Tried & Tested

Hotel check: Myhotel Bloomsbury

3 Dec 2013 by Tom Otley
WHAT'S IT LIKE? Very different from the normal run-of-the-mill central London hotel, Myhotel Bloomsbury is designed along the principles of feng shui. Andy Thrasyvoulou, the CEO & Founder of Myhotels group, is a feng shui enthusiast who practises under expert William Spear. This Bloomsbury property manages to combine personal friendliness in the service with eclectic design and was the first of the three Myhotels (also in Chelsea, London and Brighton). Myhotel Bloomsbury reception Reception: Myhotel Bloomsbury is designed along the principles of feng shui I was at the launch party of this hotel in 1999 - although this is the first time I have stayed here – and at the time the idea of having a London hotel referencing feng shui was risible. This is less the case today, although I suspect there is still a sizeable proportion of guests who know little about it and care even less. What they will notice is a design both comfortable and comforting, with attractive colours and a jumble of furniture in the public areas which seems to work. Nevertheless, the hotel which was designed by Conran & Partners is very quirky. Reception sits in the middle of the Gail's cafe and shop, so to one side you have a view of all the various pastries through an internal window behind reception, while to the other side past some comfortable seats you have the Gail's restaurant area where breakfast is served. It shouldn't work, but it does, because the liveliness and openness of the room is welcoming without you looking out of place checking-in with a bag. Myhotel Bloomsbury Gail\\\\\\\\\\'s Kitchen Gail's Kitchen: Reception sits in the middle of this cafe/restaurant The staff offered to show me to my room, and offered a tour of its features (I passed on that). WHERE IS IT? Just off Tottenham Court Road, about halfway between that street's namesake underground station and Goodge Street tube station. It is convenient for the West End and but, being almost in Bedford Square, is actually quite quiet. ROOM FACILITIES Each of the 78 rooms has air-conditioning with flatscreen TV, CD player, tea and coffee facilities (Cadbury's hot chocolate and loose leaf teas), hair dryer, a complimentary daily newspaper and magazines in the room, including Time Out. In addition, Rituals toiletries are provided in each of the guestrooms and wifi is complimentary. Myhotel Bloomsbury suite A suite, which comes with an Apple Mac computer Myhotel Bloomsbury superior double A superior double room. Each bedroom is individually furnished The feng shui is demonstrated through an "east meets west" theme, each room individually furnished with both modern items and items which look as though they have come from local auction houses. The hotel is a conversion, so some of the rooms have high ceilings and there are many different layouts. A nice touch was having plenty of places to hang towels and also a Waterpebble (waterpebble.com) in the bathroom to encourage water conservation and Anyah eco-friendly toiletries. My suite had an Apple Mac computer. RESTAURANT AND BAR The hotel's cafe/restaurant is Gail's Kitchen (gailskitchen.co.uk) from the Gail's Artisan bakery brand (gailsbread.co.uk), the same group running the bakery to one side of the hotel. Drinks are available from the bar of the restaurant. I didn't eat there in the evening, only having the continental breakfast which is included in the room price. This was a small bowl of healthy yoghurt and berries and nuts (delicious), a few pastries, and tea and coffee – fine for starting the day. BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The hotel has an arrangement with Central Working which has three small meeting spaces for between four and eight people and is booked through a third-party website. LEISURE FACILITIES There is the Jinja treatment suite offering spa treatments. The hotel does not have a fitness centre, but has an arrangement with the nearby Oasis leisure centre. VERDICT A real change from most hotels, good for individual travellers who want to feel like they are experiencing something of the real London – and also for those who like great pastries literally on their doorstep. FACT FILE
  • HOW MANY ROOMS? 78, including standard singles, doubles, superior doubles and suites
  • HIGHLIGHTS Free wifi, individual furnishings
  • PRICE internet rates for a midweek stay start from £200 for a standard double, including taxes
  • CONTACT 11-13 Bayley Street, Bedford Square, London, myhotels.com
Tom Otley
 
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