The Merchant Hotel

We were married in this beautiful hotel in 2020 and love getting the chance to return for a special treat! We stayed here for my birthday and some pre baby relaxation and had another amazing experience. The only downside was that we weren’t staying longer! We started our stay with a light lunch in The hotels pub The Cloth Ear where I had the best seafood chowder I have ever tasted! Following this we made our way to the harmonious underground spa where my husband enjoyed the hydrotherapy suite whilst I was treated to a soothing prenatal massage. We checked in to the most stunning suite which we received a complimentary upgrade to - (the four poster bed and luxurious “his and hers” style bathroom, wow!) :) We enjoyed some cocktails, (non alcoholic for me) which the wonderful staff in the award winning Cocktail Bar were more than happy to adapt for me. After a restful nights sleep we had a beautiful breakfast in the stunning surroundings of The Great Room restaurant. The breakfast was plentiful and topped off the most amazing stay. The staff in this hotel are truly a credit and each one we met enhanced our stay further! Thank you.

My recent stay at The Merchant was extraordinary from start to finish. It is perfectly situated with easy access to lots of nearby shops and bars. The check-in process was seamless, and the staff were warm and professional, making me feel valued immediately. What truly sets The Merchant Hotel apart is its outstanding service, with every staff member committed to ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

The Merchant Hotel is housed in a former bank, and from the looks of it, one that did very well. We stayed in a luxurious room that was so comfortable. The bed was soft and inviting and allowed deep sleep which we thoroughly enjoyed. The wait staff were helpful and advising us and in answering our questions.

We celebrated our wedding here at the start of June and stayed for two nights. I liaised with Claire in the events team to plan it all and she was great. It really took some of the stress out. We had a small celebration over afternoon tea. Shea was looking after us and he was amazing. He had that kind of customer service that can't be taught- genuinely lovely. Now when we arrived my husband was given the keys to our room and was told that a bottle of prosecco was in our room. During afternoon tea one of our guests was gushing because she had been upgraded to a suite. When my husband and I got to our room it was a different story. I genuinely thought there had just been a mistake because it was a twin room, a twin room on our wedding night! There was no bottle of prosecco. The was a bottle of water at one bed and another bottle of water at another bed. There was a letter with the WiFi code etc that was addressed to Lily X and Paul Y. I would have expected it to be written for Mr&Mrs- small touches you expect at a five star hotel that knows you're celebrating your wedding at it. The room had a shower over the bath and the website states that most have separate showers and baths, certainly the pictures show it that way. I went straight to reception to ask if there had been a mistake. I was told that they had accidently given the room upgrade to our guest and it was actually meant for us. I was told that prosecco would not be delivered until 10pm (odd but as I was due to be out I accepted it). She said that she would speak to the manager but she couldn't do anything. I had a phone call from the manager who told me something different. He stated that our booking on their system was for a twin room. I have checked my booking and it was not for a twin room and it was our wedding night! I was then told that I had asked for the prosecco to be delivered at 10. Again I was told there was nothing that could be done as the hotel was fully booked. I booked the wedding the previous year and our rooms were booked through the event/wedding team so I really don't understand how we ended up in a twin room. A wedding should be made priority. I missed the start of my guests arriving at the evening do sorting this. The guests who had been upgraded to the suite were embarrassed over what had happened and had offered to change rooms but the Merchant said no. Later I returned to the room to leave a few things back and I couldn't get into the room as the key card was not working. I had to go back to reception to rectify this. I missed guests leaving the wedding because of this. The room we were in was very noisy as it faces the bars. I think ear plugs should be provided in those rooms. I'm a light sleeper which first help. The next day the Merchant changed us to an Art Deco room which was quiter and discounted our spa bill. I really appreciate this but the damage was already done. Did what happened ruin my wedding? Of course not but when we think of our wedding w

The Merchant Hotel was a bank in its previous life. As a former banker myself, I enjoyed hearing about it’s history, and seeing how beautifully it has been converted to its present use. Magnificent!

We chose the Merchant hotel to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had heard so much about the Merchant and had high expectations. The experience did not let us down. From the moment we arrived until we left we felt like special guests. The ambience is perfect. A balance of luxurious surroundings, quality service, great food and drink, live music in Bert’s bar along with friendliness and a warm welcome. It is worth the extra expense. And it is expensive. But for a special treat you’ll probably not be able to top it. Only one or two hotels in the world that we have been lucky to stay in would slightly better it but it’s close to the very best. Our experience was slightly soured by being on the floor just above and in the end room right over the Roof garden where there was a party going on. The music was very loud but as the music was good and it finished at 12 we didn’t complain - then there was a fire alarm at 12.40! Spoiled the experience a bit but we will soon forget this and remember the overall sumptuous surroundings, great food and warm welcome everywhere we went in the hotel.

Hotel is in the best location. The room is was incredible. I definitely recommend upgrading. Breakfast was delicious. Hubby enjoyed the spa.

My husband and I held our wedding reception at the Merchant Hotel recently. Words can’t describe how exceptional and professional they have been. From day one whenever we had sent an email to the Merchant to enquire about wedding packages, Clare Mullin and her team have been with us at every step of the way. She is very responsive to her emails, answered all my questions no matter how silly they were, and was very receptive to what we wanted at our wedding. She even provided us with a list of recommended vendors when we were stuck with anything. On the actual wedding day itself, Clare and her team operated like clockwork. Everything was seamless, and all our guests were well looked after. The food served at the Merchant was 10/10. I had made my own flower decor, and Clare had set them up so perfectly! Clare’s colleague, Shea, took over during the evening meal, and Erin thereafter during the evening reception, and they were brilliant and extremely professional throughout. The simple gestures such as taking gifts off of my hands and bringing me a glass of water without me even asking, I could tell they were so attentive to every single detail and commotion going on. Our bridal suite was quiet, clean and comfortable. The bed was so comfortable we both slept soundly! The breakfast was delicious too. Overall I would highly recommend the Merchant if you are considering having your wedding there. The service and food was out of this world and you can be sure that all your guests will have a wonderful experience!

A fully deserved 5 stars for this hotel. We had a wonderful stay over the weekend. The staff who are so professional, friendly and go out of their way to make your visit special. There are several dining options and we tried two, both were excellent. If I had to have a gripe, while their drinks options are vast and of excellent quality, pricing is on the steep side even for a hotel of this standard. Accommodation is wonderful, lots of high Victorian touches with modern luxe. All in room amenities are present with the exception of an in room fridge. Overall our experience was outstanding and good value for money - you get what you pay for here.