I've not stayed at the Mercure for a while now. Since the last time, they've had a swish new facelift in the lobby area.
Now, I love swish and fancy. Location is great for me for work and London in general. After long days travelling and working though, I do like being able to walk into a reception and check in with ease.
Not so in the new fancy world of Mercure! On entering, you stand bewildered on where to go. I had to walk over to someone who looked like they might work there, to ask where reception was. They actually worked there! Good to have the casual look extend to staff, that make them unrecognisable to folk. I got pointed to the fact I was in reception - please take a seat in the comfy zone and someone will be over and check you in.
Even more confused now on what was going on, I sat in the sofa area and a chap walked over a few minutes later with a daft wee tablet computer to check me in. I like informal, but this was getting silly. After confirming details, he walked back over to the cabinets to get the card machine, then popped an additional £100 on the bill for extras - I didnt ask them for that, but I always check & got him to remove it. He then had to walk back to the cabinets to get me a room key. All this faffing about actually added 10 minutes onto the usual check in and started to grate on me after a long day.
On the room side - wow. Good to see they decided to extend the refurb to the rooms.. NOT. Whilst comfortable, the cleanliness left alot to desire, as per post. Fortunately for me, I'm out at work during the day, so it's only literally sleeping I do here!
Breakfast on first morning was to go and not a lot of choice, apart from pastries. Last morning I stopped off for a light breakfast of muesli and asked for coffee. As they were busy, I got popped on my own in the lobby. Finished my breakfast and waited 10 minutes, but no coffee materialised. I got up to leave & the waitress walked by & quizzed if I received my coffee, said no, but not to worry now as I was off to work.
Not the greatest of stays and as usual, £156 per night hotel is an utter joke. Only marginally a step up from Premier Inn, but not by much.
Have to say, I'm getting more disappointed by the quality lately here and hotels in general. If you are going to charge this kind of price, you better well have it sewn up well. Sadly, this place doesn't....
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