Hilton London Canary Wharf {GBR}
May 21, 2018, 2:15 am
#226
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
I stayed here last week, weekdays when it was super busy with American business people, didn't have time to report yet.
Weekends are always luck of the draw, but I have a feeling things are about to change for the better as there is a new lounge manager. A wonderful young lady called Anna with whom I had many long conversations about the running of the lounge, what had gone wrong in the past and what needed to change and she agreed with me on every single point. Very hard working girl I think and if she gets the support from management a lot of good ideas.
There are bound to be many changes all round as there is a new GM, female, new Director of operations, female and now new lounge manager also female !! Especially the director of operations is fierce, I saw her a couple of times when I was having breakfast in the lounge and she spots things immediately, no messing around with her I can tell you!
Weekends are always luck of the draw, but I have a feeling things are about to change for the better as there is a new lounge manager. A wonderful young lady called Anna with whom I had many long conversations about the running of the lounge, what had gone wrong in the past and what needed to change and she agreed with me on every single point. Very hard working girl I think and if she gets the support from management a lot of good ideas.
There are bound to be many changes all round as there is a new GM, female, new Director of operations, female and now new lounge manager also female !! Especially the director of operations is fierce, I saw her a couple of times when I was having breakfast in the lounge and she spots things immediately, no messing around with her I can tell you!
May 28, 2018, 1:45 pm
#227
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
Bank holidays
Well if today is anything to go by I can thoroughly recommend staying on the evening of a bank holiday.
Arrived around midday and checked in immediately.
Lounge for afternoon noon tea was extremely quiet. Sandwiches were egg & tomato, smoked salmon and ham. Two types of scones along with a very nice chocolate cupcake. No more than fifteen people on the lounge at any time.
Evening also very quiet, no more than twenty five people at anytime. Two types of warm pasta, one very spicy but very tasty, cold meats, cheeses, salad etc.
All the usual spirits as mentioned previously along with eight types of gin and all the garnishes to accompany them.
Also spoke with the lounge manager and very impressed tbh. She seemed aware of the issues raised previously and commented that the focus was shifting to improve the quality of the experience with the new GM. All fairly positive stuff, I’m tempted to return for the August BH to see how things have panned out.
Arrived around midday and checked in immediately.
Lounge for afternoon noon tea was extremely quiet. Sandwiches were egg & tomato, smoked salmon and ham. Two types of scones along with a very nice chocolate cupcake. No more than fifteen people on the lounge at any time.
Evening also very quiet, no more than twenty five people at anytime. Two types of warm pasta, one very spicy but very tasty, cold meats, cheeses, salad etc.
All the usual spirits as mentioned previously along with eight types of gin and all the garnishes to accompany them.
Also spoke with the lounge manager and very impressed tbh. She seemed aware of the issues raised previously and commented that the focus was shifting to improve the quality of the experience with the new GM. All fairly positive stuff, I’m tempted to return for the August BH to see how things have panned out.
May 29, 2018, 3:03 am
#228
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
That's good to hear!, especially the gin selection as it's my lady's favourite, I wonder if it will be ongoing?......... it's nice to o be hearing some positive reports again......I'm here next Monday night as I have my yearly Thames walk to do that day ( weather permitting ) I have a king guest room booked but I've asked to forfeit any upgrade in return for a very early check in as I should arrive around 8am to start walk at 10-30 and a sauna and shower before I start.
I won't be there for afternoon tea but will report back on the rest.
I won't be there for afternoon tea but will report back on the rest.
May 29, 2018, 3:34 am
#229
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
That's good to hear!, especially the gin selection as it's my lady's favourite, I wonder if it will be ongoing?......... it's nice to o be hearing some positive reports again......I'm here next Monday night as I have my yearly Thames walk to do that day ( weather permitting ) I have a king guest room booked but I've asked to forfeit any upgrade in return for a very early check in as I should arrive around 8am to start walk at 10-30 and a sauna and shower before I start.
I won't be there for afternoon tea but will report back on the rest.
I won't be there for afternoon tea but will report back on the rest.
We both had steak and chips in the bar late on and this was very good, only negative was the temperature in the bar. It was very warm and almost felt damp. It was like sitting in a steam room that’s seriously lacking power/steam if that makes any sense.
Breakfast was very good this morning and half empty so nice and peaceful.
Absolutely no complaints. Fingers crossed for you next week.
May 29, 2018, 9:06 am
#230
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
Yes my other half was fair taken with the gin selection. They had them displayed on their own where the fruit juices are in the morning just to the side of the coffee machine so the opposite side from the regular spirits.
We both had steak and chips in the bar late on and this was very good, only negative was the temperature in the bar. It was very warm and almost felt damp. It was like sitting in a steam room that’s seriously lacking power/steam if that makes any sense.
Breakfast was very good this morning and half empty so nice and peaceful.
Absolutely no complaints. Fingers crossed for you next week.
im truly glad it went so well and I'm quietly confident for my stay next Monday will be fine, if I manage to bag an early check in that would be so helpful, they managed it last year and the year before so fingers crossed.
Last edited by wizla; May 29, 2018 at 9:07 am Reason: typo
May 29, 2018, 9:46 pm
#231
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,982
had a week's stay with mixed experience. Room nice and spacious on executive floor, but no power outlets by the bed which is just incomprehensible. Staff while multicultural and eager to help, not always competent. You call them and they just don't get it, as if they were outsourced to the depths of Siberia. "Can I request turn-down service?", "You want to request what service?"... Well, she put me on hold and came back asking " if we would like that now", phew. The following evening another person: "Sir, I cannot understand what you are saying. i am going to send someone to your room". Well, no turndown for you then.... Breakfast in the restaurant - coffee is horrible, and an omelet a sulking cook made was inedible. In the lounge - service was superior, and coffee is Nespresso with 4 types of capsules available. Evening snakcs vary and may be very good depending on a day, there's a good selection of beer, and three varieties of "house" wine - Italian white, red and sparkling. This hotel can do better, but kudos to great housekeeping and executive club staff.
May 30, 2018, 1:55 am
#232
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
had a week's stay with mixed experience. Room nice and spacious on executive floor, but no power outlets by the bed which is just incomprehensible. Staff while multicultural and eager to help, not always competent. You call them and they just don't get it, as if they were outsourced to the depths of Siberia. "Can I request turn-down service?", "You want to request what service?"... Well, she put me on hold and came back asking " if we would like that now", phew. The following evening another person: "Sir, I cannot understand what you are saying. i am going to send someone to your room". Well, no turndown for you then.... Breakfast in the restaurant - coffee is horrible, and an omelet a sulking cook made was inedible. In the lounge - service was superior, and coffee is Nespresso with 4 types of capsules available. Evening snakcs vary and may be very good depending on a day, there's a good selection of beer, and three varieties of "house" wine - Italian white, red and sparkling. This hotel can do better, but kudos to great housekeeping and executive club staff.
Breakfast chef ( the woman with black hair yeah? ) has always been surly and appears unapproachable, however she has always made me great omelettes, maybe an off day as guess.
May 30, 2018, 2:33 am
#233
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
We have a Nespresso machine similar to that in our office at work. Once you get the hang of it it’s fairly easy to use. The biggest issue is that you can only pour milky drinks from one side of the machine rather than both. If you want a latte and an Americano you can pour both at the same time but two latte takes twice the time. Also the coffee isn’t that strong, I noticed that I wasn’t the only one pouring a latte then throwing another espresso into it in order to give the drink a kick.
The quality of the coffee though is excellent.
The egg chef yesterday morning was a man although I think I know the one you guys are referring to.
The quality of the coffee though is excellent.
The egg chef yesterday morning was a man although I think I know the one you guys are referring to.
May 30, 2018, 3:02 am
#234
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
We have a Nespresso machine similar to that in our office at work. Once you get the hang of it it’s fairly easy to use. The biggest issue is that you can only pour milky drinks from one side of the machine rather than both. If you want a latte and an Americano you can pour both at the same time but two latte takes twice the time. Also the coffee isn’t that strong, I noticed that I wasn’t the only one pouring a latte then throwing another espresso into it in order to give the drink a kick.
The quality of the coffee though is excellent.
The egg chef yesterday morning was a man although I think I know the one you guys are referring to.
The quality of the coffee though is excellent.
The egg chef yesterday morning was a man although I think I know the one you guys are referring to.
You are spot on........the nespresso machine does only milky drinks from one side but most people don't realise this and stand there confused......I've seen queues of 6 or 7 folk waiting for coffee......I actually think the old coffee machine was a better idea as it was more user friendly........the coffee was fairly good too.
Jun 5, 2018, 10:13 pm
#236
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
shorts or towel wrap ( there is a sign on the door ) , however I've seen folk in there naked before............. it's quite a small sauna but nearly always empty, head for the gym on floor 2 and is through the door at the back , grab a towel from the gym on way through.
Jun 6, 2018, 7:04 am
#237
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,586
I felt the lounge food had decreased a bit in terms of quality. Lounge not too busy in the evenings and Bombay made an appearance too! The staff were very nice and the upgrade was great. The card featuring the housekeepers name & face is a nice personal touch.
They really need to clean the nozzles on that Nespresso machine, it was really caked up. Clearly its not a very good self-cleaning design.
They really need to clean the nozzles on that Nespresso machine, it was really caked up. Clearly its not a very good self-cleaning design.
Jun 6, 2018, 8:15 am
#238
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
I felt the lounge food had decreased a bit in terms of quality. Lounge not too busy in the evenings and Bombay made an appearance too! The staff were very nice and the upgrade was great. The card featuring the housekeepers name & face is a nice personal touch.
They really need to clean the nozzles on that Nespresso machine, it was really caked up. Clearly its not a very good self-cleaning design.
They really need to clean the nozzles on that Nespresso machine, it was really caked up. Clearly its not a very good self-cleaning design.