I just wanted to add to the community on this, as, after many years of staying at IC the O2, after being treated (I felt) poorly during the lockdown, I tried this and was, frankly, blown away by how good - and good value - it is. I have stayed perhaps 5 times since last July.

In my experience, the service here is first class. It’s not, as you would expect, IC style - but everyone is warm, friendly, very competent / quick / attentive / knows what they are doing. Spire recognition has been absolutely consistent. I’ve never received an upgrade but always got choice of voucher or points and some kind of welcome amenity like a freshly baked cookie or fruit. On my most recent stay, I got out of a taxi, walked in and the receptionist remembered my name and had pulled up my reservation and registration card before I arrived at the desk! I dealt with their back office / reservations person who was incredibly helpful and efficient too in resolving an invoicing query I had.

The public areas are clean & well-maintained and inviting / functional. I used it both as an alternative workspace - ie somewhere other than home or the office to get stuff done, as a leisure destination and have even taken clients here (ie to stay - recommended it).

They do the brand standard ‘social hour’ of cheese and wine Monday-Wednesday and it’s wine & cheese. I’m not a fussy wine drinker but I do like sharper / fuller bodied cheeses and I thought the quality of the offering was high. In my view certainly on a par with a better Crowne Plaza club lounge.

Breakfast is also in my view good quality - there seems to be both bacon & sausage every morning as well as an omelette and some kind of potato. They also have really delicious fresh almond or chocolate croissants - not good for waist but very tasty. Everything stocked / checked well.

Rooms are immaculate and spotless. The windows open btw.

Location wise I was sceptical of being in Vauxhall but I actually get a good vibe from where it is. There are a couple of green spaces close by but it’s one block back from the Thames and there are a few pubs which look decent nearby (one next door). I went to one a short walk away called the Jolly Gardeners which I thought was excellent - Good food and friendly hospitality. You can walk to parliament in 10-15 mins across Lambeth bridge and the London eye isn’t far away.

I really liked the fact it was so close to central london but in a much calmer / quieter environment. Deliveroo is your friend and everything under the sun is available.

If you did want to cook I am told there is a nice deli close by for ingredients but failing that there is a Tesco express, or a Waitrose supermarket not far away plus plenty of food places if you walk towards Vauxhall station.

I noticed that the National Crime Agency is pretty much next door, obviously MI5 and the US Embassy not far away either, so my perception was safety wise it was good. Staff as I say were ‘on it’ and the lifts are keycard activated and next to reception so the front desk can clearly see who is coming / going.

I still rate ICPL, and the Indigos in London (haven’t tried Leicester Sq yet) but in terms of value / quality, last time I got no upgrade as an Ambassador at the O2 even though I had a crap experience with cancellation during pandemic, and some poor Fitzroy experiences - again, dingy rooms and just generally ‘meh’ service. I don’t mind paying for good experiences but I object to paying £200-300 a night and not receiving basic benefits. Here, rates can be c£140-160 and in my view they offer a decent quality product - and deliver on what they say.