Why it’s good for business
Location is everything here. As you look out of your curved window, you feel
as though you could almost spit at the Canary Wharf towers. If you have
business at one of the big Canary Wharf banks – Citigroup, HSBC, Bank of
America or Credit Suisse for example – then this is an obvious choice.
The room
Is it only hotel marketers who talk about thread count (the linens have 300 of
the darn things)? What this means is that the cotton sheets are of that
heavy kind that make you feel like you’re staying at your favourite gran’s
house – comforting but slightly too hot. Luckily the aircon took the edge
off it. There were also more pillows than I have believe I have ever seen on
any bed. Climbing in was something of a challenge.
Reds and golds dominate the colour scheme, making you wonder whether this is
what the guest rooms at Buckingham palace are like.
The seven Curve suites do exactly that – curve – making great use of the
lenticular shape of the hotel. The living rooms feature sofas and a coffee
table and a meeting table, although how you are supposed to concentrate with
these views is anyone’s guess.
A place to meet
The Marriott has extensive meetings facilities – 14 rooms covering 6,500
square metres of space. Wireless internet extends into these meeting areas.
The Manhattan Bar, a ground floor cigar lounge in deep reds and dark wood,
is quiet enough in the day for an impromptu chat over a coffee.
Technology credentials
By the bed you’ll find a Bose sound dock for your iPod and there’s the now
obligatory (in business hotels at least) laptop-shaped safe
Internet is provided by wire to the room. Like other Marriotts, the West India
Quay uses the iBahn system. There is also wireless access but only in public
areas. The cost is £15 for 24 hours.
Fed and watered
Curve is the Marriott’s on-site fish restaurant, which uses seafood from
nearby New Billingsgate Market (which, ironically, had to move to its
current location in the shadow of Canary Wharf from the City since the space
was needed for the growth of financial companies there). The food isn’t
showy – expect cod, chips and peas on the menu alongside other classics like
Dover sole and sea bass fillets.
The restaurant overlooks the dock and the old boats moored there, including
the coal-fired steam tug Portwey. In summer, you can eat on the outside
terrace. Around £35 for three courses excluding wine. Open for lunch
(12-2.30) and dinner (5 to 10.30) daily.
In the know
It’s ten minutes’ walk to the recommended Ubon restaurant. Ubon is part of the
Nobu chain but chooses to run its name in reverse for some odd reason.
Although the name has changed, the food hasn’t a great deal. The black cod
(not really cod as the menu gleefully informs you) is here along with the
sublime and sublimely pricey toro sushi. The view of the Thames from the
glass-topped building is superb and you feel as though you are part of a
Mission: Impossible set (you have to be buzzed in through a locked security
gate). Three courses around £65 excluding wine
Ubon by Nobu, 34
Westferry Circus, 020-7719 7800
Business class – business farce
Business class: handy for Canary Wharf and London City airport
Business farce: the high cost of internet access
The bottom line
£117 a room on Fridays and Saturdays but from £254 during the business week.
Full English breakfast in the room £18 plus £2 ‘trip charge’ (and 12.5 per
cent ‘discretionary’ service charge). This compares to £18 if eaten in the
Curve restaurant downstairs. Pressing a shirt costs £5 if in by 10am or
£7.50 is in by 1pm. Either way, it’s back to you by 6pm. Miniature of
Smirnoff from the minibar £5.50.
Need to know
Marriott
West India Quay, 22 Hertsmere Rd, London, E14 4ED. Tel: 020-7093 1000.
Check-in 3pm, check-out 12 noon.
