Village Hotel Bristol

My first time staying in a Village chain hotel, and probably the last. I’m not sure if this is a hotel with a gym, or a gym with a hotel.

The building is one huge box with four upper floors of hotel rooms. Unfortunately, I was on the lowest level of rooms, seemingly directly above the gym. I’m guessing specifically the weights room and the studio spaces.

When I checked in last night my plan was to watch the Seahawks game highlights (Superbowl here we come, who would have thought that at the start of the season!). Instead, I got a soundtrack of annoying beats and commentary from a spin class, punctuated by the loud bang of weights hitting the floor every minute or so. This went on until 10pm. Very frustrating.

At check-in I overheard someone else complaining and being told there were no other rooms available.

I set a 6am alarm, but I didn’t need it. Despite the gym opening hours being advertised as 6am, the loud bangs started just after 5am. Hilton, don’t worry, this was a one-time thing.

Anyway, head down to the gym - They’re quite thorough at reception, keen to ensure you really are staying at the hotel and not trying to sneak in - the member of staff on the desk wasn’t exactly friendly. Definitely a candidate for AI replacement.

I take my complimentary towel and locker band up to the first floor changing rooms, which are rather tight. Too many people, not enough space. Smells like sweatty balls - which it probably was. Then it’s back down the stairs to the pool deck.

The gym and pool are very busy. The pool itself is just 20m with two lanes, but the pool deck is fairly well specced with a sauna, steam room, hot tub and cold plunge. Everything is quite small though, and it doesn’t really have that premium club finish you find elsewhere. It also wasn’t that clean in places.

Two lanes, each already with a swimmer. I hop in the far lane, agree to split, and get started.

The water is way too warm for a proper workout, and the clarity isn’t great either. I’m only planning a quick qualifying 1km-plus swim this morning anyway. It’s not the sort of pool for a proper session, and I’m wheezing for some reason. Probably the endless miserable January weather we’ve been having.

Finish up a quick swim with a 1.2km total, just enough to get it on the board and make sure it qualifies.

A quick sit in the sauna just because - then contemplate a dip in the cold plunge pool (7.7 degrees), but decide that a proper shower back in the room and Starbucks for the drive down to Clevedon is a better use of time.