INTRODUCTION

One day mid March an invitation to my boyfriends work ball arrived on our doormat. The ball was to held at the prestigious Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel, a world renowned luxurious Marriot hotel in the heart of London. Not far from Covent Garden, I was treating this beautiful hotel as a little weekend getaway. By means of an introduction I would say my feelings are mixed, and here are the reasons why.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BOOKING

Through the boyfriend’s work we could get a special rate to stay at the hotel, which was hugely appreciated. I instantly went to the website to book a room. However, upon visiting www.renaissancechancerycourt.co.uk I found that the code for a room would not work. Therefore we decided to pay a visit to the hotel itself. When we entered the hotel to book the staff were extremely helpful, but again we encountered problems. To book a room apparently you need a credit card, which is common in many major hotels. Sadly neither me or my partner own a credit card, meaning we could only get an unconfirmed room. This meant we would have to check in early, for if we were late they would not reserve the room for us. I did not have a problem with this, more the fact that the bookings manager was a little condescending when we told him we did not have a credit card. However, overlooking that the whole process of booking was extremely simple. With the offer we got an executive room including breakfast for £136.17 excluding VAT. This was an extremely good rate, as according to their website the normal price of an ’executive room’ if you just turn up is £314 excluding breakfast.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE SERVICE

On the day of the ball we arrived at the hotel by about three in the afternoon in order to get ready and relax before the evenings events. Upon entering the hotel the staff were extremely friendly and polite. Indeed, when checking in a porter carried our bags up to our room on the 3rd floor. All members of staff that we encountered that weekend were polite and courteous. The porter showed us the facilities our room had to offer and then left us to it.

Indeed, the service was second to none. A few weeks before arriving we had an email asking if we required anything special for our visit. I am allergic to feather pillows and duvets, so we requested none feather bedding. Upon checking in they confirmed this request, and made sure our room was feather free. I found this level of personal service extremely pleasing. This level of service continued at the ball, a moment I had been dreading. We had been asked by the hotel to specify if we had any dietary requirements, to which I replied that I ma lactose intolerant. Bearing in mind they were feeding 150 people I was extremely pleased to see that they had made amendments to my food, making it lactose free. I believe this to be exceptional service.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE ROOM

The hotel offers a range of 345 rooms, ranging from a deluxe room to the Lord Chancellor’s suite on two levels. As much as I would like to say I stayed in the Lord Chancellor’s suite…I didn’t! Instead we were in the mid range executive room. I have to say the room was a bit of a disappointment. We were promised luxury, and the room simply did not deliver. Upon entering using an electric key card, one card had to be inserted into a wall panel to switch on the lights. The room consisted of a large king-size bed, walk in wardrobe, dressing table, TV complete with Sony Playstation upon request and a writing desk. The room had huge double windows, which overlooked absolutely nothing. In fact, I believe it overlooked the back of Sainsbury’s metro. However, this being central London this did not particularly bother me. Facilities also included a hair dryer, dressing gowns and broadband internet access for a price. They also included free tea and coffee making facilities, plus an extremely expensive mini-bar (and by expensive I mean £1.75 for a KitKat!).

I would say however that the room looked tired. For a hotel asking the high price that it was for a room I would expect something more for my money. The carpet felt old and tired, and the flat sheet on the bed was ripped! If you were paying the full £300+ they asked for the room I would have been extremely disappointed. The bed however was very comfortable, and to say we were in central London the hotel was extremely quiet.

I am pleased to say the bathroom made up for the disappointment of the room! The bathroom was marble and included a large walk in shower and very large bath. The bathroom was stocked with ’The White Company’ toiletries which was a pleasant surprise! I was also impressed with the surround sound they had in the bathroom. This meant I could leave the Andy Murray match on the TV in the bedroom and still hear the commentary in the bathroom. The bathroom really was the height of relaxation.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OTHER FACILITIES

The Chancery Court also offers a selection of restaurants including the Pearl Bar and Grand Ballroom, plus a spa club. Breakfast is served in the Pearl Bar in the mornings, which is an odd experience. Because the hotel is so big to get to the Pearl Bar you have to go outside and cross the courtyard to simply get a breakfast. This seems a little extreme, particularly when it is raining! The bar is very impressive, if more a setting for an evening meal than breakfast. They offer waiter service for drinks at breakfast, but the breakfast is self service. You are seated by a waitress and you go and help yourself. However, the seats in the pearl Bar are extremely low, which makes eating extremely difficult as you are almost bend double.

The breakfast itself, if you were paying, was charged at £24.99 per person. I found this price extremely high for what you actually got. In all honesty I was disappointed by the breakfast, as all I got was a sausage, some bacon and some scrambled eggs. The food was cold and not pleasant at all. I was surprised seen as the food the night before had been so nice!

Indeed, the evening meal was served in the Grand Ballroom, the most amazing of settings. The service was second to none, with silver service being the order of the day. Three courses were served, in my case three different courses to everyone else. Our main course was lamb which was brilliantly cooked. I can only say if this was the level of cooking through out the hotel I would have been significantly happier.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE AREA

The main appealing feature of this hotel is its location within the very heart of London. It is a 2 minute walk from Holborn station which is on the Piccadilly line. It is a five minute walk from Covent Garden, and the excitement of the West End. Overall this is an ideally placed hotel, surprisingly quiet for its location.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CONCLUSIONS

Overall I was happy with this trip. There were aspects I thought could have been better, such as the room, and the ability to book using a Maestro card rather than a credit card. Disregarding that the service was exceptional and the hotel was very impressive. The public areas, the reception in particular, are very impressive, it is just a shame that this level of detail had not been carried on into the rooms.

I can not comment on whether this would be a family friendly hotel. All floors are accessible by lift and therefore reachable using a buggy, but roomwise I can not comment. According to their extremely detailed website they provide cots for children, and can even arrange a babysitter is one is required.

I would say that the room was well worth the £136.17, but I would struggle to justify paying over £300 for a room which had many faults. If you are after a central hotel which provides excellent service this is definitely the hotel for you, but if you are after something more reasonably priced there are many more hotels in the area which are equally as good and significantly cheaper!

Additional Information
Renaissance® Chancery Court London
252 High Holborn London, WC1V 7EN United Kingdom
Phone: 44 207 829 9888
Fax : 44 207 829 9889
Sales: 44 20 7829 7076 ext. 7076