TRIED & TESTED HOTEL
London Marriott Hotel Kensington B A C K G R O U N D This property has recently undergone a phased multi-millionpound renovation, with its 226 rooms and public spaces reimagined to capture the natural and architectural heritage of its location in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The refresh has created an upbeat urban chic vibe and makes the most of the building’s sevenstory atrium, now a striking entrance that leads to the open-plan lobby and reception on one side and the flagship Cast Iron Bar & Grill on the other. This space, adorned with quirky art with local references, also features a grab-and-go kiosk selling drinks and snacks. W H E R E I S I T ? On Cromwell Road, close to both Earl’s Court and Gloucester Road tube stations and landmarks such as Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park and the Victoria and Albert Museum. It’s 25 minutes from Heathrow. R O O M S The refurbished rooms are modern with bespoke design touches such as a headboards that pay homage to the architectural details of Kensington Palace, illustrations and paintings from the V&A, and the Museum of Natural History. Rooms are spacious and feature all the essentials such as plenty of hanging space, tea, coffee and biscuits, a hairdryer, TV with entertainment options such as Netflix and Apple TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, a desk and a contemporary bathroom with walk-in shower. My room had plenty of light and the bed was very comfortable. Executive
room guests and Marriott Bonvoy Elite members have lounge access.
F O O D A N D D R I N K The new Cast Iron Bar & Grill was designed as a transitional day-to-night space – a place for guests and locals to meet, work and socialise – and this has certainly been achieved with the restaurant offering a mix of seating arrangements to create home-away-fromhome atmosphere. It serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, with grills featuring heavily as you might expect, and produce sourced locally where possible. I enjoyed an early evening aperitif in the bar area, before moving into a dining space for my evening meal. Starters included crispy squid and chorizo with lemon mayonnaise and grilled cauliflower, both delicious, and a great precursor to my main – a delicious and well-cooked veggie burger with halloumi, flat mushroom, spinach and fries.
A convenient and modern London hotel that provides business travellers with all they need
BEST FOR Convenience
DON’T MISS The fitness centre
PRICE From US$257 per night (October)
CONTACT 147c Cromwell Road; marriott.com
There are plenty of options, from steaks to fish to vegan dishes. At breakfast, the buffet had made a comeback following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions. Options ranged from continental to the good old British fry up. The coffee was great too.
B U S I N E S S Nine modern and flexible meeting rooms that can cater to events of up to 150 guests. L E I S U R E Guests have complimentary access to The Gym Way, a fitness centre that is independently operated but located downstairs from the lobby. As a fitness fanatic, this was a huge selling point for me. The two-storey gym, open seven days a week, features areas and equipment for cardio, weight and functional training. V E R D I C T A convenient and modern London hotel that provides business travellers with all they need – good transport links, a great night’s sleep, tasty food, spaces to meet, work and socialise and a gym. My one criticism is that the service was not consistent, but given the current climate where the hospitality industry is finding it hard to recruit trained staff, I am much more forgiving. I enjoyed my stay, and I would go back. Gemma Greenwood OCTOBER 2021
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