress Circle. It would seem that she just does a re-run of the same actions.

* 95 rooms
* Square Restaurant
* Lounge
* Wood Bar
* Nash Garden
* Conference Suites
* Limited, chargeable Car Park

Add packages available direct from the hotel:
* Thermae packages
* Golf packages with local club

The facilities available in each bedroom include:

* Tea/Coffee making facilities
* Iron & board
* Television
* Requested internet wifi

The following attractions are all nearby:

* Royal Crescent
* The Circus
* Pump Rooms
* Assembly Rooms
* The Abbey
* Thermae Spa
* Open Top Bus Tour

Click on a photo to enlarge it.

Hotel Front      Restaurant    Bar      A Bedroom