The hotel: Located in Kensington, close to Earls Court tube station, base2stay bills itself as a four-star ‘luxury limited service’ property. Opened in 2006, the 67-room hotel has stripped away many of those unused extras – there's no bar, gym or room service – that add a premium to the room rate and instead offers a no-frills, ultra-modern option. A second base2stay is due to open in Liverpool in July, with a third earmarked for Soho in 2012.
The check-in: The functional reception area is situated just inside the entrance. The registration formalities were completed speedily and I was escorted to my room and unpacking within ten minutes of arriving.
The room: My air-conditioned double room was a little on the small side (larger doubles are available) but stylish, bright and modern. All rooms have a mini-kitchenette, with a fridge, and Fair Trade tea and coffee are provided. The bathroom had a power shower and Keiji toiletries. There was a swivel-set 20-inch flat-screen HD TV – featuring a ‘music library’ – and a Nicky Clarke hairdryer. base2stay has won several industry ‘green awards’ for energy-saving features - such as all lights and air-con turning off the moment guests leave their room.
The business: There’s free wifi throughout the hotel or in-room cabled internet is available for £2.95 for the hour or £7.95 for 24 hours. The in-room TVs also feature a free internet service. Each room has a small work desk. A secure 24-hour car park is located 300 metres from the hotel.
THE FACILITIES: Few. There are no rip-off in-room mini-bars or room service but vending machines are located throughout the hotel, offering snacks and drinks at high street prices. The Simply Fab Company, a mobile spa service, provides in-room facials, pedicures and massages.
The restaurant: There’s no on-site restaurant but reception provides discount vouchers for several eateries within walking distance (for example, 30 per cent off at Gourmet Burger Kitchen and 20 per cent at Wagamamas). One of London’s best-known Indian restaurants, the Bombay Brasserie, is a five-minute walk away, as are three 24-hour supermarkets. Guestroom TVs have on-screen interactive directories which list local restaurants and also the menus of several London restaurants and cafes that provide an in-room delivery service.
THE VERDICT: A hybrid concept that sits somewhere between a traditional hotel and a serviced apartment, base2stay provides the basics at an affordable, upfront and transparent price. Any additional charges are pegged at market rates and guests are not hit with excessive hotel mark-ups. For example, phone call charges are visible and pay-per-view movies are priced at just £2 each.
THE DETAILS: 25 Courtfield Gardens, London, SW5 0PG. Rates for a double room start from £105, including VAT. Deluxe rooms, which can sleep up to four people, start from £179. Tel: 020 7244 2255; see: www.base2stay.com Steve Hartridge
