In popular West London, sits stylish Shepherds Bush. It’s where indie hipsters can go to bop and sway, and culture vultures
sip tea and nibble on reasonably priced grubbings from far and wide. It’s an
urban, gritty, grungy paradise, with great access to central London without
quite being in the zone-1 hectic-ness.
Situated just a few roads from Westfield,
and a hop skip and a jump from the tube, you have the obviously well situated,
stylish 4* K West Hotel and Spa. It is an ideal choice for busy shoppers, young
professionals, and those wanting a get-away that can combine both comfort, with
the opportunity to explore. It advertises itself as ‘luxury without the
stuffiness’, and includes facilities that could keep you entertained for at
least a whole weekend.
A former BBC office building, it is almost
ideally architecturally designed to be the trendy digs encapsulated by its
modern name and demographic. The building extends impressively behind its
modest frontage, and after Mr Biscuit and I arrived in the hotel car-park (a
typical London cost of £25/day), we admired the clean, elegant reception area,
and comfortable seating.
Stopping first for a tea and tour, the
reception is open plan in its connection to the bar and lounge area. A place
where guests can enjoy a quiet cuppa, decadent cocktail, or even at weekends, a
DJ well practiced in the newest house tunes. It is clean, classic, and elegant,
with spiraling chandeliers, and twinkling spotlights arranged in a star
constellation. Along the corridor is an area catering to the business clients-
with complimentary Wi-Fi, printer, and apple mac’s to let you send off that
urgent e-mail, or print a last-minute theatre booking. Due to its size, the
hotel extends its rooms under-ground at a basement level, yet also boasts a fully
equipped gym, well received restaurant, and compact yet unusual spa.
The first room we were given (this is said
with trepidation, as we are not usually fussy, nor was there anything wrong
with the room) was on the basement level, and in the Executive Double category.
Finished to an immaculately clean standard, all rooms have hand made spacious
beds and fresh linen, and were what we described as being ‘luxuriously beige’. Inherently
very comfortable with its tasteful décor, it is exactly what a good 4* hotel
should be and of a perfect quality to that level. It is however, clear why it
is not a 5*, simply as it lacks that originality, or uniqueness, but it is
excellent as a 4*, with impressions of luxury for a lower budget. As this first
room was in the basement, with windows at ground/foot level, it was quite dark,
but perfectly fine and excellent if you are a business person needing an
exceptionally comfortable nights sleep in it’s tranquility. This particular
room had a spacious shower, which was modern in design, and a nice seating
area. The only reason we changed, is when chatting to the staff about the
facilities, and all the different rooms they have in the hotel, we discovered
that other executive rooms have baths instead- after a busy week reviewing
hotel after hotel, a bath is exactly what we needed. This is purely taste, and
something you can note with reception which you prefer before checking in.
Indeed our new room, complete with bath, was identical except for the obvious,
and with being on a top story, it was bright and airy. Highly recommended.
The K Spa is a completely functional area,
that incorporates a lot of facilities. Mr Biscuit and I started in the
hydrotherapy pool, reclining in the Jacuzzi like water, and relaxing under the
atmospheric lighting. From here the sauna seemed like the next natural step,
and we followed it up with a recommended expedition to the snow paradise room
(the first in London!). Inspired by Finnish tradition, to alternate between say
the steam room and snow room, promotes circulation and is said to help the
immune-system. Relaxation areas in the form of cushioned pods surround the
area, almost insisting the time you spend there is restful, and the experience
showers invigorate before retiring to the changing rooms. Here there are LLK
products, reflected also by the toiletries provided in the rooms. Spa access
costs an extra £25 on top of your room, but is included if you opt for a
treatment (except at weekends).
Having booked in a late dinner in the hotel
restaurant, we chose to start our evening ‘in’ at the lounge. Seated
comfortably, we chose cocktails and prosecco from the extensive menu, and
chatted happily while the area gradually filled that with guests and external
patrons joining us, as a precursor to a meal in the ‘Kanteen’ on the level
above.
The Kanteen is directly above the lobby in
an almost mezzanine. We are seated at a table surrounded by local art, and
attentive waiters and waitresses. We instantly note their adaptability, from
us, for example having a romantic evening, to a large group celebrating,
merrily dining from their own buffet table at the back.
The menu reads like a Gastro-pub, with a
mix of wholesome family favorites, to dishes verging on fine dining. It is
here, that the clarity of who the hotel/restaurant appeals to as a audience
becomes fuzzy. Plain wooden tables mix with silver wine buckets stood next to
your chairs. Hostess’ who pour your wine for you, contrast against waiters who
place humble bottles of mustard and ketchup on your table. Neither is wrong,
neither is right, they perhaps simply don’t gel as a consistent theme. Over
looking the bar and lounge, with the DJ starting downstairs from around 9pm,
its more date night, than anniversary romance, yet none-the-less, Kanteen
provide great food, and a quality service. Our starters of calamari, and palma
ham wrapped figs delighted, and the mains were delicious, including steak and
ceasar salad. A recommended brownie dessert proved a consistent standard of
food. We continued to finish our wine in this relaxed contemporary environment,
and felt able to sit contently until we felt ready to retire to our room with
no glares, and no tidying up around us.
A fabulous nights sleep later, we’ve
contacted reception about our breakfast choice the night before, and chosen our
breakfast on the form that allows us the rare decadence of breakfast in bed. We
always think a great indication of a hotel’s service and catering, is their
room service, so we loved that this option was available. It completes a
special weekend, and adds to the pampering experience. With a hectic day ahead,
we politely requested a breakfast arrival of 8.30am. The form you fill in and
leave on the door handle the previous night however is complicated. There is no
clear way of explaining what each person in the room wishes for, where there
should be a column for each person. This is the reason we wake up suddenly at
6.55am with a phone-call. They don’t quite understand our egg choices.
Whilst prompt, we were disappointed that at
8.30am we receive a breakfast that is literally the complete opposite of what
we have ordered. Upon calling room-service to politely explain that we think
there’s been a mistake, we have to listen to an angry chef shout at the shy
room attendant down the phone, about how he definitely made the right
breakfasts, and it’s either our or her fault. Approximately half an hour later,
our actual breakfast arrives, and it is simply explained that we got another
rooms order and vice versa, and they cannot apologize enough. The actual breakfast
more than makes up for it though, created to perfection, and with a really nice
selection of continental accompaniments to your cooked dish, should you so wish
to include them.
So, our summary of K West Hotel and Spa?
Quite great actually. It’s a perfect location for shopping and going out in
London. It’s not as busy as the central areas but only minutes away by tube.
Its modern, elegant, and a very good 4* hotel. The spa is a welcome extra, and
the rooms are clean and comfortable, with good bathroom facilities. It has a
very reasonably priced and well run restaurant. The cocktail staff at the bar
downstairs are polite and skilled, and service in general is very good. It is
ideal for a business stay, and the perfect hotel for a young professional
couple looking for a hint of luxury on a weekend away.
Images courtesy of K-West.
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