Had a recent stay. I was upgraded to "double room with stocked minibar", this contained 2 each of wine, beer, water, soft drinks and crisps.
Very friendly and enthusiastic welcome - though at the expense of the next guest (a platinum) who had to stand around for 7 or 8 minutes while the guy was chatting to me unnecessarily. I was proactively offered 2pm check out as diamond and chose breakfast as the amenity. I had to sign a form stating this, and didn't get the 600 points as well (I usually get both).
The facade renovation works are still ongoing, I was given a room on the top floor so there was a lot of natural light, with a view of the top level of scaffolding. From 9am workmen occasionally walk past, so I had to keep the curtains shut.
The room layout was weird with the furniture crammed into one side, leaving lots of empty space by the door. The desk was placed right up to the bed, such that a larger person would not be able to squeeze past the cupboard to get to the desk. There were two mains sockets by the door (not really useful) and two on the desk. Someone with lower mobility might not be able to access the sockets on the desk, as if they can't get past the cupboard they would have to climb over the bed.
The chair was so small I couldn't fit in it without my knees touching the underside of the desk and my shins hitting against the wall. I am quite thin and only moderately tall, so I think only a child could sit there for any length of time. To use my laptop at the desk, I had to sit on the bed. That was not uncomfortable for me, but it might be for many others.
Breakfast unfortunately was rather disappointing. The cold options were cereal, some sad-looking unripe fruits, a "smoothie" which tasted a bit off and some pastries and bread. UK Holiday Inn Expresses offer more and better continental choices for no extra charge - while here, non-Diamond punters have to pay £13.50, or £17.50 with the hot dish (same price if adding breakfast at booking stage).
I selected the vegetarian hot plate. The halloumi was good but the rest was sad. Dry hash brown, mainly skin. Asked for poached eggs and only one egg turned up, which was basically hardboiled but tasting of vinegar from the failed poaching. Other choices were eggs benedict or florentine. Someone ordered the benedict but only ate half of a muffin, and the staff asked what was wrong. The guest kept insisting it was great and she just wasn't hungry - but she also then immediately got up and made a butter sandwich.
Hotel location is not that great, I guess it is near the riverfront and some museums etc and Moorfields station. But if you need Lime Street it's a bit of a walk yet easier than taking the train or a bus.
Paid £68 so can't complain too much. Definitely not worth £150 or presumably the £500+ they were asking for Eurovision week before selling out
