I recently stayed overnight in London as I had an early meeting the next day. On this occasion, therefore, there would be no time to enjoy all the facilities offered by a top London hotel. I needed somewhere relaxing yet elegant, with super service and in a central location.
The Nadler is a boutique luxury hotel at the heart of Covent Garden with all the style you would expect from a four-star hotel, but without a restaurant or a spa. If you are not convinced please read on.
Location, Location
The Nadler is located on the corner of Bedford Street and the Strand so perfect for the West End, the Royal Opera House, restaurants and bars, and there is plenty of city atmosphere. I wondered whether it would be very noisy as this part of London is busy at any time of the day and night but, in fact, my room was very quiet. Both Charing Cross and Covent Garden stations are also close by.
The hotel entrance is unadorned and discreet and was a little off- putting. Inside though the accommodation is spread over six levels and is surprisingly spacious. The reception area is modest in size and the staff or ‘ambassadors’ are friendly and helpful.
Accommodation
My room was a good size and the ambience was cosy and attractive. The king size bed was super comfortable with a pocket-sprung mattress affording a peaceful night’s sleep. The white linen was crisp and fresh, with a tweedy blanket at the foot of the bed for chillier nights. The forecast was for rain, so that was a welcome touch. Sometimes too, the temperature with air conditioning drops in the night when you are too sleepy to get out of bed to adjust the thermostat.
The interior decoration was contemporary and tasteful and claims to champion British design and craftsmanship. The lights throughout were chic, for instance, including a Paul Smith Anglepoise lamp at the table. The Wi-Fi was complimentary and the television was interactive.
The bathroom was a reasonable size with sophisticated fittings. There was a walk-in shower – no bath – with a cascading deluge shower, together with a detachable hand-held shower. There were big fluffy white towels, bathrobe and slippers, and the guest toiletries were Gilchrist & Soames.
In fact, the bath sheet was so large – as is the case in luxury hotels – that it was rather like trying to dry off with a heavy piece of Axminster carpet. This is not a complaint but an observation and appeal on behalf of all petite travellers.
The hairdryer was a powerful one. Oddly, it was permanently fixed into the drawer which, once open, it took me a while to locate the plug socket directly underneath which was awkward. The room featured a small balcony and whilst it was overlooked – this is central London after all – it was lovely to open the French doors early on a summer’s morning.
Dining
In the absence of a restaurant the hotel offers the option of ordering in from the list of recommended eateries. Alternatively, guests can take advantage of the mini kitchen in each room and concealed behind double doors. The space lights up automatically when the doors are opened to reveal a small sink, a microwave, glassware, china and cutlery. There was also a kettle and a Nespresso maker, and a varied selection of complimentary coffee pods and tea bags.
I will admit I was a little sceptical about this self-catering style of arrangement prior to staying. However, the area was immaculate and well designed. I took a short stroll around Covent Garden and tried two restaurants without success. As I simply needed to eat rather than dine out, having some last minute work to complete, after a quick foray I took some treats back to my room for a stylish picnic. The hotel offers a simple room service menu and I enjoyed a glass of a very good Ladera Verde Chilean Merlot with my picnic supper. There was no washing up afterwards which was an added bonus.
I ordered breakfast in through Reception from a local coffee shop, a Nadler Hotel partner. This arrived on time and Reception called to ask if it was convenient to deliver to my room. The menu includes porridge, pastries, eggs and so on. The food arrived in a brown paper bag and unfortunately had the characteristics of standard aeroplane catering.
The Nadler Hotels make a point of linking guests to the local community and Reception staff are able to recommend restaurants, book a reservations, a tour or a taxi for guests. On request they will also stock the fridge in your room with the basics, such as milk, bread or yogurt, or something more special, so long as it is available locally. This excludes alcohol and the service carries a 20% charge in addition to the cost of the items.
The Nadler Hotel group consist of five hotels, four in London and one in Liverpool. The Nadler Covent Garden is comfortable and stylish, perfectly situated and competitively priced. I would book again for an overnight stay when in town for business, some shopping or the theatre.
A double room at The Nadler, Covent Garden costs from £249.
Address: 51 Bedford Street, London, WC2R 0PZ
Phone: +442031461790
Website: nadlerhotels.com
