Mercure London Bloomsbury

Stayed in a refurbished room, unfortunately the designer didn’t understand people would have to use the rooms made. Toilet so close to the wall to was almost impossible to use. Leg touching the very hot towel rail. Tap on the side of the sink so water only made it in to the sink on the highest level of water pressure. Also air conditioning only in name. Set at 19, room stayed at 26 all night. Oh and the mugs for tea and coffee don’t fit under the coffee machine without removing the drip tray.

I booked well advance because I knew London would be busy on the night of our stay. I hold top-level status with IHG and was even phoned a month before I stay to ask what welcome amenity I would like, I asked for breakfast. On arrival I was told the restaurant was closed, the bar was running a limited service and no breakfast was available. I was also told that an email had been sent to inform me about the restaurant situation, it most certainly hadn't and the other 3 people checking in at the same time were also told they had been informed when they hadn't. It took several requests for the duty manager to leave their office and speak to me, I was greeted with a sorry and a shrug. I was told I could cancel if I wished, there would be zero chance of me finding a replacement hotel on the day for a similar price so I was stuck. On top of this, there is little evidence of refurbishment having happened, the rooms are small and the lift tiny. I won't be back.

When we arrived we were told that the restaurant was closed during the refurbishment and therefore we would need to fill in the breakfast form and to quote ‘have a lovely breakfast delivered to the room..’ So we went up to the room and was pleased we hadn’t brought along a cat to swing - ! Very small room - even though it’s advertised as a premium double room. - there just room to get round both sides of the bed and there was one chair… Room was clean and just a basic small room really. We went out and left the form asking for our breakfast with specific items and to be delivered at 8.30 am. I was awake at 6.30 eagerly awaiting breakfast - although with one chair and a small desk and no room for a room service trolley we knew it was going to be challenging to eat in the room… anyway 8.30 came and went - thought I would give them a chance as they may be busy… 8.55 nothing - so I called the reception - they would get right onto it - double quick…. 9.10 calls me back - they have lost the piece of paper with my order on it.. - gave them the list again - was told they will be a few minutes - at 10am an hour and a half late the breakfast arrived…well if you can call it a breakfast.. some food piled into a styrofoam container.. see the pictures…also not including hardly any of what we ordered at all..no salt and pepper or sauce or butter for the toast that was soggy — I wish we hadn’t waited as we then missed our train and the whole day we were trying to play catch up .. Surely the property should either be closed until they can give their guests a good service or at the least tell you at the booking stage that they will not be able to offer any food of any quality…and don’t kid them that they will get ‘a good breakfast’__ because you don’t!! As we left the duty manager was apologetic and suggested I write to them and bla bla.. but I have lost that money and that night and that time in the morning and can’t be bothered to spend more negative time trying to rectify what has already been done… then the somewhat aggressive general manager offers to “comp the breakfast” -hardly an offer worth entertaining… with a veiled sorry… thanks but will not be going back to IHG for a while…