Montcalm London City at the Brewery - 5 *

Written by Debs

When luxury looks the part, but doesn't quite deliver the experience

There is no denying that The Montcalm Brewery is a stunning building with a rich sense of history, and the staff on the front desk could not have been lovelier in their welcome. Sadly, however, the finer details of our stay did not live up to expectations, leaving us rather disheartened.

On arrival, we ordered a bottle of bubbles at 3:30pm to mark our belated anniversary escape, but it did not arrive until 6:45pm – just ten minutes before we had to leave for our West End show. A gesture we had so looked forward to was completely lost.

We also had to wait a full 30 minutes for concierge to escort us to our room, which turned out to be a long walk from the heart of the hotel and left us feeling disconnected from the main building. Room 134 itself, though spacious, was rather tired. The dressing table had unsightly glass rings (which we discreetly covered with the complimentary macaroons before filming), and both the bath plug and the shower required what felt like a PhD to operate.

The most troubling part came when we returned later to take a short video of the beautiful courtyard, only to be loudly questioned by a security guard as to why we were there. The following morning, when I walked through reception to meet my husband at breakfast, I was once again followed and approached, despite the fact we had paid to stay overnight. Far from feeling special, it left me feeling scrutinised and unwelcome — the opposite of what I had hoped for on a surprise anniversary treat in our capital.

It is such a shame, because The Montcalm Brewery has all the makings of a wonderful experience: a striking building, a prime location, and genuinely kind front-desk staff. But for us, the delays, lack of attention to detail, and uncomfortable encounters overshadowed what should have been a memorable celebration.

Would we return? Regrettably, no — not until the hotel matches its beauty with the seamless service and warmth one expects of a true luxury stay.

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