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REALITY CHECK HOTEL HILTON LONDON TOWER BRIDGE
THE HOTEL: Located on More London Place, minutes from the revived London Bridge area, the river, HMS Belfast and offices of Ernst & Young, PwC, and the like. THE CHECK-IN: Prompt service when I checked in at 4.30pm, although only one of the two adjoining rooms was ready. The reception is in the contemporary open-plan lobby area. It’s decorated with masculine grey, cream and red fixtures and furnishings that permeate the entire property and make the most of what is a long thin space open on one side with floor to ceiling glass. THE ROOM: I was in a spacious 9th floor executive club room, with large flatscreen TV, desk with desktop-level points, high- speed wireless internet, well-stocked minibar, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, tea and coffee-making facilities, safe and easy chair. The colour palette echoed the lobby, in greys, reds and blacks. The bathroom had a good power shower and Peter Thomas Roth toiletries. The club lounge is on the same level. THE BUSINESS: The high-ceilinged Tower Suite on the first floor is the hotel’s largest meeting room, with natural daylight and space for up to 400 delegates theatre-style or 270 for dinner. Nine other meeting rooms cater for smaller meetings, from 10-70.
Informal meetings can be held in the executive lounge. The 24-hour delegate rate starts from £200 per night. THE FACILITIES: The executive club is a comfortable area offering free wifi access, secretarial services and snacks throughout the day. An outside terrace makes the most of the area, dominated by the Shard. There is all-day dining on the ground floor in Larder for British & European cuisine, Takara for sushi and the Ruba bar. A third floor fitness centre is open 24/7 that features cardio resistance equipment and free weights.
THE VERDICT: This is a well located hotel that offers the right business facilities and generally good service. I experienced some mis-information from reception regarding the closest swimming pool to use in the area while, irritatingly, the bedrooms have nowhere to plug in a hairdryer near a mirror! THE DETAILS: Hilton London Tower Bridge, 5 More London Place, Tooley Street, London SE1 2BY. Prices start from £155 per room per night including VAT. Tel: 0203 002 4300; See:
www.towerbridge.hilton.com. GILLIAN UPTON
SERVICED APARTMENT DEEP BLUE'S GROVE HOUSE, EALING
THE BACKGROUND: Deep Blue Apartments operates a number of locations across London and the South as well as offering a network of other providers across the country. I was staying at Grove House in West London. THE CHECK-IN: This small, modern block of apartments is located a short walk from Ealing Broadway station, on a quiet residential street. I was sent an email the day before arrival with the address and access codes for both the main door and my apartment for the night – no keys. A phone number was also supplied in case of difficulties checking in, together with a code for accessing wifi. THE APARTMENT: The two-bedroom, ground floor apartment was smartly kitted out and notable for striking modern art prints and bright or unusual ornaments that lent it a distinct identity. There was dark laminate flooring throughout and access to a patio and communal garden via the spacious kitchen and lounge area. The bedrooms comprised a small single room and a double with ensuite bathroom, huge wardrobe, TV, crisp white linen and bright cushions and throws. The main bathroom was akin to something you'd expect in a boutique hotel, a slick outfit with a deep bath, overhead shower and White Company amenities.
The kitchen/lounge area had a dining table and seating for six, fridge-freezer, microwave, toaster, kettle, gas hobs, dishwasher, washing machines, lamps, sofa, arm chair and coffee table. Other facilities included iron and ironing board, drying rack, vacuum cleaner, Freeview TV and DVD player, iPod dock and CreditCall phone. A folder contained manuals for various devices plus local information on banks and supermarkets – a map would have been useful. A pre-ordered grocery pack (courtesy of Deep Blue's new 'Flying Butler' service) included basics such as milk, tea, coffee etc, plus extras such as wine, croissants, bacon and eggs.
THE VERDICT: Grove House is perfectly equipped for long-stay corporate users and has more of an identity than many apartments in the market. Proximity to Ealing Broadway, with connections to the Underground and mainline services, is a good selling point. THE DETAILS: Deep Blue Apartments, Grove House, The Grove, Ealing, London, W5 5LH. The standard weekly rates for a two bedroom apartment is £1,323 (£189 per night), which drops for stays of 30 to 90 nights and again for stays in excess of 90 nights. Tel: 0370 7700778;
www.deepblue-apartments.com. ANDY HOSKINS
THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 103
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