Bistro Lotte

A comfy super king bed above a proper French bistro, a fresh croissant downstairs in the morning and your dog along for the trip. Bistro Lotte is a French restaurant with rooms at the top of Catherine Street, in the heart of Frome’s artisan quarter in Somerset. It’s been welcoming guests since 2018, and it makes a charming dog-friendly hotel for a weekend in one of the county’s most characterful towns.

There are ten elegant bedrooms in all, with super king rooms above the bistro and spacious family rooms just two doors up the street. Each one has a modern en-suite shower room, Wi-Fi, a TV, tea and coffee, and locally sourced natural toiletries by Bramley. The restaurant can get lively, but the rooms are pleasantly tranquil, and breakfast is served downstairs in the morning.

A limited number of rooms are dog friendly, at £15 a night for your furry companion, so give the team a call before you book and they’ll make sure a suitable room is ready. Dogs shouldn’t be left alone in the rooms. Dogs are welcome in the restaurant during the day, so they can join you for breakfast or lunch, but they can’t come in for dinner.

The food is simple, unfussy and delicious. You’ll find traditional French cooking with a touch of Somerset charm, from freshly baked croissants and galettes to moules, steak frites and bouillabaisse, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options too. The meat comes from Cayfords Butcher next door, and local suppliers are used wherever possible. Sister cocktail bar Bar Lotte is close by for a nightcap.

Frome itself is a joy to explore, with independent shops and cafés all the way down Catherine Hill. For a longer day out, Longleat is around 15 minutes’ drive away, and Stourhead, Hauser & Wirth Somerset and the Mendip Hills are all within reach. Parking at the hotel is limited, so let them know when you book if you’ll need a space.