Tried & Tested

Serviced apartment check: 130 Queen's Gate by Maykenbel Properties

4 Sep 2014 by GrahamSmith

BACKGROUND

London serviced apartment provider Maykenbel operates 11 properties in Mayfair, Kensington and Belgravia. 130 Queen's Gate, its largest, opened in 2010 following a four-year renovation.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

Housed in a fine neoclassical-style building, 130 Queen's Gate features a big and bright lobby more akin to a hotel than an apartment property, with a huge multi-coloured abstract artwork filling much of one wall, armchairs for guests, and a 24-hour reception desk staffed by a friendly member of staff who greeted me warmly and was helpful throughout my stay.

130 Queen\\'s Gate bedroom

There are 50 apartments set across five floors, plus the lower ground level. The minimum stay is three nights in low season and a week at other times.

WHERE IS IT?

On Queen’s Gate, a short walk from both Gloucester Road and South Kensington tube stations.

APARTMENT FACILITIES

Apartments start from 30 sqm and are a mixture of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Standard facilities include flatscreen TVs, free wifi, desks, safes, iron/ironing boards, air conditioning and fully-fitted kitchens with tea, coffee, UHT milk, cereals and biscuits provided on arrival. Bathrooms have combined tubs and showers and luxury welcome amenities (Hermès or Bulgari).

I stayed in a one-bedroom deluxe apartment (40 to 60 sqm) on the third floor. It was decorated in a colour palette of mainly cream, neutral and brown, with a mixture of wooden and carpeted floors, and framed plant prints.

130 Queen\\'s Gate living room

The bedroom had a good-sized wardrobe and I had a peaceful night's sleep in the firm bed, which comprised two singles joined together. The suede headboards were visibly worn.

There was a nice balcony off the bedroom, overlooking the backs of the surrounding buildings, with a bistro table and two chairs – a pleasant spot for a drink on the summer’s evening I stayed.

The well-equipped kitchen had everything I needed to prepare my evening meal, with modern integrated appliances. The bathroom was clean and had a shower curtain over the bath.

The living room was spacious with a glass dining table for four in the corner, a coffee table, two brown armchairs and a sofa. I thought it would benefit from some refreshing – the sofa looked quite lived in, there were some marks on the wallpaper, the cables and sockets beneath the wall-mounted Panasonic TV were rather unsightly, and the clock had stopped. Some of the apartment’s windows also needed cleaning.

130 Queen\\'s Gate balcony

Apartments are cleaned daily except on Sundays, and bed linen is changed every second day. A laundry and dry cleaning service is available.

A continental breakfast (£12) and evening meals can be ordered for delivery from caterer Room Seasons. You can stipulate what time you’d like breakfast to be delivered to your room – I availed of this service and it arrived bang on time and was plentiful and good quality, including fresh bread, fruit, milk, muesli, croissant, jam, yogurt, tea and coffee.

OTHER FACILITIES

There is a small gym on the lower ground floor open from 6am to 11pm. On the same floor is a room that can be set up for meetings for ten delegates (used as storage when I visited). In-room spa treatments, private chefs and airport transfers can be arranged.

VERDICT

130 Queen’s Gate offers spacious living space and friendly service to those seeking longer-stay accommodation in the South Kensington area.


FACT FILE

  • PRICE Rates for a three-night stay in October started from £280 per night for a studio.
  • CONTACT 130 Queen’s Gate; tel +44 (0)20 3758 7255; maykenbel.com


Michelle Harbi
 

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