6/10 Good
23 March 2023
5% “service charge” on entire bill is outrageous.
This hotel is a mixed bag. On one hand it is a beautifully restored old town hall, making it a unique experience. The rooms (we booked an Executive Suite) were spotless and very spacious, with a well-stocked bathroom and kitchen facilities. On the other hand, some areas they fell way short of their star rating. We were asked to pay an additional 5% “service charge” that I spotted in the small print when asked to sign a check-in agreement. So this hotel expected a £50 “tip” for doing absolutely nothing over what I already paid an substantial amount for… Seriously? Naturally I asked it to be removed, and the check in staff seem somewhat upset that I did so, and that just irritated me. They then insisted on payment even though the room was fully pre-paid, and this took more time to explain. The whole check-in experience was a long-winded time-consuming farce that left me annoyed. The cleaning of the rooms is quite lax here, on one day we returned at 5:30pm and the room still wasn’t cleaned…. Maybe if I pad the 5% “tip” I’d get that 5-star service they promise, who knows. Also, annoyingly, the aircon/ventilation was turned off in our room and while we could open windows, the outside noise level meant you couldn’t leave them open all night…. I would expect a 5 start hotel to turn on the climate controls for a room they call an “executive suite”. The location is good for access to the Central Line at Bethnal Green Underground.
Verified traveller
3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
