*****UPDATE: Since this review was published, the hotel has rebranded and is no longer part of the Accor portfolio. The property is now known simply as Victory House Hotel, and its website can be found at victoryhouselondon.com*****
Background
Accorhotels brand MGallery by Sofitel (originally just MGallery) has 91 properties worldwide, and is “a unique Collection of high-end hotels all around the world chosen for their distinct personality and characteristics. They all have a unique personality and story, experienced by guests through its architecture, interior design and services.”
When this one opened in 2017, it was the first London MGallery and the fifth in the UK (this may now be out of date).
Criterion Capital owns many of the buildings in Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, and Victory House has the same management as that of two other new hotels in Leicester Square, which, interestingly, are under different brands. These are the Indigo Leicester Square, of which more, in a moment, and Assembly
What’s it like?
The building is beautiful, in the early French Renaissance style built of buff and cream-coloured terracotta. The interior design is by architects Michaelis Boyd. The reception desk is at the end of a room, almost a corridor, with the hotel’s small restaurant to the right and some banquette seating to the left.
Since there will probably be some guests milling around here it can be quite difficult to work out who is a hotel employee and who isn’t, especially since not all of them are wearing suits, but everyone is friendly, and as there is little to explain about the hotel since there are few facilities, check-in doesn’t take long.
Having stayed in its sister hotel (in terms of ownership and also location) a few months before, I thought, by comparison the Indigo was more stylish, although this isn’t a criticism of this MGallery, just an observation. The Indigo wasn’t perfect – what hotel is? But both hotels (and indeed Assembly) are worth staying at to see which best suits you.
You can read a review here
Where is it?
On the north side of Leicester Square. The entrance to the hotel is on Leicester Place, opposite the more easily found Premier Inn. It is well served by underground stations, especially those of the Piccadilly Line, which of course takes you down to Heathrow within an hour.
Rooms
The 86 rooms which are on six floors (including the ground floor) have several different categories, from single rooms (classic) measuring from 16 sqm up to three one bedroom Executive Suites, six Deluxe Suites, 13 deluxe bedrooms and 58 classic doubles. There are also six accessible rooms.
The views are out either to Leicester Street, Leicester Square, or over roofs to the two other sides. My room was overlooking Leicester Square on the sixth floor, and came with a pair of ear plugs on the bedside table, which is a thoughtful touch, although because this was January there wasn’t much late-night noise there and I didn’t need them.
Having stayed in the Indigo on a late Autumn evening when it was still warm, unless the sound proofing is exceptional, then it is probably a good thing for light sleepers.
All rooms have showers (no baths) and have rectangular tiled shower stalls, robes, Bigelow toiletries and quality fluffy towels., and full-length mirrors outside the bathroom.
All rooms also have complimentary wifi, tea and coffee making (the suites have coffee pod machines) and in design terms they are quite neutral without overt references to the cinema and theatreland apart from black and white photos on the walls of early cinema (like the Indigo Leicester Square) and the open clothes rail for clothes (no wardrobes), and, perhaps, some of the design decisions in the rooms such as wood, brass and some velvet touches. Some of the rooms have window benches.
Note that on the way to the rooms the corridors are quite dark, not helped by the fact that there are motion sensors, so until you start walking the lights are only dimmed, though there are faint lights from behind circular wall lights.
Food and drink
The hotel’s restaurant – Le Petit Bistro – is a small space on the ground floor, with a few tables including high ones and then in the summer a terrace which is screened off from the rest of Leicester Square – or Leicester Place in fact – by some window boxes.
At the time of my stay it was only open for breakfast, which had to be booked, and offered a continental and small selection of cooked breakfast.
Meeting facilities
None
Leisure facilities
None, but the hotel can arrange the use of Gymbox nearby.
Verdict
If this weren’t a member of Accorhotels it would be a secret you might want to keep to yourself. The hotel doesn’t have much in the way of facilities beyond its comfortable rooms, but it’s a good choice for staying in (very) Central London, and the staff are friendly on the few occasions you encounter them.
FACT FILE
- Best for A great location and a boutique hotel in a hard to beat location
- Don’t miss Having a room overlooking Leicester Square. It may be noisy, but it’s worth it.
- Contact Victory House, MGallery by Sofitel, London Leicester Square, 14 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7BZ; tel +44 203 909 4100; accorhotels.com
