The Averard Hotel - London, United Kingdom 

We booked through London Rooms and had a good deal at ?65 (I think, or even ?60) for a double room. The hotel looks pretty discouraging from the outside, especially from the back,but as it is presently covered in scaffolding, I suppose that they are going to paint it, which it urgently needs. Once inside, the reception area rooms are very spacious, though all with an atmosphere of faded gloire from better days.Our double room was comfortable and had a spacious and very light bathroom, much better than the artificially lit cupboard-like shower rooms of several other budget hotels. The hotel is in a good area with several restaurants and a good pub and a pretty London mews behind it. The reception staff were friendly, but I agree with other reviewers that the breakfast staff need to be trained how to behave appropriately in front of guests. When we were there, the chef was having a loud slanging match with one of the waitresses who was shouting back about hours and days that she had to work etc. not conducive to a calm breakfast, which incidentally was otherwise fine and included in the price. Compared to other budget chain hotels in the area,the Averard is good value and if you ask for a room on the lower floors, I think the standard will be better. Potentially, this could be a much better hotel with a bit more investment in its appearance both inside and out. However, it is very good value and I would recommend it for a short London stay.

I rang to book a room directly with the Hotel (?50) which was good value given the location. The lady who took the call (Trish) was very polite and friendly. When I turned up at the hotel, i didnt expect a red carpet but atleast a smile rather than a grunt from the receptionist (Not Trish!) which it appeared I had interrupted her sight seeing outside. For ?50 I didnt expect much, the room was very small & faded and the water pressure laughable, the breakfast was ok. My main problem is that not once did the staff acknowledge my existance with so much as a smile. This indifference to the paying guests (from receptionists who talk over you to their friends when you are trying to pay your bill, to the surley miserable staff in the brekfast room). This miserable approach gives the whole hotel a rather depressing, run down and ultimately `never come back feel`, rather than a well priced cheap hotel with a certain level of quirky faded graduer which it could do with a lesson in customer service.