NO.1 BY GUESTHOUSE, YORK

No 1. by Guesthouse, York is a 19th-century townhouse that dips a dainty toe into the past and is set to become a beloved fixture of its present.

For rainy days, there’s a stash of board games in the lounge; or you could ask staff to talk you through the curios on display throughout, many of which relate to aspects of the city’s industrious nature: haberdasher’s tools, gas lamps, apothecary drawers. And for sunny days, ask the hotel to pack you a picnic, which you can lay out in the museum’s botanical gardens or Dean’s Park by the Minster.

Rooms: Thirty Nine, including three suites.

Location: York

local experiences

Divine dining

The love for the ’Shire’s produce is very much felt in the restaurant menus. Honey from the Moors is drizzled over porridge at breakfast, and sausages and bacon from Lishman’s of Ilkley grace the full Yorkshire; and lunch could consist of locally sourced cured meats and pork pies, a soufflé with cheese from the Dales and a curd tart with clotted cream and rhubarb from Tomlinson of Pudsey farm shop. 

And dinners are as hearty and British as they come, starting with plump pheasant kiev bites and mussels doused in Yorkshire cider, followed by a Scarborough woof fish with pak choi and No. 1’s deconstructed take on a Jaffa Cake, with chocolate from city-based chocolatier Andrew Thwaite. 

The eau de nil-hued dining space has a homey feel too – with plates and pictures displayed on the walls and a range of storied curios it feels more like a loved one’s living room.

Room service
Have breakfast in bed from 7.30am to 10.30am.

Sip & Savour

Yorkshire loves a brew in all senses of the word, and when it comes to the alcoholic kind, they’re well represented in the cosy-as-can-be hotel bar, with local ales on tap. 

We skipped between the two poles of deliciousness: starting with a ‘light, fresh and aromatic’ Secret Life of Plants (with verbena, Yorkshire Dales Purple Ram gin, honey, lavender and prosecco), and a ‘bold, rich and indulgent’ Old Fashioned Parkin (with bourbon, clarified butter, burnt wildflower honey, winter spices and bitter chocolate to mimic York’s favourite sweet treat). But, everything in between is reliably delicious too. 

The wine list has some top picks too; and no, you haven’t had one too many, that is a miniature steam train chugging its way around the room. 

Ask staff for the story behind Lady Rhubarb, whose portrait has pride of place on the wall – she may not actually exist, but acts as an intriguing segue into how the fruit was once farmed by candlelight, and the curio-filled tables pull on other historic threads. 

You can also take your drink, or afternoon tea in the elegant Marmalade Lounge, which is coloured after the beloved toast-topper.

Drink, Dine, Shop Locally

Kiosk Coffee & Food: Head to this perfect-for-people-watching place on one of York’s most popular indie streets for coffee that’s, without doubt, some of the best in the city. Their chunky sandwiches hit the spot at any time of day. You should also download their ‘Now That’s What I Call Kitchen Dancing’ playlist on Soundcloud.

 

SPARK: York is a hive of integrity and activity. It’s a heady mix of street food, bars, shops, co-working and event spaces. All the businesses in there are independent, local to York, and all driven by a social purpose. It’s family and dog-friendly, with regular events going on for all ages.

 

The Little Yorkshire Candle Company: If you’re looking for a souvenir to remind you of your visit, a gift for a loved one, or if you’re simply in need of a little tranquility, The Little Yorkshire Candle Company is the place for you! This cosy shop on Goodramgate offers all-natural home fragrances in the form of candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, essential oils, and wax melts.  All hand-made in York, each product draws on the power of scents to create an atmospheric mood or evoke a treasured memory. The shop also stocks a range of gifts and homeware, creating a carefully curated haven of hygge, nestled in the oldest row of houses in York

Rooms & suites

guest room

Room Size: 17 to 25sqm

Charming, individually dressed rooms in red and cream with a few quirky touches. This room offers a small sitting area with a Four-poster, super-king-size bed (with a Sealy mattress and 300-thread-count Egyptian-cotton linens), which can be twinned on request (subject to availability). 

A Flatscreen TV with Chromecast, turntable (records can be hired from the library), Nespresso machine and tea-making kit (inside a miniature doll’s house), bathrobes, free WiFi and Haeckels bath products.

A cot can be added on request, and this room is dog-friendly

large guest room

Room Size: 20 – 32sqm 

Charming, individually dressed rooms in red and cream with a few quirky touches. This room offers a small sitting area with a Four-poster, super-king-size bed (with a Sealy mattress and 300-thread-count Egyptian-cotton linens), which can be twinned on request (subject to availability).

A Flatscreen TV with Chromecast, turntable (records can be hired from the library), Nespresso machine and tea-making kit (inside a miniature doll’s house), bathrobes, free WiFi and Haeckels bath products.

A cot can be added on request, and this room is dog-friendly

bedroom at the NO.1 BY GUESTHOUSE, YORK

the bootham suites

Room Size: 42sqm

Set on the first floor in the former library and drawing room, these two elegant suites are decorated in cream and scarlet, and each has vintage-style wooden furnishings, a fireplace, tactile fabrics and objects d’art. 

Other features include a sitting sitting area, a Four-poster, super-king-size bed (with a Sealy mattress and 300-thread-count Egyptian-cotton linens), which can be twinned on request (subject to availability).

A Flatscreen TV with Chromecast, turntable (records can be hired from the library), Nespresso machine and tea-making kit (inside a miniature doll’s house), bathrobes, free WiFi and Haeckels bath products.

A cot or extra bed for a child can be added on request, and this room is dog-friendly.

the clifton suite

Room Size: 54sqm 

Set at the front of the townhouse, facing Bootham Street and the Clifton neighbourhood, this elegant suite is decorated in cream and scarlet, and has vintage-style wooden furnishings such as a fireplace, tactile fabrics and objects d’art. 

A separate sitting and dining room with space for four, a Four-poster, super-king-size bed (with a Sealy mattress and 300-thread-count Egyptian-cotton linens), which can be twinned on request (subject to availability). 

Offering a Flatscreen TV with Chromecast, turntable (records can be hired from the library), Nespresso machine and tea-making kit (inside a miniature doll’s house), bathrobes, free WiFi and Haeckels bath products.

A cot or extra beds for children can be added on request to sleep a maximum of four, and this room is dog-friendly

View from room: central location overlooking Clifton

Gallery

Contact Us

You can contact us via email, telephone or simply complete the below form and we will contact you. Email: hello@optimum-experience.com

Telephone: 01270 914644

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