The Thistle Grand BristolTravel, Holidays and Hotels by Mr C - November 9, 2011November 10, 2011Two agendas, three people, high standards required, central location essential, compromise forgotten… not too much then!Having used Thistle hotels before, we knew that it was unlikely we’d be disappointed by choosing the Grand Hotel in Bristol for a reunion get-together with an old friend.Situated on Broad Street, right in the centre of the City, close to lots of bars, restaurants, shops, theatres and all the other great facilities Bristol has to offer, the Thistle Grand is situated in one of the oldest parts of the town and despite its central position it offers ample car parking, a leisure club and pool and a certain old charm and style that many modern hotels often lack. The immaculately-dressed doorman, who always greets you with a smile, the excellent reception staff who made the whole check-in process a pleasure and indeed the professionalism and pleasant manner of all the staff we met helped to ensure that this was a memorable stay throughout.The rooms are beautifully finished in subdued tones, complemented with some stylish fixtures and fittings which include flat-screen TV. The room we had was huge, with a high ceiling, modern and clean bathroom and sumptuous and comfy furniture. It really was a nice place to be!It goes without saying that we had to sample some of the delights the hotel’s Tyrell Restaurant had to offer. Despite being fairly quiet when we arrived, the atmosphere was very pleasant. The huge windows look out onto the street and the subtle lighting and huge ornate pillars ensure that most tables have private aspects but without losing the atmosphere. The food and wine was really excellent too, capping the evening off with smiles all round.The buffet breakfast offered all the usual goodies, freshly cooked and easily served. However, and we’re sticklers for this, the coffee seemed to take an age to get to the table. There’s nothing worse at breakfast than not having a good strong coffee to blow the cobwebs away right at the start. Even then, the waiters were just filling the cups individually. We eventually managed to persuade them to leave a nice big pot of the stuff on the table for us to work through.Aside from the somewhat trivial coffee issue, the Thistle Grand was probably one of the best choices we could have made. It is a traditional, yet very stylish home-from-home in what is probably one of the best locations you could hope for in central Bristol. It offers top quality rooms, excellent food and drink, superb service and top-quality leisure facilities. Parking is a breeze, and reasonably priced too at only £8 per day. All the visitor attractions such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, The waterfront, @Bristol, the Banksy Gallery, the SS Great Britain are all close at hand.Would we use the Thistle Grand again? Most certainly! It proved to be a perfect venue for a relaxing leisure break in the heart of this busy, bustling city.Mr C October 2011.