Stayed there last night. As usual got upgraded to an Executive Room (I'm a Spire Elite Ambassador) but was surprised that didn't come with lounge access.

The new lounge looks very nice but is apparently only for people who book a rate above Executive Room level - which no-one seems to have been able to do before last week. I was offered access for £55 which I didn't take up. Checked on their own website (the Club Room doesn't come up on my corporate site at all) and it was only about £15 a more a night.

Clearly the offering isn't appealing to many folk as both times I went past it last night (you can see it easily from reception) it was totally empty. Not a single person in it.

You'd think they would allow Exec rooms access (at least to Spire Elites) - even only to start off with. I'll keep it under review but have already swapped one booking I had for next week from them to a Hilton where I'm guaranteed access as a Diamond.

(Yes, I know that guaranteed lounge access isn't an IHG thing, but I've always been given it when upgraded to Executive Rooms in Crowne Plazas, including London City and Heathrow).