The Portland Guesthouse, 51 Portland Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2NX. Telephone: 01242 906 600
The Portland Guesthouse, 51 Portland Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2NX. Telephone: 01242 906 600
The Portland Guesthouse, occupying 51 Portland Street’s Grade II listed building was established in 2020 and is ideally located in the heart of Cheltenham. The property boasts seven en-suite bedrooms across 4 floors of the Late Georgian building, retaining many of the original features. As guests take the eight steps up and enter through the front door, they are welcomed by our impressive hallway providing the home from home warming welcome many of our guest’s desire. Our full breakfasts are served in the remarkable breakfast room stretching the length of the building for you to start your day off right.
Each of our ensuite bedrooms are different in décor and personality, view our gallery for images of our rooms and call us if you have a preferred room for your stay.
Ideally located for all the events our stunning festival town has to offer venues including Cheltenham Racecourse, the Town Hall and the Everyman Theatre are all within walking distance. The boutiques and bars of Montpellier and the Promenade are also just a short walk away.
So, whether you are looking for a weekend shopping trip, day at the races or a base for the numerous country walks in the area, we can provide the comfortable, welcoming, ideally located accommodation for your stay in Cheltenham.
As a social enterprise, we will be taking the property full circle to its original purposes of a Guesthouse and ‘School’. Whilst providing high quality accommodation, The Portland will be educating vulnerable adults to develop skills in the hospitality industry and offer the opportunity of on-site training resulting in an official qualification, endorsed by the Institute of Hospitality. Working closely with the full time team, confidence can be regained and skills re-established during their training with us. The Portland Guesthouse is a project of Aim Up, a Gloucestershire based charity steeped in history.
The team ,managed by Sian, will be ensuring our guests receive a quality service and memorable stay, whilst teaching our high standards to the service users in training.
Our property is steeped in history, more of which can be read below.
No.3 Trinity Terrace, now The Portland Cheltenham thought to have been built in 1836, was initially used by the owner, William Ward, builder (who may have built Trinity Terrace), as a smart lodging house. Attracting visitors who came to Cheltenham for the season, and ‘genteel’ residents who preferred the personal touch over a hotel.
In the early 1850s Mr Ward chose to let the property, (along with neighbouring No.4), and it was used for a preparatory school (Miss Wyatt’s) for most of that decade. The next occupier was a brewer, George Hodge, and family, who provided lodgings.
During the 1860s No.3 was available to let and saw a variety of temporary residents from the professions (church, medicine), the military and gentry. The property was still owned by William Ward, who had moved out to Hatherley, but had to be sold following his death in 1874 as there were claims against his estate.
The property continued to be let, or to provide lodgings, with Elizabeth Evans as the lodging-housekeeper the 1880s. It seems that rooms were let furnished and unfurnished, as there were property sales of ‘furniture and effects’ as the tenants came and went.
Miss Lucy Stokes was resident in the early 1890s, and the property was up for sale following her death. The Carrick family became the next owner-occupiers, and members of this family lived at No.3 for 65 years, making it a true family home. In the 1960s and 70s No.3, now 51 Portland Street, was home to a Walter R Jarrett.
In 2019 51 Portland Street was renovated from a family home to its initial purpose of a guesthouse providing a warm welcome to its guests.
