THE HOTEL: Owned by the Nine Group, this is the third UK hotel in the Radisson Red series after properties in Glasgow and London Heathrow. It’s located in Greenwich, a short walk from North Greenwich station on the DLR and five miles from London City Airport. The ultra-artsy and style-savvy 70-room hotel is decorated by splashes of red throughout, a theme which helps, I was told, “amplify the worlds of art, fashion and music” that the hotel draws inspiration from.
COVID STRATEGY: The hotel operates under the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol Programme, which has developed in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols in partnership with SGS, an inspection, testing and certification company that verifies health, hygiene and cleanliness standards in this Covid era.
THE CHECK-IN: The reception area sits in an industrial-styled lobby area that could best be described as ‘urban funky’. The area also has a huge ‘touch screen’ that allows you to search for local attractions. Two members of staff were very friendly and efficient, making helpful suggestions for nearby restaurants.
THE ROOM: My ‘superior’ room was modern, super-clean, sleek and clearly aimed at millennials (of both age and mind). The pattern of bold reds included an old-fashioned dial telephone and artwork (featuring a woman in a Vietnamese conical hat with bright-red lips) hanging above the bed. The king-size bed was plush and ultra-comfortable and spacious bathroom featured a rain-effect shower and RED-branded bathroom amenities. A 55-inch flat-screen Chromecast TV was built into the wall and there were useful bedside USB ports. Triple-glazed soundproofing kept noise from traffic heading to and from the Blackwell Tunnel down to a minimum. The room also featured a work desk, mini fridge and a tea and coffee station with a Nespresso machine.
THE BUSINESS: There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and also on-site parking. Although lacking specific meeting rooms, there are plenty of ‘social spaces’ throughout for ad hoc meetings.
THE FACILITIES: There’s a ‘grab and go’ cupboard in the reception area that offers items like sandwiches, croissants and other snacks, along with water, wine, deodorant, toothpastes, etc. There’s a large and stylish bar that looks like it has been lifted straight from Manhattan, with a good selection of craft beers and a barman keen to try out his cocktail making skills.
An all-day restaurant serves, among other things, a selection of pizzas, burgers, chicken wings and salads. A very generous breakfast was cooked to order. A ‘lounge area’, with big sofas, cushions and a pool table, leads into the restaurant itself. A large glass-covered rooftop Shisha lounge on the top floor offers drinks and snacks along with views across Greenwich, Canary Wharf and The O2. There’s also a small gym.
THE VERDICT: Bold and playful, this is a style-conscious hotel with attitude that offers a striking, stylish and ultra-relaxed alternative to other more staid London hotels. However, the innovative and eye-catching touches throughout manage to elevate – rather than dilute – the comfort levels. I left this this conveniently-located upscale hotel with more than just a good night’s sleep behind me: rather than merely offering an overnight pillow, this is a hotel that energises and challenges perceptions.
THE DETAILS: Radisson RED, London Greenwich 02, 228 Tunnel Avenue, London, SE10 0PL; Tel: (0) 208 054 1950; radissonhotels.com. Nightly rates start from around £120.
By Steve Hartridge
