Umi Hotel London

5 Star Service at a 3 Star Hotel

Umi
16 Leinster Square
Bayswater
London
W2 4PR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7221 9131
Fax: +44 (0)20 7221 4073
Email reservations: reservations@umihotels.co.uk
Web: www.umihotels.co.uk

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Umi is a new concept in hotels by having a service-led attitude usually associated with 5 star hotels. Umi was given a 3 star rating in 2007 but is a cut above others in the area. Notting Hill and Bayswater have plenty of mid-range hotels and it can be hard to choose from the masses. Umi is larger than most as it takes up 6 houses on a quiet square overlooking a private garden. It instantly stands out with its fresh flowers hanging outside and the Umi logo which was developed in association with a brand design company.

The open plan reception has calming cream walls and brown leather sofas and is attached to the Yumi coffee shop serving fair-trade coffees and teas. Free newspapers and plenty of copies of Time Out are available for guests in the foyer which is a particularly nice touch. There is a dedicated concierge desk 6 days a week who can book tours or theater tickets for you as well as printing maps or visitor information for attractions.

The basement area is divided into 3 zones so private functions can be happening at the same time as dining for guests. There is a new British evening menu which uses quality British ingredients at reasonable prices. The bar is sponsored by Absolut vodka and has a well-chosen cocktail menu including the 'Notting Hill Ice Tea' and other cocktails named after the area as the hotel's founder feels strongly that a hotel should embrace the local area. He hopes for there to be more Umi hotels in the future and he would continue this ethos.

Breakfast is included (unlike at many of Umi's neighbors), is easy to choose from a tick list of options with plenty of choice. I was impressed to find you can have breakfast after checking out which is a rare offer.

The bar and coffee shop can show the North American Sports Network on their large screens so do let them know if there's a game you want to see.

There are 114 rooms and 5 more 'Umi' rooms being built. Rooms are over 5 floors with a lift to the 4th floor. A lot of money has been spent since the place was The Westminster Hotel and there are now security cameras in the corridors and a card key system. New beds have also been bought recently.

The building was built in 1865 so you need to embrace the charm of staying in an old building as there are some sloping floors and sometimes the windows aren’t perfectly aligned. This isn't a fault as it's what makes a stay at the Umi more homely. The rooms still need more work but they are clean and fresh and all have plasma TVs with around 60 channels. Rooms at the front get the lovely view of the private gardens in the middle of the square. Think of Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in the film Notting Hill and you'll know what it's like. A great bonus of staying at the Umi is you can have access to these gardens as the hotel pays towards their upkeep.

A wide selection of room types is available which certainly widens the hotel's appeal. I saw a well-sized family room as well as singles and doubles of varied proportions. Prices start from under £50 a night and the manager strongly recommends you book directly through their web site or give them a call as they can offer you the best deals directly. They are getting more repeat stays with requests for particular room numbers which they welcome.

There are steps at the front entrance which can't be converted but there is a bell at street level for disabled guests to call for assistance, plus ground floor rooms with a priority given to disabled guests.

The clientele seemed very mixed; from mature Asian couples, American families, backpacking young Europeans, and young corporate travelers.

I fully support Umi's desire to offer their guests truly good service – something which can often be lacking from a stay at a chain hotel.