Tune Westminster Hotel Review

Tune Hotels are a popular no frills chain in Malaysia and Indonesia and this is their first opening in Europe. They were founded by Tony Fernandes who also runs the low-cost airline Air Asia.

Tune offer "5-star beds at 1-star prices" and are aimed at the savvy guest who wants the best value for money, whether they are leisure or business travellers – or the kind of person looking for a cheaper alternative to grabbing a cab home after a late night out enjoying the city. They also have Tune Liverpool Street and Tune Paddington.

Not actually in Westminster, it is a central location: just across Westminster Bridge from the Houses of Parliament and five minutes walk from Waterloo station near the London Eye. The hotel is opposite Lambeth North Tube Station and just around the corner is Lower Marsh where you'll find plenty of eateries.

The hotel is in a converted office block, so is not much to look out from the outside, but don't be put off as inside it's all clean and fresh.

No Facilities

Be aware, Tune Hotels only give you the basics but for many this will be all you need. Non-essential items are available as add-ons with a charge for each item, including a £1.50 charge for a towel and toiletries. I actually think this charge is quite acceptable as it's low and means I could stay over at the last minute, if they have availability.

Non-essential add-ons include a hairdryer, room safe, extra cleaning (they clean for your arrival and every third day), TV use and wi-fi. There are also charges for early check-in, late check out, luggage storage.

They are very up front about the charges for extras and when booking online all add-ons are offered before you confirm your booking. Also, when you arrive at the hotel a clear check list of add-ons is given to all guests and you can add extras at any time during your stay.

24 hour security is a feature of all Tune hotels and Tune Westminster has a small but welcoming Reception area. There is always someone on duty so even though there isn't a phone in the room to contact Reception you can always pop down to speak to them.

Staff are a big asset here as the Receptionists I met were very friendly and efficient and this seems to be the universal opinion. Cleaning staff were also polite and most definitely efficient too as the place is incredibly clean. It has been designed to be quick to clean and all of this helps keep the costs down for guests.

In Reception you will find a hot drinks machine, a vending machine for cold drinks and snacks, with many healthy options, a TV for news and weather, plus PCs for guest use (once you've paid your wi-fi fee).

As well as the 24 hour security, air-conditioning is free for every room and can be adjusted in your room.

Rooms are small at an average 8.2sq m but they are well-designed and you will fit in. There is no wardrobe but there is a hanging rail over a mirror and luggage can be stored under the beds. The beds are what keep people booking here as they use the same Hypnos beds that you will find in many five star hotels.

The small en-suite bathroom is perfectly functional and has a powerful shower which guests appreciate. The bathroom door is white transparent so be aware of this if sharing with friends.

The space may be small but the room really does have all you need. Most walls are white and a large mirror behind the bed makes the room seem larger. There's a feature wall with specially designed wallpaper (pale green with large flower outline) which increases the feeling of space. The room actually reminded me of The Hoxton Hotel which certainly has larger rooms but both hotels have good contemporary room design.

There's a wall-mounted TV and a pull down 'desk' for laptops but no chair as it pulls-down over the bed. The bedside tables are glass and the bedside lights are fitted into the wall. There are teak floors and blackout blinds fitted as standard. Windows can open for ventilation and I did find it very quiet in the room with the window closed.

There is not much space to walk around the bed so store everything under the bed and get in bed from one side and you'll be fine.

Most rooms are above ground level but there are a few (12) rooms in the basement and these do not have windows. Surprisingly, I didn't find these rooms dark as the spot lighting is well-placed and the rooms are even slightly bigger. If you were really only planning to sleep at the hotel I would see no reason not to take advantage of these cheaper rooms.

You can can book up to a year in advance and book online in good time and you should be able to get a room for £35 a night or even as low as £9 a night.

Would I stay here? Most definitely. Tune Westminster may be "no frills" but it's a clean and friendly hotel with all you need for a great night's sleep in a central London location.

Tune Hotel Westminster is the first of 15 locations scheduled to open across the Greater London area by 2017.

Address: 118-120 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7RW

Tel: 020 7633 9317

Official Website: www.tunehotels.com