Claudia Vyvyan
Thank you to the staff who brought a bottle and snacks to the room before we arrived with a special note as well for my partner's bday! I requested it but I'm grateful for the hospitality. The experience was good if you turn a blind eye to the unfinished elements of the hotel. First of all, our room cards didn't work in the lift or for our door. It was a huge pain, and there isn't enough signage to know where to go so we were wondering around back doors and corridors lost. Ceiling alarms still have their plastic wraps, heating not on when we got to our room, grates on the windows, no moisturiser anywhere!!!!! Spa doesn't have enough changing room space or lockers, as well it doesn't seem to be cleaned regularly in the swimming pool. Gender neutral changing rooms causing a bit of awkwardness (I'm gender neutral so not for gender reasons) just because we had to climb over one another to get to the lockers and the shower rooms were all flooded. No private chaning area and you have to go our into the reception to even get water. There's no staff around and the sauna and steam room doors don't close all the way bit weird. Dripping in the back as well is so loud and the whole Spa seems like they rushed to open without really finishing it? The swimming pool has only 3 loungers, so I did overhear lots of complaints about having to sit on benches by a window with an open curtain seemingly looking like they are displaying us enjoying our time in the pool? Quite odd. Also can see down into the pool from the street above! Our booking was messed up about 3 or 4 times and they told me its an error with their website but the comms were a little rusty even though everyone remained very friendly which is nice. Otherwise, with the perhaps little experience the staff have? it was very nice when we arrived and they were accommodating with changing our massage times which were meant to come with the package I bought. In the end, I missed my massage and just let me partner have his. They didn't offer any money off for this. It was a shame, but our fault for being late I think. They have only 1 massage therapist and 1 room for treatments so can't go together at the same time either. The food in the restaurant wasn't great and seriously overpriced, we ended up leaving and getting food elsewhere. I guess it's one of those areas in London that's being gentrified / hipster energy with hybrid GMO vegetables at high prices and low quality lol. In the end, we didn't want to eat there again the next day so just got some drinks, but they don't serve any normal drinks, only their signature hybrid fancy hipster drinks, which points to lack of bar staff and cocktail training rather than anything more curated. Felt kind of black mirror being in there, people were always staring at us like we were out of place and the restaurant did not have an authentic character to it. More performance... the canal is nice nearby and we were lucky it was sunny in the morning! Overall, I enjoyed my stay but would probably look for somewhere a bit more established next time. It all felt quite DIY and not the total relax I was looking for my partner's birthday treat! I ended up spending £300 in total so it's budget but wish I'd spent that £300 on something a little more equipped.