Emberwood Bath: Glowing Potential at the Francis Hotel
A striking new addition to Bath’s dining scene, Emberwood sits within the historic Francis Hotel, offering flame-led cooking in brasserie-style surroundings. We visited for dinner to see how it compares to the much-loved Brasserie Blanc that once occupied the space.
First Impressions
For years this corner of Queen Square was home to Brasserie Blanc, one of our favourite Bath restaurants, so expectations were high. Emberwood’s interior makes a strong first impression: polished brass fittings, white tablecloths, and a marble-topped bar that links the restaurant to the hotel. The lighting is warm and flattering, and the overall feel sits somewhere between an elegant brasserie and a contemporary hotel dining room.
The welcome was friendly, and the room itself looks the part of a modern grand brasserie.
Service and Ambience
Despite plenty of staff on the floor, the service felt uncoordinated. We had to prompt for our order, chase drinks, and ask for plates to be cleared. There were senior-looking staff present, but it wasn’t always clear who was leading. Tables were left uncleared even though the restaurant was quiet.
It is easy to imagine the space buzzing on a Saturday night, though it is not clear if the team could maintain pace and polish when full.
Food and Drink
We began with a mushroom croquette and the spiced heritage pumpkin soup. The croquette looked a little lost on its large white plate, more canapé than starter, topped with diced mushroom and a dot of aioli. The soup arrived in a deep bowl with a swirl of brown butter and crème fraîche. Rich, velvety, and warmly spiced, it was enjoyable but heavy from the first spoonful.
For mains, my wife chose the coal roasted Cornish scallops — technically a starter but served as her main, while I ordered the Cornish hake with caramelised fennel, samphire, and charred potatoes. The scallops were well cooked but swimming in butter, while the hake was the better-balanced dish: a generous fillet with crisp skin and a sweet, smoky edge, though the plate leaned again toward richness rather than restraint.
Dessert was a charred tarte Tatin topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Beautifully arranged and deeply caramelised, it was the highlight of the meal, classic, comforting, and neatly executed.
To drink, we chose Emberwood’s own Petit Chablis by Sébastien Christophe (2023) by the glass, along with sparkling water. The Chablis paired nicely with the fish and cut through some of the kitchen’s buttery tendencies.
Dress Code
Whilst there is no official dress code, you can dress up and not feel out of place. A shirt and jacket for the gents and something appropriate for the ladies. As it is also the hotel restaurant, couples in smart jeans and t-shirts were equally at home during our visit.
Jamie with Hake
The Experience
Our booking noted a special occasion, my wife’s birthday, yet the first acknowledgment came only as we were leaving, when a small box of petit fours was handed over with our coats. It summed up the evening: gestures were there, but the timing and attention to detail were off.
At £198 for dinner, this was not a cheap night out. The concept and setting have promise, but service and consistency need more refinement.
Emberwood is a handsome addition to Bath’s dining scene, blending local sourcing with open-hearth cooking. The room is stylish, the menu confident, and the location ideal. But for now, it feels like a restaurant still finding its rhythm. Sadly it won’t make my list of Best places to eat in Bath, but perhaps we can revisit in the Spring.