London Croydon Aerodrome Hotel

The service was generally good, though one meal was quite poor and I barely ate it. They took a little off the bill, but I’d expected not to be charged; the rest of the food was quite good. My room was okay and the hotel felt welcoming. I was above the function rooms, though, and party music ran late because of a pre-festive break. Parking cost extra and had to be paid for in advance, but it was full, so finding a space was difficult. Maybe it was the time of year.

The staff were understanding after the rough start and moved us to a room on the other side of the building from the event. The rest of the stay went fine, though the beginning had already put a damper on things. We’ve stayed here a few times and like the good food, friendly staff, and usually quiet atmosphere. The rooms have got smaller each visit even though the price stayed the same, but we didn’t mind too much. Over the bank holiday, an event was on when we arrived, and ordering food became a hassle. The receptionist first told us to use the menu in the room and call the kitchen, but there wasn’t a menu. Reception then sent us to the kitchen, which didn’t answer. I messaged the WhatsApp number in the welcome pack and got no reply. When I called reception again, they said the QR code on the pack led to the menu, but it opened the Google review page instead. My partner went down to get a menu and sent me a photo. I called the kitchen for 12 minutes with no answer, so we went down to order. When the food came up, part of the order was missing. I understand they were probably busy with the event, but it was very inconvenient. The next morning, Sunday, a live band woke us at 10 a.m. It was so loud on the fourth floor that we could hear the lyrics and make out the guitar chords. We’d booked a hotel to get away from noise and business. It felt inconsiderate not to tell guests checking in over Easter weekend that events might mean longer food waits and loud music early in the morning.

For one night, this did the job, and the price was very good. The bath and shower were great. The room itself was tiny, with a double bed pushed against two walls and very little space to walk around. It also looked a bit tired, and some lights didn’t work. The TV was on an awkward pull-out bracket that needed to be extended to watch from bed. I had to tighten its screws to keep it at a decent angle. You get what you pay for.

The rooms were clean and a good size, and the executive ones were nicer than the standard rooms. Both had what you need. Restaurant service was mixed: a woman serving me on Friday 22nd was excellent and very prompt, but on another visit I was there for over three hours because service was slow and it took 30 minutes to carry out something we’d asked for. If you need sleep for work or leisure, I’d look elsewhere. The hotel seems to put function-room guests first. Loud music went on late, and I had to leave for work at 3 a.m., so getting to sleep early mattered. Bass from downstairs shook my bed. When guests arrived after a convention or function had started, parking was difficult. I had a hip injury and had to limp for 10 minutes after parking on the street. The hotel wasn’t helpful when I asked where to park and just told us to drive around and see.