Crowne Plaza London Shoreditch

Lacrimosa

Comfy but corporate 8th September 2008

1 found this helpful

I stayed at this four star hotel on New Years Eve, as I was attending a group dinner at the Globe Restaurant on the top floor that night. (Great view, laughably inept service but friendly and apologetic.)

Wanting to book a room for later that same day, I initially rang the main reservations number for the Crown Plaza hotel group - a hub for bookings, based goodness knows where. I was told that the Shoreditch hotel was fully booked that night, but a hunch made me ring the hotel reception directly to check. Bingo! They were very surprised to hear that they were fully booked, and were pleased to offer me a room. You might want to try this trick yourself if you're booking at short notice and can't find any reduced rate deals online.

On arrival, I was a bit miffed to discover that I'd been allocated a smoking room. At my request, they moved me to a non-smoking double in a quiet location at the back of the building. The room itself was spacious and comfortable, although set up for business use which, as a New Years party-goer, I didn't need. Coming down for my coat just before midnight, I found my card-key had stopped working, so was obliged to see in the New Year out on the seventh floor rooftop terrace shivering like a jelly. Reception were later able to sort this out for me - the key, that is, not the shivering.

Breakfast the next morning, notwithstanding my hangover, was a delicious buffet affair. There was the traditional hot selection, toast, cereals, juices, and a continental selection of bread, cheeses and ham, plus croissants and pastries. I hardly knew where to start. Attracting the waiter's attention for more black coffee proved difficult though.

Note that their literature likes to suggest that the closest tube station is (the very attractive) Liverpool Street. The closest is actually (the hideously ugly) Old Street, which is worth knowing if you're lugging a suitcase.

All in all a comfortable if corporate hotel, with polite staff and a great view from the restaurant. The lack of single rooms is a travesty though - not only are none available, a room is the same price whether there's one or two of you using it. Mine was just over £205.

mazphd at 09/09/08

Ew a smoking room?! good gosh i remember those days. Quite frankly how 'yuk'. And always nice that the corporate industry continues its prejudice against single travellers. :-P

Lacrimosa at 09/09/08

Yes, the smoking room thing was VERY naughty. I had initially asked for a twin room, so guess that might have been the only one left, but they certainly should have mentioned it when I booked. The type of hotels I usually stay in are always completely non-smoking, even before the ban, so it didn't even occur to me that such rooms still existed.

And, yeah, don't set me off on the single room thing! Given the City location of this hotel, the majority of guests here must be lone business users, so we're all being fleeced. I even paid for two breakfasts! Grrrrr.

Lacrimosa at 09/09/08

(Oops, really must try to be more succinct! That was supposed to be a comment, not an essay.)

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beckyfox

Great base 3rd September 2008

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Great base for visiting london only ten minutes from liverpool street station which is like only five stops from oxford street tube station. The hotel room was spacious and very clean. the bathroom was lovely with a power shower and bath. Mini bar had everything you would need and also space for your own personal items. the tv even had sky one channel! we had a lovely day out in greenwich. def would stay there again. The staff were very friendly also very useful if need directions are anything really! Very close to brick lane also only a five min walk we had a great curry on the first night!