What’s it like? The Crowne Plaza is well established as one of Heathrow’s best-known airport hotels, built in 1973. Business Traveller stayed here at the beginning of last year but decided to revisit it as the hotel has just undergone a £1.5 million refurbishment of its public areas, including the lobby, reception, bar and restaurant. The difference is marked. While the outside of the building has never been very prepossessing, the reception and lobby are now bright, clean, white stone, with an extra check-in desk, a guest relations desk and the very stylish Orwell’s Bar and seating area on the left.
Where is it? On Stockley Road, just off the Bath Road. If you come out of the Underground exit for T1,2,3, go up the escalators to the main bus station and follow the signs for hotel buses. Cross over the road to T2 and the Heathrow Hoppa leaves from stand 12 (H1 for the Crowne Plaza). It costs £4 and stops at the Holiday Inn and the Novotel before the Crowne Plaza, taking around 10 minutes. A taxi costs £9 one way.
How many rooms? 460 (two more standard rooms were added on the second and third floor during the refurbishment). There are three suites and 80 Club rooms.
Room facilties All rooms have simple clean décor with tea and coffee-making facilities, double-glazed windows, hairdryer, trouser press, air-conditioning and safe. There is internet access via the TV, and wifi charged at £7.99 an hour or £14.99 for 24 hours. Club rooms have access to the 24-hour Club Lounge on the fourth floor, which serves breakfast, canapés and cocktails in the evening, and also has a separate seating area with magazines, books and a large TV. The lounge is popular and every time I walked past it was busy. Club room guests are allowed to entertain one guest in the lounge and can also check out there after their complimentary breakfast. I found my room comfortable, though I could hear the engines of the planes whirring as they got ready for take off. However, I watched TV and dropped off to sleep easily. The bathrooms have White Company toiletries and a power shower in the bath.
Restaurants and bars The hotel has plenty of food and beverage options. For drinks there is an Irish bar, Dr O’Driscolls, in the lobby, but the refurbishment has produced a much more stylish option. Orwell’s Bar has slick furnishings and a separate area with comfy sofas and leather chairs, and is just as popular for business meetings as for a late-night drink. It serves cocktails and is open 24 hours for hotel guests. Opposite is the superb new Orwell’s Brasserie, which can serve 180 covers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had dinner here, and was shown to a single table on a sofa facing inwards, which I appreciated, being a solo diner. There were various groups of people already eating at 7pm and the open kitchen had a nice buzz to it, with the head chef directing the immaculate staff. The menu is seasonal and offers a wide range of international cuisine. To start I chose scallops wrapped in pancetta with wilted spinach and red pepper dressing (£8.95), which were piping hot and cooked tenderly. The waiter recommended a Sauvignon Blanc to go with my coconut and red chilli monkfish, king prawns, new potatoes and pak choi (£16.50). The fish was very meaty and tender, and the portion was generous, so I had no room for dessert. The service was very good and the wine list has 16 whites, 14 reds and four champagnes to choose from. The hotel also has the Simply Nico fine-dining restaurant open for dinner and there is 24-hour room service.
Business and meeting facilities The business centre is on the right as you enter the hotel and is open 24 hours (Monday-Friday). Wifi access is available for the same prices as in the rooms. The conference area is spread over the ground and first floors, and has new carpets. There are 25 meeting rooms (only two without natural light) ranging from a boardroom for 10 to a conference room with a capacity for 200.
Leisure facilities The hotel has a large fitness centre, which includes a 16-metre pool and whirlpool. There is also a sauna, steam, solarium and treatment room.
Verdict Perfect for an early start out of Heathrow. I woke up and jumped on the Heathrow Hoppa back to the airport and was checking in 20 minutes later. The new restaurant was very impressive and a long way from the old notions of hotel dining. It felt cosy and comfortable, and the food and service were superb. Now that the public areas have been refurbished, perhaps the next thing to look at are the guest rooms, which look a little dated in comparison.
Price Fully flexible rates for a midweek stay in November start at £210 for a Standard room with breakfast.
Contact Crowne Plaza Heathrow, Stockley Road, West Drayton; tel +44 (0)870 400 9140; ichotelsgroup.com.
Felicity Cousins
