Sanderson

I recently stayed at the Sanderson with my best friend on their Suka package in a deluxe room. I'd heard about the Sanderson from friends and had been recommended to try it.

On pulling up outside the hotel it looked like a converted 60's or 70's office building but on entering the lobby it was very quirky with a lot of interesting decor items that added a fun ambience. We arrived just after noon and I thought I'd try my luck to check in and luckily a room was available. The check in guy was very helpful and even gave us an upgrade to a room with a treadmill - not so useful when I was on a girls week-end and the last thing on my mind was workng out - but it came in handy for flinging clothes over!

After check in we flew up to our room (via the fun space lift) to drop our bags off and I was pleased with first impressions upon entering the room - again quirky and fun styling! I loved the big sleigh bed on an angle and the weird egg shaped footstool? is it a footstool?

We headed off to shop and did not get back to the hotel until very late afternoon. We grabbed a nap and then got ready for the evening ahead. For two lady friends sharing the room all the amenities were perfect and we were both able to get ready without getting in each other's way - plenty of room to move about in the actual room plus in the bathroom and wardrobe area.

Once ready we headed down to the long bar which was already packed at 7.30pm on a Saturday night. We had to wait several minutes to be served and I was not able to open a tab that could be transferred to the Suka restaurant where we were eating that evening. So we had to close the bar tab, open a new one in the restaurant then close that when we had finished eating and open a new one to have an after dinner drink back at the long bar - something I can perhaps understand for non residents who might abscond but a pain in the b*tt for a resident. Suka is about 10 feet from the long bar!

Dinner in the Suka restaurant was OK - nothing fabulous and not anywhere I would rush back to given the price. We asked the server's advise on how many dishes we should order for 2 people and were advised 6 - 3 for starter and 3 for main plus 2 sides. Having not eaten there before we did not know the portion size so we went with the advice we had been given - it turned out to be far too much and we could have got by with 4 dishes in total without any sides. We had to leave 3 dishes completely untouched - a waste when we're talking nearly £10 a dish! Flavour and presentation wise the food was good but not great - hence my comment about not rushing back. I've had better meals at local Asian cuisine restaurants.

After our meal we headed back to the bar which by now was heaving. I waited about 10 minutes to be served and had to work very hard to catch someone's eye to order a drink even though they did not appear to be rushed off their feet.

The bar had a great atmosphere - lots of 'beautiful people' but none with attitudes.

In summary the stay was fun but expensive - the Suka credit against the room rate was a godsend given the price of the meal and the food we did not eat. The overall cost was justifiable if you are splitting it with a friend but I would struggle to hand over my credit card for one night with my husband when we would take the hit together.

The hotel is interesting, quirky and I would recommend to friends if they have deep pockets.

I have signed up to Trip Advisor to warn you not to waste your time or money at this appalling establishment. An expensive mistake on my part to book a night away in London to celebrate a special occasion. The staff try there best however the poor, high handed management ruin their efforts. We had two experiences at the Suka restaurant which were bearable however room service was over prices and inedible. Unfortunately we were woken during the night by a fire alarm, there was complete lack of care and organisation for residents and the only member of staff that we saw during the experience stunk of a alcohol- thank goodness it seems it had only been a false alarm!