It was once a private home, lodgings for returned WWII servicemen and even a backpackers' hostel.

Now Spicers Balfour Hotel has shown just what a typical Queenslander-style home can become - a unique inner city escape with a level of style and sophistication more often seen in Europe's most chic boutique hotels than in Brisbane's leafy suburbs.

This unique and historic building, located in the fashionable inner city suburb of New Farm, has been transformed into a suave yet welcoming boutique hotel offering nine chic rooms, a spectacular rooftop bar overlooking Brisbane's iconic Story Bridge and The Balfour Kitchen in-house restaurant.

"Balfour is the sort of small luxury hotel you would find in London, Paris or Rome," Spicers Balfour Hotel general manager Willie Smuts says.

"The aim of Spicers Balfour Hotel was to create an inner-city oasis which would provide guests with all the comfort and privacy of a luxury home, but with an artistic, contemporary edge, all set within the heart of New Farm's thriving art and culture scene. There really is nothing else like Spicers Balfour Hotel in Brisbane."

Located just three kilometres from Brisbane's CBD, Spicers Balfour Hotel opened its doors in September 2010 as part of the Spicers Retreats portfolio of seven boutique properties owned by Flight Centre founder and managing director Graham Turner and his wife Jude.

Brisbane-based designers Coop Creative and the Spicers Group developed the Queenslander into a contemporary boutique hotel with a vision to offer a unique, intimate and stylish city retreat for both corporate and leisure travellers.

"We recognised that travellers commute between cities on a regular, even daily, basis these days, so our vision was to create a destination with the comfort and welcoming feel of home, but the class and character of a luxury international hotel you would find in London or New York City," Coop Creative director Rowena Cornwell says.

"Externally Balfour draws its inspiration from the historic and grand Queenslanders for which New Farm is known, however the interior reveals an unexpected contemporary European design which is eclectic, quirky and comforting.

"A palette of grey, purple, mauve and blue with navy and turquoise highlights has been used throughout the property, as well as a mixture of old and contemporary furnishings."

Tell-tale signs hint at the hotel's 100-plus year heritage - a replica of the original front door leads onto the verandah and original mouldings and trims feature in the common area along with revamped exposed beams overhead.

Each modern guest room has a unique design and features the finest Italian bed linens, spacious bathrooms with lush toiletries, state of the art Bose sound systems, iPod docking stations, a Nespresso coffee machine, comfortable work spaces and internet facilities.

Balfour's jewel in the crown is its spectacular rooftop bar, which overlooks the Story Bridge and Brisbane's high rises. Here, guests can enjoy a quiet drink under the stars and a selection of canapés which are complimentary with each night's stay.

The hotel also boasts a spacious wrap-around verandah characteristic of the Queenslander-style home, a stylish boardroom for meetings of up to 18 delegates, a library, massage room, free WiFi and free parking.

Spicers Balfour Hotel has won numerous design awards including Best Hotel Interior for Australia in The Asian Pacific Hotel Awards 2013, and Best Hotel Under 50 Rooms at The International Hotel & Property Awards in London in 2012. It also won Best New Tourism Development at the 2011 Queensland Tourism Awards and currently the number 1 ranked hotel in Brisbane on Tripadvisor.

According to Willie, the hotel is in a perfect position to take advantage of the best that Brisbane has to offer.

"Spicers Balfour Hotel offers everything a city stay could - access to great food, shopping and entertainment - but without the hustle and bustle of the city itself," he says.

"Guests can check out the fantastic dining scene in New Farm, or head up the road into nearby Fortitude Valley to go to one of its dozens of bars, clubs and restaurants. Shoppers are spoilt for choice with plenty of boutique shops in New Farm, Fortitude Valley and Queen Street Mall in the city centre just a 15 minute walk away.

"If it's the outdoors you're after, New Farm Park is just a short walk away while the more adventurous can scale to the top of Story Bridge with an organised climb. The best of Brisbane really is on Spicer Balfour Hotel's doorstep."

Guests, as well as the general public, can indulge in a sumptuous breakfast, brunch, Royal High Tea and private lunch at the hotel. 

The new in-house restaurant, The Balfour Kitchen, is now open for dinner to in-house guests.

The Balfour Kitchen, headed up by Peter van Lunn, is a bistro-style, modern Australian neighbourhood restaurant focusing on unpretentious, uncomplicated, wholesome and locally-sourced food.

"In just a few short years Spicers Balfour Hotel has gone from just an ordinary suburban home to one of Brisbane's most exciting boutique hotels," Willie says.

"Whether it's a corporate trip to Brisbane, a romantic city escape from the kids, or just a cosy, convenient place to come back to after a show, Spicers Balfour Hotel offers guests a unique and unforgettable experience with a personal touch. There's truly nothing else like it in Brisbane."


For media enquiries contact:
Brenton Gibbs
Tel +61 (0)419 828 440
brenton@crookgroup.com.au

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