Jade Burke heads to the contemporary Bermondsey Square Hotel for an overnight stay in one of its exclusive terrace rooms.
Overlooking the weekly Bermondsey antiques market, the Bermondsey Square Hotel lives up to its trendy location. A 15-minute walk away from London Bridge tube station, the hotel is close enough to the heart of the City without being in the centre of the hustle and bustle thanks to its peaceful surroundings.
As we make our way along Bermondsey St to the hotel from the station, I’m in ore of all the quirky shops and bars. The road is full to the brim with independent stores and cafes, perfect if you are visiting the City for business or pleasure.
As we reach the hotel we’re greeted at reception and told the room we will be staying in is called Tyler and can be found on the first floor. I am told that the terrace rooms are the only ones here that have been given a name instead of the traditional number you see in other hotels.
Guests come and go as the receptionist shares some key details about the premises, and I notice a traveller enter with a dog. I’m surprised to find out that it’s a pet friendly hotel as it isn’t often you find a hotel in the centre of London to offer such a service.
Taking the lift up, I notice various named rooms from the Tyler to the Bricklayers and the hotel’s duty manager tells me that these are the most popular rooms thanks to their shared terrace and built-in desk space for business clients to utilise.
Walking into the room, it’s clear the Bermondsey hasn’t skimped on space – the room is a perfect size for two guests with dedicated areas for luggage. A huge double bed takes centre stage; however, it has been placed at an angle giving guests a direct view of the open terrace. A wide wooden desk. complete with a side lamp is also included in the room to allow guests to work form their room if they prefer to work by themselves rather than downstairs in the coffee area.
You really are left wanting for nothing in this room, towels, toiletries, a hairdryer, fridge, clothes hangers and ironing and tea-making facilities have all been included, while air-conditioning and heating are both available should hotel guests need either.
Inside the hotel boasts various spaces for small meetings; there are numerous tables located downstairs in the restaurant and coffee area, while on the first-floor companies can hire out the Abbey room. It can accommodate up to 20 people in a fixed boardroom layout and also has access to the shared terrace, providing the room with some much-needed natural daylight. Fully flexible, the room can cater for formal meetings, team-building events and activities, drinks receptions and private dining events. Plus, free wi-fi is also available across the hotel.
I was surprised to find out that Bermondsey is also a dry hotel – meaning no alcohol is served on the premises. I thought that this would be a hindrance for the premises, however the duty manager tells me that the choice to serve no alcohol has actually proved to be a great selling point as guests are able to bring their own in at a much cheaper price.
So, if you’re looking for a city break or heading into the big smoke for a business conference or meeting, the Bermondsey Square Hotel has it all.
