Hotel Woolstore 1888, Sydney - Handwritten Collection

The meal at Percy was a highlight, especially dinner, which had a great atmosphere. Hotel Woolstore itself has lovely rooms, and the front of house team gave perfect service. Breakfast was a little less smooth, as some staff seemed unsure about a few tasks and what they should be doing. That didn’t spoil the trip. The only other small snag was the shower. I had to choose between water pressure and heat, which wasn’t ideal. Even so, it worked out fine for a short visit.

The room looked great, with exposed brick, timber beams, and a fun two-level layout: lounge below, bed up in the loft. The bathroom was modern, the shower had enough height, the bed was comfortable, and WiFi ran at a decent 40/47Mbps. But I barely slept. Metal roof panels above the bed rattled all night. There was also a low ceiling hum, noisy air conditioning, and trucks outside. Around midnight I went to reception, mainly because of the rattling. They said the hotel was full and couldn’t move me. When I asked directly, they handed me earplugs. That was all, with no further help or acknowledgement that I couldn’t get a quiet room or a night's sleep. I followed up after checking out and never heard back. I do want to thank whoever made the welcome card. For years I’ve asked hotels to surprise me with something Star Trek-themed, and almost none have done it. Woolstore 1888 made a personal card featuring Spock, the Vulcan salute, a stardate, and wishes for no Klingon disruptions or unexpected tribble encounters. It’s in the photos, and it was genuinely lovely. This is only the fourth hotel to engage with that request over many years. The hotel has real character and that thoughtful welcome, but the noise and lack of response were a major problem for me. Maybe this was an unusual case, but they couldn’t fix it. Two stars, both earned by Spock.

Shikdar, the duty staff member at Hotel Woolstore, made my stay. I needed to rest and he went out of his way to arrange an early check-in. It can sometimes be possible, but he made a real effort to prioritise it after listening and understanding my situation. He was thoughtful, kind, and genuinely caring, and his help made a lasting difference. Thank you, Shikdar and Hotel Woolstore, for such wonderful service.

This was my second time booking at Woolstore, and I’d happily return when I’m back in Sydney. Annabel welcomed me as soon as I arrived and was very accommodating when my early flight meant I got there ahead of time. The room was perfect, and the location worked so well for public transport and nearby places of interest. Everything was walkable too. The people really make the place. Great job, Woolstore 👏 👍🏾