The Leopold Hotel

We were in town for a gig at City Hall, and the hotel's location suited us well. The building is lovely and old, the reception felt warm, and the staff were welcoming. Our room was spacious and stylish, with a high, comfortable bed, good storage, and a smart-looking bathroom with a large shower. There was only one working lift, though, and the room felt cool, especially the tiled floor. After the gig we went to the bar at 11:00pm for a drink. It was supposed to stay open until 12:00, but there was no draught beer, the last two wine bottles were almost empty, and the only staff member started putting away the spirits at 11:30. The customers were clearly unimpressed. Such a shame.

We'd had a pretty lovely stay at this central hotel until the last day. I had a meeting from 5pm and had checked at check-in and again on departure day that I could use the lounge. Reception staff said yes, and the friendly man working around 11am on Sunday 2nd February showed me in and switched on the heating. During the meeting I stepped out to the bathroom. On my way back, Letti nearly shouted that I couldn't use the room. I explained I'd been told I could and that my important meeting was underway. She said she hadn't been the one to give permission, then let me return but said she'd kick me out in 30 minutes because she needed to set up for the next day. She never came back. After the meeting I asked what had happened, and she said the room had to be prepared for something tomorrow and that I could use it if I paid her £300. It was a ridiculous exchange, and her attitude was completely unlike everyone else working there. I'd even been served coffee in the lounge by a lovely woman who didn't seem surprised I wanted it there, so using it didn't seem unusual. It was a little lounge for guests. Edit: the manager's reply says we discussed this separately, but that never happened. I left on the last day and posted my review; they replied a month later. That response felt fake, as if it was meant to make future customers think problems would be handled. It came across as a facade, and as though they don't care.

The staff were helpful, friendly and charming, and the building has real character, which you don't get from the big corporate-style hotel groups. The location is convenient for shopping and plenty of good restaurants, so I'd stay here again. This visit was mixed, though. I remember the hotel fondly from previous stays, but my clean, comfortable room felt a little dated and was cold. Turning the heating all the way up didn't help much. The electric oil heater took the chill off but never warmed the room properly. I was on the lower ground floor, connected to the Leopold Square restaurants and bars, and noise and shouting carried on most nights until around 2am. Not great if you need an early start. Breakfast was just okay. Each day something had run out, cheese one day and pastries another.

The breakfast was high quality, and the location and staff were good, as they have been on my earlier visits. But after at least 7 stays over the past 10 years, this was my most disappointing trip. I was in Room 123 for several nights, and the dated room felt bare and ordinary. For a 4* hotel at this price, I expected some luxury or a memorable touch. It was basically just a bed and TV, with towels and wall-mounted showergel in the bathroom, much like a Travelodge or Premier Inn apart from the decor. I paid £160 for Saturday into Sunday, and didn't feel I got my money's worth.