Why it’s good for business
If you’re doing business in the City of London, being able to stay in a hotel
where you can walk to your meeting has to be a bonus. The Hoxton is on the
northern fringe of the City but you can walk to Liverpool Street in 7
minutes and the Bank of England in 10.
The room
Every one of the Hoxton’s 205 rooms is virtually the same. They measure 20
square metres, about five times the size of the king size bed (decked out
with white Frette linen and duck down duvets). The look is very Hoxton –
dark wood, chocolate striped carpet and trendy banquettes to lounge on. A
couple of nice in-room touches are the free litre of mineral water and
carton of fresh milk in the fridge. And, as someone who hates being boiled
alive at night, I was very impressed that you could actually open the
windows unlike in many business hotels.
The corridors are worth a mention. The industrial fittings and space-age
lighting make it feel like you have wandered onto the Doctor Who set.
A place to meet
The Hoxton has seven meeting rooms, five of which benefit from natural light.
The best of the rooms is numbered 007 and feels like a country lodge rather
than an urban meeting room.
There are plenty of places around the lobby – with its fake hunting trophies
and fireplace - to have a discreet chat. In summer, there are tables and
chairs in a central courtyard and it’s quiet here during the day. Otherwise
there are comfy chairs dotted about the place.
Technology credentials
Free wi-fi throughout the hotel and free wired access in the rooms – can’t get
much better than that. The hotel also charges very low phone rates – 3p a
minute within the UK and 5p a minute to the US.
Fed and watered
In an attempt to reduce its costs, the hotel has outsourced its restaurant and
the Hoxton Grille (tel 020
7739 9111) is the result. The menu is nothing extraordinary, offering
brasserie favourites such as steak and chips, club sandwich and fishcakes
costing from £10 to £16.
As for breakfast, the influence of hotel owner Sinclair Beecham is evident.
Beecham was one of the founders of Pret a Manger and, as a result, each
morning you can have a Pret breakfast delivered to your room. I had visions
of one of those breakfast baguettes or a fat sandwich. Sadly not – everyone
gets a yoghurt with granola, a banana and a small orange juice.
Alternatively, you can pay to have breakfast in the Grille. I recommend the
eggs Benedict.
In the know
The helpful staff at the front desk whisked out a Z card (one of those handy
foldable map thingies) which listed the best bars, restaurants and other
useful places around the hotel. Specifically, I was recommended the Hoxton
Apprentice (tel 020 7749 2828). This is a former primary school turned
restaurant with a social twist. Charity Training for Life uses it to train
homeless and long-term unemployed to get jobs in the hospitality sector.
There’s a real buzz about the place and the food – typical gastro fare such
as roasted cod, cassoulet and rib-eye with fat chips - is superb.
Business class – business farce
Business class: Free wi-fi and wired internet access throughout the hotel
Business farce: No on-site gym or swimming pool – although you can get access
to a nearby one for £5
The bottom line
Room rates at the Hoxton rise as you get closer to your stay. There are up to
five rooms available per night at £1 (which disappear the instant they are
made available), go up to £29, £59, £79 and finally £149 (the maximum). Just
don't mention easyJet.
Rather than having minibars in the room, the Hoxton has 24-hour shop at
reception, selling the essentials at normal shop prices. Laundering a shirt
costs £3.95 while dry cleaning a two piece suit costs £12.50 (in by 9.30am,
back same day; 50% surcharge for rush jobs). A club sandwich in the room
costs £10.
Need to know
The Hoxton, 81 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HU. Tel 020 7550 1000, www.hoxtonhotels.com.
Check-in 2pm. Check-out 12 noon.
