Hi everyone, I hope you can help me with a slightly weird T5 pod parking question (I haven't used the pods since pre-Covid). I need to get to the Thistle hotel this afternoon to collect something from a guest checking in around 3pm. Because London traffic is so awful, it's quicker to get the Elizabeth line to T5 and then use the pods to the Thistle and back to T5 etc. However, poking around the web it looks like the Thistle might not let me through their gate if I'm not a registered guest (I assume because they think I'll do a runner rather than go straight to reception to pay my £8 entry charge). Has anyone had any recent experiences of using the pod parking gate to the Thistle when they're not actually a guest? Is it possible to walk round to the Thistle by road if I'm not allowed through the gate?

The guest I'm meeting briefly is doing me a huge favour so I really don't want to inconvenience them by asking them for help unless I absolutely have to (and their booking is in someone else's name rather than theirs so the hotel might not recognise it).

Sorry for the somewhat bizarre question. I may be worrying too much (project manager by trade so tend to overthink all the things that might not work!) but it's been a bad week and I'm just trying to minimise any fuss for everyone.