REVIEW: The Pump Room by Candlelight Dinner Experience

Total Guide to Bath blogger @SarahfromBath tells us about her dining experience.

Whether you are a resident of this fine city, a day visitor or staying a while then if we make one recommendation to you to truly experience Georgian Bath then it would be to visit the Pump Rooms.

The Grand Pump Room is one of Bath’s most historic buildings, and given its competition, that’s saying something! Adjacent to the Roman Baths the Pump Rooms gets its name from the water that is pumped in to The King’s Spring, a fountain that sits central to the grand room that has played venue to the grandest of dances and events with the most fashionable residents and visitors to Bath. The waters can still be sampled because legend has it they are restorative…

The history of the building is hugely important, and in many ways must look as it did when it was alive with Georgian life. Step inside this incredible setting and you step back in time. Vaulted high ceilings, long Georgian windows, columns, a viewing gallery and more.

We were greeted at the Pump Rooms entrance and after completing all Covid measures we were shown to our table, towards the front of the grand Pump Room in good distance of a grand piano….’is there a pianist tonight?’ we quickly asked. Yes, was the exciting answer.

The candlelit dining experience begins with a glass of delicious champagne each (I took my hungry partner!) and canapes. The lovely Bethany introduced herself as looking after us for the evening.

The evening has a set menu format with a menu that offers classic British dishes and while we wrestled with what not to choose (we wanted everything!) Mr. Jools Scott quietly started playing the grand piano with some well-known tunes and others not so much but at that perfect volume at which you can still enjoy conversation and also enjoy the music. Loved it! How very special and unique and totally befitting the environment.

Bethany also served us two large glasses of cold of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc chosen from their wine menu which was delicious and proved to be great choices to accompany our food.

Back to the food; my partner had the Jerusalem artichoke soup starter and I chose a warm Colston Bassett blue and leek tart….good, no, great choices! Starters are exciting aren’t they as I think of them as teasers of what’s to come, meaning we were in for a real treat for the main event.

We both chose slow-braised beef served with bacon, and chestnut mushrooms, bubble and squeak. We added roasted carrot. The meat fell apart, melts in the mouth and was a succulent cut with a velvet and rich texture and flavour. Incredible. Heaven.

It is worth adding that my partner is a big man and loves his food. The dishes were VERY generous and super filling making the set price of £50 per head amazing value. (Carrots were an extra).

And so dessert, in truth I was stuffed but I always say you cant fully recommend somewhere until you’ve had all the courses….that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it! Plus, the menu included a crumble which is my favourite of all puddings and must always be chosen or my dad would never forgive me! This one was an apple crumble tart and served with cinnamon cream. Yum yum yum. Loved it.

We loved it all. The service was brilliant, professional, warm and not at all stuffy. The menu was interesting, locally sourced in places, fresh and delicious. The setting is second to none and totally unique so perfect as a Christmas gift or any special occasion, or just because you can.

Highly, highly recommended!

Find out more or to book The Pump Room please click here.