Entering the hallway of an Edwardian built hotel that gives a sense of faded grandeur, the graduated sizes of wellington boots from tinies to adult, the umbrellas for the use of in the umbrella stand, the high ceilings and the large tiled floor beginning to badly crack and show its age (and must be a nightmare to try and keep clean), you could easily be badly mislead into a false sense of comfortability and cushioned care. The hallway leads you into the large airy reception area and we were met with considerable cheerfulness, courtesy and friendliness – sadly lacking in any number of hotels these days – by Paul who showed us through the hotel and up to our room.
We were taken up the carpeted stairs (needing a shampoo or replacement) to the first floor executive room we had arranged. Beautifully proportioned with all the requirements we should need we settled in for a decent nights rest and went and ordered a meal. This is where it all started to fall apart. The staffing was very poor and the service matched it even though we and another couple were the only people in the bar. We eventually got through the day we were in London for, to attend the funeral of an ex-colleague and decided to order dinner for one. All we can say is it was absolutely awful and are only glad we had just the one meal to pay for. However we considered breakfast had to be no problem and arranged for cooked breakfast to be served in the room.
Our anticipated peaceful night was not to be. Warning – NEVER accept a room over the entrance. As this is a 24 hour hotel travellers were arriving constantly through the night and pulling up immediately beneath our windows with the rattle of the luggage trolley and boots and car doors banging shut. This even though our windows were shut the noise was unceasing it seemed. To add to the furore the reception area was beneath us and the noise of the arrivals funnelled up to our room too, every sound heard.
The breakfast tray was delivered 15 minutes later than we had asked for the next morning minus the full English cooked we had been anticipating. “A problem with the gas” was all we were told. We eventually discovered “a problem with the staff”!
If it had not been for the wonderful Paul’s helpfulness at all times we would surely have delivered a blistering complaint to the hotel. This 1911 building is situated in such a convenient place in London, with adequate free guest parking and as a member of the “Hand Picked Hotels” group should know better than to serve its public as it does.
