Threadneedles

TheMoth

6th August 2007

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During the week, this is a ridiculously pricey stopover for those with expense accounts to burn. During the weekend, however, business customers flee to their Surrey estates leaving the hotel open to plebs like me. For not too much money, then, ordinary folk can marvel, goggle-eyed at how the rich do live.

As a birthday treat for my girlfriend, I booked the Romance Package - champagne (good champagne, too), rose petals scattered on the bed at turn-down, candle-lit bathroom (again with the rose petals), what may or may not have been Molton Brown toiletries and breakfast in bed.

The room we were in was well-designed with a lounge area at one end, separated from the bedroom by the bathroom (good news if one of you wants to watch some TV while the other sleeps). The furniture was modern and very comfortable, a bit Conran but not quite as crisply designed.

The only problem we encountered was a minor one - we ordered their "Movie Deal" package, consisting of popcorn and ice-cream to go with one of the pay-per-view movies on offer. This arrived after the movie had finished and it was obvious that there was only a skeleton staff at weekends. Having said that, the staff that were there were very apologetic and assured us that we would not be charged. The ice cream was delicious and went very well with the popcorn. Yes, this was truly the sophisticated lifestyle one reads about in Harpers & Queen.