THE HOTEL: Located in London’s Great Russell Street, this stylish hotel is right on top of Covent Garden, Soho and Oxford Street and with Tottenham Court Road station just a two-minute walk away, giving quick access to both Northern and Central tube lines and the new Elizabeth Line.
THE CHECK-IN: Entrance is to the side of the hotel on a pedestrian area and is reached by walking past the very Instagram-friendly Dalloway Terrace Restaurant. I am always struck by the ‘old-skool’ feel of this Luytens’ 1930s’ neo-Georgian building. A compact reception with two desks is on the left as you walk in.
I got a warm greeting and was asked if it was a first time visit so they could tailor the welcome and not repeat a lot of information to regular visitors. I’d been to the hotel before, so didn’t need the full welcome, but could hear the guests next to me get a nice overview of the bar and restaurant facilities and encouragement to seek help any time they needed advice both inside and outside the hotel.
My check-in was completed quickly and I was given the keys for my Deluxe Room. I’d taken the time to fill in a two-minute pre-arrival questionnaire and requested an early check-in. It’s something I would recommend, especially if you have any dietary requirements so hotel staff can remove things like nuts from the mini bar etc.
THE ROOM: I stayed in Deluxe Room no. 424, a more generous size than the Classic Room I had stayed in previously. It would definitely be my choice on business, if only to give a bit more space to work in (once I had moved the numerous little bits of printed guidance, including a cute handwritten welcome note, and the four bottles of complimentary still and sparkling water).
As you would expect for this nightly rate, my room came with fluffy slippers and bathrobes, high-end bed linen with a choice of pillows on a super comfortable king-sized bed, a current consumer magazine (Wallpaper), and tea and coffee making facilities, including a Nespresso Essenza coffee machine with plenty of supplies/cookies. A well-stocked mini-bar offered a good range of chilled soft and alcoholic drinks along with sweet and savoury snacks to purchase. Thanks to the nightly turndown service, I returned that evening to the additional treat of hand-made macaroons.
The bathroom came with some generous 50ml size Templespa products including an aromatic cleansing bar, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, calming skin balm and a Malin and Goetz shower cap. A rainforest shower was positioned over the bath, there was an endless supply of towels and the built-in demister on the large mirror is helpful.
THE FACILITIES: The hotel has 153 bedrooms, including 12 suites. My room rate also included a full breakfast, which was served in the hotel’s recently-refurbished breakfast space and included both buffet and à la carte options. I enjoyed fresh juices and cut fruit, pastries and freshly-cooked buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup and crispy bacon. It was pretty busy, so probably not ideal for a breakfast meeting.
There’s an in-house gym which I didn’t visit (of course!) and paid-for car parking can be found nearby on Great Russell Street, although I think it’s far easier to arrive via public transport. Open to both guests and visitors, dining options include Dalloway Terrace restaurant, The Coral Room cocktail lounge, a Grand Salon Bar, the intimate Bloomsbury Club Bar and The Juicery.
THE BUSINESS: There are seven meetings spaces with a maximum capacity of 320. Meetings rooms come with flat-panel displays, LCD projectors, high speed Wi-Fi all the usual bits you need and range from smaller to stately with two ballrooms including the George V, which is absolutely stunning. A choice of food and drinks options for meetings can be selected, depending on what you require.
THE VERDICT: This hotel is in a great location and is the perfect place for a road warrior to really unwind in style after a day of long meetings. Dalloway Terrace was already one of my favourite restaurants for a business lunch and this time I also had the pleasure of visiting The Coral Room in the evening, which is a stunning cocktail bar where you can really flex your corporate card and impress clients. Service was good throughout my visit and staff genuinely seemed to want to make sure every guest is well looked. I’ll be back, if only for another El Presidente cocktail in The Coral Room!
THE DETAILS: The Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3NN; doylecollection.com/bloomsbury; Deluxe King rooms start at £665 and Classic Queen rooms £475.
