Reality Check: We give an

DEPARTURES Reality check

THE HOTEL A former Victorian stable block, this 246-room hotel opened in Quaker Street, Shoreditch, in summer 2021. It’s one of 14 hub by Premier properties, a brand which launched in 2014 and promises cleverly-designed compact rooms in city centres with “everything you'd expect from a Premier Inn room in about half the space”.

THE CHECK-IN I arrived late and my cab driver had a bit of trouble finding the place. I guess it’s still fairly new. I was greeted by two friendly gents at the small reception desk, behind Covid screens. There are self check-in kiosks too. A few people were still milling about in the open-plan lobby/bar/ restaurant/lounge. I made myself a cuppa (24-hour free tea and coffee) and took the lift to my second floor room.

THE ROOM The hotel has a mix of Standard and Bigger hub rooms. I had a Bigger room, which is slightly more spacious and has a king-size bed rather than a double. As promised, the room design was very clever. I could store my luggage in a compartment under the bed, plug sockets were above the pullout desk (no scrambling), the 40” smart TV was simple to operate and, best of all, from a simple bedside touchscreen panel I could set the lights to full, partly dimmed, dimmed, or off, press a ‘do not disturb’ sign and even control the room temperature. If you lie still for long enough, lights turn off to conserve energy and if you wave your hand they’ll come back on. Genius. Wi-Fi is free and speedy too. The shower was super powerful and there’s a hair dryer. The decor was simple, bright and everything felt new and clean. Go online for the full reviews: thebusinesstravelmag.com

HOTEL: HUB BY PREMIER, SHOREDITCH, LONDON

COVID STRATEGY Premier Inn operates CleanProtect, a rigorous cleaning regime developed in partnership with Diversey, a global cleaning and hygiene product supplier. Measures includes more frequent cleaning of high-touch areas. Unlike other hotel brands, Premier employs all of its 9,000-strong housekeeping team directly to ensure high standards.

THE FACILITIES Breakfast (hot and continental) costs £7. There’s a bar and you can order a limited menu of evening meals, such as pizza or curry.

THE VERDICT I didn’t notice the lack of bedroom space because the design was so brilliant. Perfect for an affordable, no-frills overnight stay.

THE DETAILS Quaker St, London E1 6SN; 0333 003 8101; premierinn.com. Rooms start from £49. Bev Fearis

THE DECOR WAS SIMPLE AND BRIGHT AND EVERYTHING FELT NEW AND CLEAN

THE HOTEL This five-star 256-room Hilton property is in the former Queen Anne's Chambers, a 19th-century building. Although right opposite St James Tube Station, in the heart of Westminster, it's away from the main streets in a relatively quiet area.

COVID STRATEGY The Conrad follows Hilton's CleanStay programme. The Hilton Honors app can be used to check in, choose your room, and opt in for a digital key.

THE CHECK-IN Sunshine poured in through the lobby's angular skylight and I was welcomed with a warm smile. There's a mesmerising art centrepiece, The Ladder to Bronze by Tom Clark, which apparently represents power in the hands of the people - a nice reference to the hotel’s proximity to the decision-makers in Westminster.

THE ROOM My King Deluxe Room (604) was a little on the smallish side considering the room category but made excellent use of the space and was very comfortable. Egyptian cotton bedding and noise insulation helped me sleep well. There was a good-sized work table along with abundant power and USB points. A 42-inch HDTV satellite TV, with Chromecast, was built into a large LCD panel in the wall. The marblefurnished bathroom was very spacious, with a separate bathtub, walk-in rain shower and Shanghai Tang toiletries. There was a Nespresso machine with plenty of coffee pods and Hope + Glory t-bags. Warning: the gently sloping wall angles by the window aren't immediately obvious - I twice knocked my head sitting in the window chair.

THE BUSINESS There are seven wellequipped meeting rooms of various sizes on the bottom floor and an Executive Lounge on the top floor.

THE FACILITIES These revolve mainly around the newish dining/drinking options - The elegant Hedgerow, The Poem restaurant, with an art Deco feel, and the Blue Boar pub, a fabulous recreation of a London pub with craft beers and even a Sunday roast.

THE VERDICT This is a competitivelypriced and classy hotel that is small enough to feel intimate, welcoming and almost 'boutiquey" – and in a great location. The lively Blue Boar pub is a place to return to time and time again, even if you're not staying at the hotel. THE DETAILS 22-28 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BH; 020 3301 8080; hilton.com. A King Deluxe Room starts

HOTEL: CONRAD LONDON ST. JAMES

THIS CLASSY HOTEL IS SMALL ENOUGH TO FEEL INTIMATE AND ALMOST 'BOUTIQUEY'

from £288. Steve Hartridge