Introducing The Grand Appeal’s Patient Hotel

We are delighted to announce that construction work has officially commenced.

To celebrate the launch of this pioneering development, a special ground breaking ceremony marked the turning of the first spade of soil.

Inside Bristol Children’s Hospital, young patients joined in with fun building-themed activities, while the neuro rehabilitation team enjoyed digger-themed cupcakes to mark the occasion. 

As the first purpose-designed Patient Hotel for children in the UK, this Grand Appeal project is set to provide the benchmark for a new generation of health facilities for patients and their families at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The Patient Hotel is made possible through The Grand Appeal’s long-standing partnership with Jingle Jam, raising over £2.66 million. This unique facility will be called ‘Jingle Jam Building’ as recognition in their generous support.  

The development will provide 12 bedrooms with en-suite facilities for children and their parents in a home-from-home environment. The Patient Hotel will also provide a gym and therapy area to allow patients to continue their rehabilitation, as well as a purpose-designed kitchen to allow specialist dietary education for patients with specific conditions. Specially designed gardens will offer space for relaxation and rehabilitation in a landscaped and terraced tree-lined garden adjacent to the Patient Hotel. 

The emphasis will be on providing residential facilities to allow children to leave the clinical environment of the hospital building once their intensive treatment and care is coming to an end. By offering a home-away-from-home facility for young patients to stay with their families, the new Patient Hotel will enable patients to continue their therapy and rehabilitation thereby setting a new standard in care, comfort, and support – transforming the lives of patients and their families at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The Patient Hotel will be co-located with Cots for Tots House – just a few minutes’ walk from Bristol Children’s Hospital. 

The Grand Appeal received planning permission in March 2025. Since then, a substantial programme of delivery work has taken place to prepare the site for construction in February 2026.

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A new era for children’s healthcare

The Patient Hotel represents a new approach to children’s healthcare. Located just a few minutes’ walk from Bristol Children’s Hospital, this facility will offer 12 ensuite bedrooms designed to accommodate patients, their parents, and siblings in a comfortable, non-clinical environment. Each room will be meticulously designed for children who are well enough not to need round-the-clock care but still require rehabilitation and therapy, providing a “home-from-home” atmosphere without the beeps and alarms typical of hospital wards.

Most importantly, it will provide a homely environment for patients to be with their families after long and intensive treatment in hospital in an environment where they can stay in a room with their family and continue to receive therapy and rehabilitation from the expert staff from Bristol Children’s Hospital on site. 

The Patient Hotel will be suitable for patients from Bristol Children’s Hospital who will continue to need rehabilitation after brain surgery or injury; children with lifelong medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis; children who need physiotherapy following major surgery; and children treated for chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Currently, patients stay in hospital, some for many months at a time, while they continue to receive therapy and rehabilitation. In this ground-breaking new development, the Patient Hotel will offer patients and their families a new solution—one that will allow them to continue their therapy while staying with their parents in a home-from-home environment close to the hospital.

Support under one roof

The Patient Hotel is more than just a place to stay. It will offer home-from-home facilities including a large communal kitchen, lounge and relaxation areas and laundry facilities. A therapy and gym space for rehabilitation will be integrated into the development, with a bespoke kitchen for specialist dieticians from Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The landscaped gardens will offer a serene space for relaxation and recovery, promoting overall well-being and healing. Having access to purpose-designed, restorative gardens is often found to offset stress and promote a positive outlook helping to make families feel more engaged and comfortable with their surroundings. 

Improving patient experience

Leaving an acute hospital environment after treatment for a serious illness or accident can be traumatic. For some, often those who live hundreds of miles away, it can be a daunting and life-changing experience.

By accommodating patients who are ready to leave in-patient care but still require daily therapy and rehabilitation, the development will be step closer to home for patients and their families. 

Supporting Bristol Children’s Hospital every step of the way

For more than 30 years, The Grand Appeal’s trailblazing partnership with Aardman Animations, has funded some of the most advanced medical equipment at Bristol Children’s Hospital, and funds some of the most pioneering medical research into childhood health. Separately, The Grand Appeal runs three family accommodation houses and employs specialist support staff who work on the ground in the hospital to ensure every aspect of hospital life is centred on the wellbeing of the young patients and their families. It also works with the hospital to create a child-friendly environment and a programme of arts, music and play therapies to ensure the very best patient experience. 

The creation of The Grand Appeal’s new Patient Hotel is the latest development in the pioneering partnership between the charity, Aardman Animations and Bristol Children’s Hospital. 

Transforming lives across the South West and South Wales

Bristol Children’s Hospital is a national centre of excellence. It treats over 140,000 patients each year from across the entire South West and South Wales region and is home to some of the most exciting advancements in global paediatric healthcare. Babies, children and young adults with highly complex medical conditions – from rare genetic disorders, neurological conditions and congenital heart disease to traumatic injuries, cancer and kidney disease – are cared for around the clock by leaders in their respective fields. Just like Bristol, the hospital is a hub of innovation, where these experts pave the way for sick children every day through a vast network of research projects with international impact.

The children’s hospital in Bristol covers the largest geographical area of any children’s hospital in England, and as such, the Patient Hotel will offer a unique solution to the logistical and emotional challenges of long-term medical therapy and rehabilitation far from home.  It takes away the need for families to face the daunting prospect of extended hospital stays far from home, providing a serene and homely environment that supports the entire family’s well-being. By enabling families to stay together, the Patient Hotel not only alleviates the stress of separation but may also enhance the healing process.

The Patient Hotel is the latest project in the charity’s over 30 year plus partnership with Bristol Children’s Hospital.