Tag: London Hotel Scene
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London's St. Pancras Renaissance Gets Another Cringe-Worthy Review
File this story under "Ouch": London's much vaunted and hyped St. Pancras Renaissance has received a less than stellar review by The Telegraph, whose reviewer describes rooms in the sprawling property as "bland" and "overpriced," with "lacklustre service" to match.
Among writer Fiona Duncan's main gripes: loud street traffic, curiously absent employees to answer questions, non-functioning internet, and no business centre for guests' use.
The first complaint comes as no surprise to those of us on the ground in London; anyone that's emerged above ground from King's Cross International Station, site of the Eurorail link and a major tube station, can attest to the constant swarm of travelers, buses, and horn honking taxi drivers around the area and the headache-inducing cacophony they produce.
Additionally, the noise complaint was brought up just after opening by The Daily Mail who mentioned that the "room shakes gently" when a train pulls out of the station. The non-functioning internet is new, however, and such a shame as it costs £6 an hour or £15 pounds for 24-hour access. Ugh.
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Get That NEC Projector You've Been Looking For at The Howard's Cleanout Auction
Yes, folks, this NEC NP600SG projector could be yours.
Everything—and we do mean everything must go at London's Swissôtel The Howard, which is set to auction off its entire contents on October 25th and 26th. We're talking luxe bedroom furniture, kitchen equipment, and even miscellany from the housekeeping department (old push carts? Used feather dusters?): from lobby to top floor, all from the sister hotel to The Savoy has gotta move, move, move.
London Hotels / London Hotel Scene / 2012 Olympics Hotels / Olympics Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel News Briefs / Sports Hotels / → All Tags
As If We Needed to Tell You: Book Your 2012 Olympics Hotel NOW
It doesn't look like much now, but the Olympics Stadium site in Stratford, London will transform East London…and cause hotel rates to skyrocket
File this story under "O" for "obviously": per a recent report from Travelio.net, those trekking to London for next summer's Olympic games should aim to book their hotel rooms, like, now.
A Hotels.com review of how sporting events effect accommodation prices revealed that, in the case of the recent Rugby World Cup, room rates rose around 29% in Wellington and 11% in Auckland. Over the summer, the Wimbledon tennis tournament saw London rates jump 3% with the city at full occupancy during this time. With the world's biggest sports happening soon coming to Londontown, travelers are being told to expect prices reaching "you've got to be kidding me" heights—up to 50% more than the average in some cases.
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Après-Ski in the Heart of London, Minus the Whole Skiing Bit
Us Hotel Chatter-ers on the ground in London were recently unnerved at the site of boxed minced pies in our local Marks & Spencer. Holiday season: it has begun. Shudder.
Local hotels are gearing up in kind, crafting robust packages to spread a little Christmas cheer to their winter patrons (and cheer to those handling the profit-raking side of things). The Montague on the Gardens has gone over the top in conceiving of yule tide offerings, cobbling together a—wait for it—"magical winter wonderland" on their Wood Deck. And yes, there will be reindeer.
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Fancy a Whodunnit? Try Out a Murder Mystery Evening at The Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes
Baker Street, London: Where you'll find The Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes and a Taste of Detective Drama
If you're anything like us, hearing the phrase "Murder Mystery Night" conjures up images of hokey "whodunnit?" performance pieces and a certain so-bad-it's-good episode of Saved by the Bell. (Yeah, you know the one.) Still, there's something appealing about the over the top kitch of these faux felony evenings, which promise fun and a hearty laugh if nothing else.
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The Milestone London's 'Sleep Sound' Package Needs Some Work
So, your hotel room is decked out with Frette linens, a mattress so soft that even the heroine of The Princess and the Pea would find it suitable, and is bathed in soft lighting for the ultimate sleep-friendly ambiance. Just say, "Aaah"? Not if you're a hard core insomniac. For the perpetually sleep-deprived, these fluffy touches are all for nought.
Those who toss, turn, and find themselves waking in the wee hours of the morning often find time away from home more anxiety inducing than soothing on the circadian rhythms.
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Where to Spy the Fashion Set in London's East End
The stylish environs of Bethnal Green Town Hall and Apartments. Model and designer-approved.
Scrolling through the list of suggested hotels on London Fashion Week's official website reveals nothing but one West End address after another. Sure, these ritzy locales are close to the action of Somerset House and attract their fair share of designers and catwalking waifs, but the fashion set doesn't solely congregate in Knightsbridge and May Fair.
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Nosh on Tom Ford at The Berkeley Hotel's Prêt-à-Portea
As Fashion Week migrates from New York to London, Team Hotel Chatter thought it an appropriate time to sample The Berkeley Hotel's kitschy, but undeniably cute, Prêt-à-Portea. The sartorially themed tea is inspired by major designers from London and beyond, with attempts made to capture their aesthetic in the form of twee cookies and cakes.
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London Hotels Can't Get No Guest Satisfaction
Surly, not sweet: London hotels slammed by a recent customer satisfaction report
The oft uttered stereotype that Brits lack grace in the service department was recently reinforced by a report compiled by Trivago, a hotel price comparison website. Measured against 1,000 cities and towns throughout Europe, London ranked dead last by way of reputation amongst travelers, followed closely behind by Birmingham.
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The Andaz London's £70 Seafood Workshops Are a 'Catch'
The interior of the Andaz Hotel London
Visitors to London with a taste for langoustines and other ocean fare will do well to take advantage of the Andaz hotel's October series of seafood workshops, put on in conjunction with the London Restaurant Festival. Per London Hotel insight, Martin Scholz, Head Chef of the Andaz' Catch restaurant, will teach participants "how to spot a good catch, how to shop and eat sustainably and how to make the most out of their favourite seafood."
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Forgo Pub Fare in Favor of These London Hotel Brunches
The Hoxton Grill
This week, HotelChatter is paying special attention to London. The city of grey and rain is gearing up for yet another Fashion Week and impending royal nuptials, along with continued preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games, so our lady on the ground, Heidi Atwal, is guiding us through some of her favorite places.
The UK prides itself on traditional Sunday roasts, not champagne brunches as we're accustomed to Stateside. Stellar eggs benedict and fluffy pancakes (be aware that "flapjack" refers to something else entirely across the pond) are ever elusive menu items, especially among hotel restaurants. In a city where midday weekend meals start off with a pint rather than a mimosa, we've managed to track down three hotel outfits that do brunch particularly well. Read on for our suggestions.
London Hotels / Fashion Week Hotels / London Hotel Scene / Hotel Packages / Fashion Hotels / → All Tags
Models and Mortals Will Rub Shoulders at the May Fair From Tomorrow
This week, HotelChatter is paying special attention to London. The city of grey and rain is gearing up for yet another Fashion Week and impending royal nuptials, along with continued preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games, so our lady on the ground, Heidi Atwal, is guiding us through some of her favorite places.
