Why it’s good for business
The Sheraton Park Tower, built in the 1970s with a distinctive shape that has
earned it the nickname the Pineapple, is situated on the Heathrow-West End
axis so beloved of visiting business executives from overseas, the US in
particular. The combination of quick airport access, central London location
for meetings in the day and West End shows at night plus high-end shopping
in nearby Harrods and Harvey Nicks is irresistible. It’s also a couple of
stops on the Tube from Earl’s Court and Olympia, making it a good choice for
exhibition attendees.
The room
One of the advantages of the Pineapple’s shape is that there are no
interior-facing rooms. Each room takes the form of a wedge with windows at
the outer edge, giving incredible views over the whole of London. The views
of Hyde Park and the Serpentine, Battersea Power Station, the Houses of
Parliament and the London Eye are particularly good.
The circular theme is carried through the room design: circular rugs with
dots, curved headboards and round tables echo the curvaceousness of the
hotel exterior. The colour themes are earthy and autumnal – russets, golds
and greeny gold soft fabrics are offset by rich cherrywood furniture and
floors.
The bathrooms feel a little dated – no Starck sinks and free-standing baths
here. Instead, marble is everywhere: grey for the walls, shower and bath
surround and black for the sink. The hotel has Molton Brown toiletries on
the butler floors and Sheraton's own-brand Luxury Collection goodies in
other rooms.
A place to meet
There are four meeting rooms, with capacities ranging from 20 to 80 theatre
style. Three of the rooms have been decorated with artefacts from the
Scientific Exploration Society – pith helmets, maps and the like – in a bid
to get away from the box rooms usually found in business hotels.
For something a little more informal, the Knightsbridge Lounge is a central
two-storey atrium with a glorious chandelier and chairs and tables tucked
away at the edges where you can have a discreet chat with a business
colleague.
Technology credentials
The hotel offers both wired and wireless access in every room at a hefty price
of £6 per hour or £18 a day. Some hotels put a dataport in their rooms and
leave it at that. Not the Sheraton Park Tower. It has a dedicated ‘In-room
Guide to Technology and Communications’ which includes detailed instructions
on how to connect and a phone number to call in the event of problems. Each
room also includes a technology ‘minibar’ which includes a selection of
gadgets and cables you can buy to use with your laptop. A USB mini mouse
costs £18, for example.
Fed and watered
The hotel’s One-O-One restaurant, run by executive chef Pascal Proyant, is a
regular winner of awards for the best fish restaurant in London and it’s
easy to see why with creative dishes like roasted lobster with curry
leaf-tamarind sauce and lemon-coriander rice (£28). The nine-course Pascal’s
Sensation menu (£79), which includes pan roasted scallop and foie gras with
a wild mushroom fricassee, is a must if you have the money and the stomach
space.
Sadly, because of its location on the ground floor, the restaurant doesn’t
enjoy the great views that the rooms do. The restaurant will soon shut for a
month’s £1 million refurbishment.
In the know
The concierge recommended Racine (239 Brompton Road, tel: 020 7584 4477). This
busy brasserie has everything you could want – a buzzy atmosphere and great
food at reasonable (for Knightsbridge) prices. Although the stiff white
tablecloths and dark wooden chairs shout out French brasserie, the food
isn’t so obvious - monkfish with risotto, lamp rump, deep fried artichokes
anyone. Three courses without wine around £30.
Business class – business farce
Business class: Butler rooms. Free pressing of three garments during your stay
and the ability to get laundry back within a couple of hours, should you
need it. They’ll also unpack your suitcase while you sit back with a free
half bottle of Champagne.
Business farce: Little to fault this hotel other than the room rates and
outmoded bathrooms.
The bottom line
Classic rooms start at around £275 a night, including full English breakfast.
A full English breakfast in the room costs £22. Shirt laundry £8 (in by 10am
back by 6pm; one-hour pressing for 75% surcharge). A miniature of Smirnoff
from the minibar costs £6.
Need to know
Sheraton
Park Tower, 101 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RN. Tel: +44 20 7235 8050.
Check-in 2pm. Check-out 12 noon.
