Having stayed in Chester on many occasions, it was time to review The Chester Grosvenor Hotel for one of our birthdays.
On our previous visits to Chester, we have stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Blossoms Hotel. However, we thought it was time for a little indulgence and paid £225.00 for an Executive Room at the hotel.
The Chester Grosvenor has a great location in Chester and with that comes a higher price tag than most other hotels in the area. Taking this into account and having paid 249 Euros to stay in a One Bedroom Suite at the Conrad Dublin, our expectations were high.
Hotel Review Details
- Arrival Date: 4th March 2016
- Room Type: Executive Room
- Room Number: 220
- Hotel Address: Eastgate, Chester CH1 1LT, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- Location: Google Maps
- Hotel Website: The Chester Grosvenor
- Loyalty Programme: No programme
Check-in
As we were driving into Chester, we decided to take up the valet parking option for £8.50 for 24 hours.
We just drove up to the hotel entrance, dropped off our car and were guided to one of the reception desks to complete the checking-in process.
The process was quick, and the member of staff asked if we would like tea or coffee sent to our room the following morning.
We were taken to our room by a member of staff and our bags were waiting for us in the room.
The Room
The Chester Grosvenor Hotel Website description of an Executive Room
The Executive rooms offer additional space for extra comfort and are beautifully furnished with soft textures, each room is completely unique in its design.
An entrance hall leads into the beautiful bedroom with a 6ft king size bed along with a comfortable seating area for relaxation and a feature desk/vanity. Bathrooms are delightful with marble throughout and an integrated bath and shower. We have interconnecting rooms in this category which are ideal for families.
Our room was on the second floor overlooking Eastgate, which was fantastic, but that was one of the few things that exceeded our expectations.
Firstly, although the bed was super king size, it was two single beds and mattresses put together. The two single mattresses made the bed uncomfortable, and neither of us had a good nights sleep.
There was no tea and coffee making facilities in the room, hence the member of staff asking whether we would like some in the morning before breakfast.
The decor and bedroom furnishings were acceptable, a little bit dated, but there was a smell of cigarettes in the bathroom and room.
Again, nothing to shout about in the bathroom but the facilities and extras are what you would expect from a 5-star hotel.
Restaurants and Bars
Having already eaten at Upstairs At The Grill and Hickory’s Smokehouse during the day and evening we decide to have a couple of drinks at Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor.
Having had a bottle of Veuve Cliquot at lunch, we were pondering whether to have another bottle to finish our day of celebration.
Knowing there was likely to be a premium to pay, we took a glance at the wine list.
We paid £70.00 for a bottle earlier in the day, and the expectation was it was probably going to be £90.00 in the hotel. To our astonishment, the same bottle of Veuve Cliquot was £120.00.
Again, we are not averse to paying a premium when staying in a 5-star hotel. However, £120,00 was not a price we were willing to pay.
In the end, we had two gin and tonics and two craft beers for a total of £35.50. It was not cheap but was expected considering. However, the staff were not particularly attentive, and I think this had something to do with the fact that we were not eating and dressed in the appropriate attire.
Room Service
We order coffee for 8.30 am. However, we were up early and called room service, and our tray was in the room within 10 minutes of changing the time.
Unbeknown to us the coffee for two was chargeable at £9.50. We don’t have a problem paying for things if it’s explained when we checked-in.
Our thought process was that there are no tea and coffee facilities in the room, so ordering coffee in the morning as part of the service. Clearly not.
Breakfast
Breakfast was served at La Brasserie from 7.00 am to 10.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.30 am to 10.00 am at the weekend.
We booked The Chester Grosvenor through Hotels.com on a bed and breakfast basis.
After being seated at our table, the member of staff gave us a breakfast menu.
A selection of juices, cereals, fruit, breakfast rolls, croissants, Danish pastries and porridge.
The menu also included an English breakfast, but to our astonishment, there was a £9.50 supplement.
The member of staff didn’t mention the charge, but we both decided to have the English breakfast and see if the additional supplement ended up on our final bill, which it did.
Verdict
When you are staying at a boutique hotel and paying a certain amount of money, you expect a certain level of expectation.
Unfortunately, our visit to The Chester Grosvenor didn’t meet our expectations.
As mentioned several times in this review, we are happy to pay a premium for excellent service, food, drink and accommodation.
What we don’t like is paying a premium and then having to pay additional charges for what you thought you were getting in the first place.
The Grosvenor is an iconic hotel in Chester. However, our perception is that it is appealing to the overseas tourist who is looking for traditional English heritage.
