Our History
About the hotel
The family-owned Bath Hotel has been a part of the family for over 72 years, it’s a time to reflect on the rich history and exciting future of this beloved establishment. The beautiful Victorian building opened its doors in 1878 and in May 1951, the year before the flood, Mr & Mrs Braunton acquired the hotel.
A fascinating history
The hotel is grouped around the original cottage-style building, Pixie Dell, an early Glenthrone Estate building which was originally a small villa. The building was a Victorian Bath House and people would travel from all over to bathe in the sea water that was pumped from the iconic Rhenish Tower by the harbour.
The Victorians believed bathing in salt water had great health benefits and with its popularity increasing, The Bath House eventually evolved into The Bath Hotel.
The 19th Century Flood
The flood wrought devastation through the village and the morning after the flood there was furniture floating in the flood waters on the ground floor of the hotel.
Many lives were lost, and buildings demolished in this tragic event, but the Bath Hotel was not too badly affected. Despite the circumstance Mr and Mrs Braunton were determined to do what they could to see to their customers, somehow the chef managed to get into work and breakfast was provided to the guests.
Its about family
The hotel has been in the family for three generations now, and each generation has brought their unique vision. Aubrey and Phyllis Braunton ran the hotel, along with their daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Martin Dalgarno until 2015 when the 3rd generation of the family took over.
Siblings, Carly & Anthony Glover, embarked on an ambitious project to refurbish and revitalise the hotel.
the new era
The Bath Hotel has entered a new era, with the fourth phase of refurbishment now complete, meaning all their guest spaces and rooms have had a gorgeous new lick of life. Now everything you see meets the high standards of their bars; The Aubrey Guest Lounge (named after their grandfather) and The Ancient Mariner, which serves real ales, draft beers & local ciders. The Galley and the beautiful Victorian style dining room offer a more formal dining area, with an emphasis on fresh, local produce.
committed to reinvestment
By continually improving and upgrading the hotel’s facilities, the family are creating a legacy of excellence and has managed to preserve its unique character and charm which sets it apart from the standardised chains that dominate the hospitality industry. Guests can feel the warm and authentic touch of the family in every detail, from the eclectic decor to the personalised service.
The ANcient Mariner
The Ancient Mariner bar, now regarded as one of Exmoor’s most unique bar and restaurants, with the genuine torpedo incorporated into the space and their famous octopus sculpture, which has customers travelling from far and wide to meet. And that’s without even mentioning the many prestigious awards they’ve won for their bars and service.
Accessibility
The hotel is a Victorian building with the guest rooms set over three floors and unfortunately the building does not have a lift. If you have any mobility issues please let us know and we will try our best to allocate you to a first floor room.
WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS
We take pride in being a women owned, family-run business with our Carly at the helm, which has been passed down through generations.
During your stay
We want to make sure that your stay with us in Lynmouth is as memorable as it is enjoyable. Whether it’s taking some of the stress away from parking after a long drive, or telling you about our bar, which boasts to be the only pub in the land with a full size torpedo and octopus sculpture, below are just a few things you might be interested in and find helpful
Parking
Parking in Lynmouth can be tough, which is why if you’re lucky enough to be staying in one of our suites you’ll enjoy free private parking. Alternatively, there are two public car parks at either end of Lynmouth, both of which are just a 2-minute walk away.
Rooms
We have 20 comfortable and quintessentially eclectic en-suite rooms, the majority with sea views. Each room has its own character, unique decor and feel, with a nod to the history of our Victorian building. Choose from suites to quirky twins.
Exploring
When it comes to exploring you’ve places to go than you could shake a sturdy Exmoor stick at. That’s before you realise you’re in one of the most picture perfect places in the whole of North Devon already. We’ve got plenty of recommendations though.