WHAT’S IT LIKE? This Grade II listed building, in the heart of EC4, boasts a rich history dating back to Henry VIII, but inside it’s modern and comfortable, thanks to ongoing investment from the Galadari family which has secured its position at the top end of Crowne Plaza’s global portfolio.
The main entrance is actually on a quiet side-street, which is a bonus for any bag-laden or city-weary travellers, although the hotel can also be accessed directly from the busy main road (New Bridge Street).
Business tends to alternate between corporate in the week and leisure at weekends. New Shangri-La and Jumeirah hotels coming up nearby will provide increased competition – with that in mind, more changes are planned to the lobby in December, along with the introduction of a humidor cigar lounge and futuristic LED lighting.
The hotel is five minutes from St. Paul’s Cathedral and around a 20-minute walk from the Strand and Covent Garden. Directly across the road is Blackfriars rail station, which is being rebuilt to include a new station entrance on Bankside and handle longer 12-carriage trains from December (it will be the first station to span the Thames).
Despite all the surrounding construction, the rail station is now open although Blackfriars underground station remains closed until late 2011. A new common entrance hall on the north bank will give better connections to the Tube.
THE ROOM I was booked into a fifth floor corner room which had a swivel 49-channel LCD TV (you can bundle in worldwide TV and high-speed internet for £30), desk with leather chair, two chairs, Sony stereo, minibar, tea/coffee facilities, hairdryer, cupboard and bathroom with shower, illuminated mirror and toilet. Access to the internet (complimentary for deluxe guests) was swift, as were connection speeds.
Curiously there was no ceiling light but three lamps (one freestanding) which seemed a bit gratuitous, and the one downside was the room directly looked out onto an office block, but it was all quiet and comfortable – I tried the ‘Sleep Advantage’ drops on the pillow which seemed to do the trick. Room categories include standard (first two floors), deluxe and club and there are three signature suites on the 7th floor. Black and white photos of the city adorn the corridors, cementing the hotel’s local identity.
RESTAURANTS & BARS F&B options include The Chinese Cricket Club and Refettorio (Italian) on the upper ground floor, Nineteen bar (lower ground) and sixth floor Club Lounge, which offers hot and cold beverages and snacks. The Chinese restaurant hosted the buffet breakfast which offered comprehensive cereals, juices and cooked breakfast, as well as a large pot of coffee. I decided to order room service on the first evening, the Singapore Noodles portion was generous. The lift showed the Lobby Café menu, which was a bit different – the Smithfield Classic Burger (£8) looked the best value, thereafter prices escalated.
The Club Lounge offers a striking city panorama, dominated by St. Paul’s in the foreground, and you can just make out Canary Wharf in the distance and the nearly-topped-out Shard (which will house the Shangri-La hotel) to the right. It had a coffee drinks machine and chilled beers underneath, along with a selection of teas, cookies and fruit. The early evening fare was a bit disappointing with small canapés, onion bhajis and small sausages. The continental breakfast is complimentary for club floor guests.
BUSINESS FACILITIES Four rooms are available, which you access via large steps leading down beyond reception, which can accommodate between 10 and 160 people. A wide range of support services are on hand, such as 35mm slide projector, LCD and digital projectors.
LEISURE FACILITIES The gym in basement 2 is large enough for a good work-out with treadmills and rower.
VERDICT Comfortable business-focused hotel set in central location with small but wholesome F&B offering.
FACT FILE
HOW MANY ROOMS? 203 divided into Standard, Deluxe and Club
ROOM HIGHLIGHTS Fast internet, comfortable bed, wide range of TV channels
PRICE Start from around £268 for a deluxe room in October
CONTACT 19 New Bridge Street, London. EC4V 6DB. Tel +44 871 942 9190 ichotelsgroup.com
Dominic Ellis
