The Welbeck Hotel By IHG

We have just returned home from a trip to England which included a three-night stay in the Welbeck Hotel and wanted to put on record what a fantastic time we had. Our daughters and their partners also stayed in the hotel and thoroughly enjoyed it too. The welcome we had at reception by Sanjeewa was so warm, with a cold drink being offered as we queued to check in on a very hot day. Everything was handled so efficiently and when we requested a move to a higher floor than initially allocated, our request was handled with the minimum of fuss. The room was lovely - a decent size for central London - and beautifully decorated. It was spotlessly clean and the bed was the most comfortable we have experienced in a hotel for a long time. The water, cola and snacks, which were complimentary, were much appreciated. The air conditioning was great and made the room so welcoming. The bathroom was also lovely with fluffy towels an excellent shower and sensor lighting. The make-up mirror was a nice option to have too. We had booked breakfasts during our stay and, except for a small blip on our first morning, were really good. Phyo and all the restaurant staff made sure we were looked after exceptionally well. The buffet options and menu choices meant there was a great variety of tasty food. We also enjoyed some drinks in the bar at different times and all of the staff there were helpful and welcoming. We also loved the photo booth where we were able to create a unique and quirky memento of our stay. After we checked out, the hotel looked after our bags as we did some final shopping and sightseeing as the hotel is so beautifully situated for both!! Our bags were returned efficiently and with a smile by Sanjeewa who checked that we had enjoyed our stay and wished us safe onward travels. We feel we have made a real discovery in the Welbeck Hotel and have already recommended it to friends. Hopefully we will be back soon.

First of all, even at other IHG facilities like InterContinental or Kimpton, I have never received such a warm welcome before I even set foot in this hotel. When I learned that one of our friends in 184 had a spine surgery recently, and the website shows that you cannot accommodate mobility-reduced guests due to the historical structures of your building, I was afraid that I might need to cancel my bookings. For that reason, I came about six weeks ago to check the route from Bond Street Station to the hotel and to learn the story behind the remark on their website. I was surprised by how nicely the team treated me, although that day I had more the appearance of a solicitor than a hotel guest. After I learned there were only a few steps to the hotel and an elevator, I kept the reservation, as I knew my friend could handle it. I also experienced a wonderful staff member when we came to deliver our bags (early arrival) and later when we checked in. It was a pleasure to see how they handled everything and how warmly they welcomed us. Our friends from 184 reported that they had to wait a few minutes before the room was ready (after the official check-in time, 15:00 hrs). They offered them a seat, complimentary beverages, and snacks, and they also asked me whether this is standard. I had to tell them that your approach to handling customers who are waiting is not industry-standard. Furthermore, another non-resident friend who was waiting for us was also offered some ice water. You can feel that the owner has a passion for the little details to make guests happier: the hardware (like power outlets: UK, US, Euro) and the software (the team). Even though it has no up-tier IHG brand, this is a treasure.

We had a pleasant stay in a recently renovated standard double room (387) using our IHG points. On initial check-in we were given a room on the first floor, but having read reviews you could hear the tube running underground we asked for a room on a higher floor. We weren’t disturbed by the noise from the tube at all on the third floor. The decor is fresh and classy and although the room wasn’t huge, it still fit a table, two chairs, bedside tables, built in wardrobe and a mini fridge. There was ample wardrobe and shelf space for our three night stay, and standard extras like an in room safe, iron/ironing board, kettle, coffee machine and hair dryer for guest use. I had read bath robes were provided but we didn’t have any in the standard room, although we were provided with slippers which we were invited to take home with us afterwards. There was also usb/usb-c ports built into the electric sockets which is a thoughtful addition. Complimentary coffee, tea, coke, water, milk, crisps, popcorn and biscuits were also provided although the restocking of the same was somewhat haphazard. There’s Temple Spa bath products, shower cap and cotton wool/buds supplied in the bathrooms, and the ability to request other items if required. The bed was exceptionally comfortable, the towels were very large and fluffy and the face cloths were fragranced with a gorgeous scent which was a nice added touch. We hadn’t noticed there were two aircon controls, one for the bathroom and the other for the bedroom, and instructions for use can be found on the TV. We discovered these on our penultimate day…. However the window opened so we could let fresh air in on the warm nights. The bathroom was also recently decorated, and although beautifully wall papered I can’t help but think it will lack longevity with the steam from the overhead shower (which was good in both temperature and pressure). There also appears to be a design fault in the bathroom causing the whole floor to flood after showering which meant we had to use the lovely towels to mop up and couldn’t reuse them. I’m unsure if this was just in our room or if it’s a known problem in all of the standard room bathrooms. The staff were all lovely, very friendly and helpful. We didn’t eat at the hotel but we did use the bar to get drinks to take to our rooms. The wine glasses weren’t cleared by housekeeping at all during our stay, the hotel must have a good supply of the same to allow for this! There is only one lift servicing the whole hotel and it could take a while for it to arrive, and when it did it was full. We were content to take the stairs but for less able bodied people this could pose a delay. All in all the Wellbeck Hotel was a great hotel, in a good location and we would highly recommend staying here.