Reality Check ➔ HOTEL CHARING CROSS HOTEL, LONDON
THE HOTEL: The four-star Charing Cross hotel is located on The Strand, London, close to Trafalgar Square, and is one of four Guoman Hotels in the capital. Built in 1865, the imposing Grade II listed building is located directly above Charing Cross station. THE CHECK-IN: The hotel entrance was well marked amid the hustle and bustle of the station forecourt. Four people were ahead of me in the check-in queue in the relatively small and low-lit lobby area. A second member of staff was eventually deployed to speed things up. Candles lined the corridors and grand, sweeping staircase, making for a sophisticated evening atmosphere. THE ROOM: A walkway over Villiers Street takes guests to the Buckingham Wing which re-opens this March as the Executive Wing after a £2.2million upgrade. Upon completion it will have its own check-in area and, hopefully, a new lift to replace the slow, wheezing incumbent facility. The new-look room had brand new furnishings and facilities, with shades of purple, grey and white dominating, plus a selection of framed black and white London-themed photographs and dark furniture – the overall effect was smart and stylish and much to my liking. Besides a huge bed and numerous pillows, there was a
small sofa, lounge chair, coffee table, kettle and fridge, flatscreen TV, iron and ironing board, desk and wardrobe, plus a fairly plain bathroom with heated floor. Views were towards Embankment and the River Thames. THE BUSINESS: There's BT Openzone wifi throughout (paid for), a concierge service, a Guoman Club Lounge on the ground floor and nine meeting rooms. The grand Betjeman Suite is the largest, with sculpted ceilings and chandeliers, and capacity for up to 150 guests. THE RESTAURANT: The Terrace on the Strand restaurant features an original Victorian inlaid mosaic floor and has an AA Rosette to
its name. Its menu is very much international and views are over The Strand and Trafalgar Square. There's also The Strand Lounge for afternoon tea and the Strand Bar. THE VERDICT: The guest rooms in the new- look Executive Wing are a great addition, bringing this grand, old railway hotel bang up to date without stamping all over its elegant Victorian design and architectural features. THE DETAILS: The Charing Cross Hotel, The Strand, London, WC2N 5HX. Tel: 0871 376 9012; Executive Rooms are from £195.
www.guoman.com/charingcross. ANDY HOSKINS
➔ HOTEL DOWN HALL COUNTRY HOUSE, HERTS
THE HOTEL: Surrounded by 100 acres of land on the Herts/Essex border, the 99-bed Down Hall is close to Jct 7 of the M11, 15 minutes from Stansted Airport and 45 minutes from the City of London. Great location coupled with an impressive building, a 16th century mansion, with the same owners for the last 25 years. THE CHECK-IN: Fast and easy, but I was concerned reading on a board at reception that both a charity ball and birthday celebration were taking place that night. My room on the ground floor was only a short walk away. THE ROOM: A spacious Studio room in the modern West Wing with tall ceilings, grand drapes and views over the grounds. Traditional country house hotel décor with co-ordinated prints and patterns on the soft furnishings and dark wood furniture. Modern touches included the flatscreen TV, free wireless, laptop-size safe, iron and ironing board, and tea and coffee- making facilities. The bed was the pull-down variety as this room doubled as a boardroom/ syndicate room. Nice marble bathroom with bidet and double sinks but no separate shower. THE BUSINESS: Some 26 meeting rooms, spread over the ground and first floor, the grandest being the four in the main building which take between 15-120 people, including the impressive Harley and Prior rooms.
THE RESTAURANT: Sixty cover, contemporary eatery, the Grill Room, in the main building offers a good range of modern English staples at reasonable prices, including rib eye steak, fish, chicken, pasta and innovative desserts. THE FACILITIES: Ornate public areas, two-and- four-poster beds in feature rooms, and classic leisure pursuits such as tennis, snooker and croquet amid the extensive acreage. Inside there’s a cocktail bar, swimming pool, sauna and whirlpool. Team-building activities on offer include quad-biking, clay pigeon shooting, archery and It’s a Knockout style games.
THE VERDICT: Down Hall is an efficiently-run hotel and conference centre. Young, friendly staff make up for a few shortcomings in the fabric of the place, chiefly the classic chintzy deco and dated pool area. Choose carefully as only A/C in the West Wing rooms. THE DETAILS: Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, Nr Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM22 7AS. Tel: 01279 731 441;
info@downhall.co.uk;
www.downhall.co.uk. Standard doubles from £114, executive rooms £205 and feature room from £170 including breakfast and VAT. GILLIAN UPTON
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