HOTEL REVIEW: Radisson Blu Bristol – Worth Paying Extra for a View!

Each time I look at Bristol stays or visit Harbourside, the Radisson Blu catches my eye, but I’ve usually opted for hotels closer to Temple Meads Station or Bristol Airport. This weekend away was the ideal opportunity to finally give it a try.

The Radisson Blu Bristol is a 4-star hotel that dominates the skyline of the harbourside area, with 176 rooms and suites across 17 stories. It was initially built in 1967 as the headquarters of Bristol & West Building Society before being reopened and converted into a hotel in 2009 under the Radisson SAS brand, then rebranded to Radisson Blu later that year. It’s one of the tallest buildings in Bristol with fantastic views from the high floors.

Here’s my full review of the Radisson Blu Bristol:

Location

The Harbourside setting is a huge draw, with museums, galleries, bars and restaurants right on your doorstep. It’s within minutes of the Bristol Hippodrome and within walking distance of everywhere in the city centre, including Cabot Circus and Bristol Temple Meads (19 minutes).

If you’re flying from Bristol and don’t have a really early morning flight, the Radisson Blu is a good choice for a pre-flight stay. You can explore Bristol the day before, and it’s a 20-25 minute taxi ride. The Airport Flyer bus is also within minutes of the entrance.

Booking

I booked my one-night stay two months in advance. I had been watching the price and could see it gradually increasing. I booked a non-cancellable Superior Room with Harbour View for £262. Unfortunately, I had no choice but to stay on a Saturday night, so the cost was on the higher end compared to the usual nightly rates. Stays here typically start from £80 for a Standard Room, which is excellent value for such a central location.

I booked via Avios.com and took advantage of the 4 Avios per £1 spent deal. This meant I had to book via the website, but my booking instantly appeared on the app.

Check-In

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM, and I arrived at 1:30 PM. The staff were friendly and welcoming, but adamant that the room would not be ready. I stored my bags and returned at 4:30 PM. There was no queue, and I was asked to show ID before being given my room card. I opted to purchase breakfast for £15.99 and paid a refundable £50 deposit for potential room service charges.

Next to reception, there was a selection of flavoured waters, fruit and sweets. This was a nice touch, considering that at other times of day there were queues. 

There were also umbrellas for hire. 

The Room

I was informed I had been upgraded from a Superior Room with Harbour View to a Premium Room with Harbour View. Both of these rooms are the same size and have the same amenities, albeit with a Nespresso coffee machine. Premium rooms are located on higher floors with better views. The in-room colour scheme is also slightly different and more ‘premium’, shall I say.

My room was on the 14th floor at the end of the corridor. The corridor was a bit dated, and this was a common theme across the hotel, but it certainly didn’t take away from the overall experience.

The room was slightly larger than I expected, featuring a large double bed, a comfortable chair, a desk, and plenty of space to walk around. The room was nice and bright with plenty of natural light. The bed was comfortable, with a nice duvet – neither too thick nor too thin.

The Nespresso machine and complimentary waters were on the desk, whereas the tea and coffee-making facilities were on a shelf near the door. 

My room was a corner room with a large panoramic Harbour view window in one corner and a medium city view window on the other side. Both views were fantastic, and I feel it is worth paying more for a better view here, unless you’re a very regular visitor. The harbour view was particularly stunning!

There was plenty of storage, including a wardrobe, shelves and a safe.

The TV was modern, but there was no Chromecast, and the controls were a little dated. There were also no plugs next to the bed, but this was manageable with a long lead.

The air conditioning worked very well and flowed through the room very nicely with no dust. It worked a little too well, and I ended up turning it off. The WIFI worked at a reasonable speed, too!

Soundproofing was good, so I couldn’t hear the neighbouring rooms or the corridor, but I could still hear the noise of Saturday night outside, as well as the street performers. This shouldn’t be a problem if you stay Sunday-Thursday. Higher floors are also quieter.

The Bathroom

The bathroom was a nice size and larger than the average hotel bathroom. There was plenty of storage around the sink, and there were Radisson-branded toiletries. There was also a bath, which is always a nice addition to a hotel room.

Other Room Types

Most rooms accommodate 2 people, but suites can sleep up to 4.

• Standard Room
• Superior Room: City view or Harbour view
• Premium Room: City view or Harbour View
• Suite with terrace and Harbour View – I’m tempted to try a suite out on my next visit!
• Presidential Suite with panoramic view

An Ageing Hotel

It’s been a while since the hotel was designed, and some of the furniture is starting to look a little tired. There were lots of marks on the bedside table/desk, and although these did not affect my experience, the hotel could definitely do with a bit of modernisation. 

The hotel could also do with more lifts. There are two to serve the entire hotel, and at certain times of day, the wait can be long.

Dining

Restaurant: The Collage Restaurant is not just for breakfast. The menu is modern but has a West Country touch – a “unique twist on the classic British brasserie “. The 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM menu is served from 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM. You’ve also got some of Bristol’s best restaurants on your doorstep.

Bar: The bar area is small but relaxed with a large wine menu, beers, ciders and cocktails. The bar was almost empty each time we passed.

Room Service

From the room service menu, I ordered skin-on fries with fresh fruit salad/sorbet and a Coke. 

I used the ‘one press’ room service button on the phone and was redirected to reception, who informed me the kitchen was closed until 6. I rephoned and was redirected to reception again. The order was passed to the kitchen team, who phoned again to double-check.

The room service staff were very helpful and friendly, and the food that arrived was hot and delicious, although it was mango sorbet instead of the advertised raspberry sorbet (still delicious).

Breakfast

The Radisson Blu Hotel offers a breakfast buffet with a great selection of hot and cold options. Breakfast is located in the Collage Restaurant. Service runs from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on weekdays and until 11:00 on weekends. The breakfast-to-go bag is available via room service throughout the day.

I was informed at check-in that I could order room service breakfast if I wished, and they would take the £15.99 off my bill. The breakfast order is filled the night before and hung on the door before 2 AM, and there’s a variety of choices, including a breakfast-to-go bag, continental breakfast, or hot breakfast. The hot breakfasts offer eight choices, ranging from a full English breakfast to scrambled eggs with salmon.

I ordered the continental breakfast with no meat but added a note I would like two hash browns added to my order. I was not charged extra for this, and everything arrived looking delicious. 

Both times I ordered room service, the staff were very friendly and attentive on the phone and at the door.

The Lobby/Lounge Area

The lobby area was between the reception and the bar. There were numerous enclaves with comfortable seating, a library corner, and even a grand piano by the entrance (near the bar) for entertainment.

Other Facilities

• Gym
• Parking
• Meeting rooms
• 3-hour express laundry
• 5 meeting and events rooms
• Parking

Radisson Status

Radisson status can be earned via nights or stays as follows:

You can also obtain instant Radisson Rewards Premium status through the American Express Platinum, Business Platinum, and Centurion cards. You can read more about this in our AMEX Platinum hotel status guide.

Another way to get status is by status matching your Club Avolta status to Radisson VIP. This is a status level up from that which comes with AMEX Platinum. More about this match in our hotel status matches guide.

The Radisson Blu Bristol With Children

The location is excellent for a stay with children. I travelled with my 13-month-old, and the hotel was in an excellent location for a city break. Harbourside is a lovely area, and you don’t walk straight out onto a busy road, as with lots of Bristol hotels. 

We enjoyed a visit to the aquarium, which was just minutes away.

The hotel acknowledged my request for a cot (I find I need to remind hotels on arrival around 50% of the time). A sheet had been put on, and even a towel was given (on plenty of occasions, I’ve received a folded travel cot at other hotels).

Getting It for Less

To make the most of the points you can earn from your stay from various loyalty programmes, I suggest you do the following:

• Pay on a points/miles earning credit card

• Use your Radisson Rewards points for a discount on your stay. The higher your membership level, the more points you’ll earn and the more points you’ll have to spend.

• Book via Avios.com and collect 4 Avios per £1 spent. This is sometimes increased during sales.

Other Options

Surprisingly, Bristol only has 1 5-star hotel, which is Berwick Lodge in the Bristol Countryside. Other top options include the 4* Marriott Royal, which is very close to the Radisson Blu (you can read Michelle’s Marriott Royal Review here), the Hilton Garden Inn, Delta Hotels and Hotel Du Vin.

Final Words

If you’re after a Harbourside stay, the Radisson Blu Bristol is hard to beat. It has wow-factor views, spacious rooms and an unbeatable location. Although the hotel is starting to look a little dated on the inside, this did not take away from the experience. This is now my favourite hotel for a stay in Bristol, and I will definitely be returning.

You can find more information about the Radisson Blu Bristol here