Blakes Hotel

We chose Blakes because we were looking for a boutique hotel in or near Kensington. I’ve traveled a lot, for business and pleasure, and can’t think of a more frustrating experience. To begin, we booked a room with a «queen» size bed. Most hotels offer king size, and a queen would have been fine, but it turns out that an English queen size is equivalent to a U.S. double bed. OK, fair enough. But one of the reasons we picked Blakes was their highly regarded restaurant, which was duly noted in the emails we got confirming our reservation and re-​confirming it before we arrived; that latter email at least told us that the restaurant was closed for a (very noisy) renovation. What else? How about that we lost power in our room (no lights, no A/​C) on two consecutive days when i tried to iron a shirt. It also would have been nice to have adequate lighting in the bathroom and for the staff who showed us to our room (well after the scheduled 2:00 PM check-​in time) to explain that the painted buttons on the wall not only turned the lights on and off, but that they also functioned as rheostats (i was using the flashlight in my phone to get dressed), and that one of them by the bed functioned as a master switch. While the room was clean and attractively furnished, that didn’t compensate for the other shortcomings.

I remember coming here for dinner with my parents in the early 80s, and seeing Mick Jagger & Lauren Bacall (dining separately), and Anouschka Hempel (the then-​owner) elegantly moving around welcoming people. The hotel and restaurant were the place to be.
This is no longer that place.
We are staying here for three nights, in a ‘superior’ room. The hotel is showing its age, so the dark striking décor — famous 30 years ago — is … Less so now. We were notified that the bar is closed for renovation (more on that later), as is the restaurant, for ‘a few weeks’. The room was fine, though the sophistication necessary to figure out all the different light switches is annoying. The bathroom does not have a standalone shower: it is a shower-​head over the tub, with a curtain that closes in a ring around you. I hate those, as does sweetie. If you are handicapped or infirm, you may not be able to step over the 3ft high tub rim. The bathroom cosmetics are all grapefruit scented. In fact, the whole hotel smells of grapefruit. Good thing my after shave is Hermes Pamplemousse…
We went to the small but elegant ‘temporary breakfast room’ yesterday, looking forward to it. The menu was very simple (no eggs benedict, for example), and I ordered two poached eggs on toast with salmon. Which is what I got: two poached eggs on dry toast with salmon on the side. A little too literal?
Look, the staff are great, room service was exactly on time (coffee & croissants). But today, Saturday, the construction started at 8:20a.m. For $ 400/​night, I expect more. I would have stayed at myHotel Chelsea (my usual), nearby and half the price for the same or better. But this was a birthday present from Sweetie.
I wouldn’t stay here again, but I hope they’re able to recapture its former glory

Came to this hotel for an afternoon tea with the girls and it was disappointing. My friend pointed out that «Now we know what an afternoon tea is like outside zone 1», which was quite funny, although of course I have been to a few afternoon teas inside zone 1 which are also not as good, but this one is at bottom place at the moment for service.
We booked the afternoon tea slot between 3−5pm. My friends arrived at 2:30 and I arrived at 3:10. They were downstairs in the Chinese room bar having a drink and then my friend went upstairs at 3:30pm to check on the table. She never came back downstairs so we went up after her!
She was waiting for news on when our table would be ready. The problem was no-​one seemed to know. The first person she asked got another person, who also got another, and none of them were the wiser. In the end we got our table a whole hour late because they did not shoo away the customers before us.
We were led to sit down at the table which was not even properly cleared as there was a lonely champagne glass sitting on the table. The table was far too small to fit the paraphernalia that comes with high tea, the waiter was pretty inexperienced or just plain bad because between the 4 of us we ordered 3 teas, he got 1 tea order wrong, after 15 minutes of waiting time. When he poured water from a jug all the ice fell into the glass, really? It was just bad and slow service throughout.
The food was decent albeit the table was entirely too small to fit all the teacups, the food trays and whatnot. The lone waiter serving the four tables took forever to add more water to our tea.
Other guests were also causing quite a nuisance as three girls were celebrating something on the balcony above us and decided to uncork their champagne bottle only to hit us with the cork… they were loud and unbecoming in what should have been a «posh» hotel surrounding.
All in all, we had a terrible experience which was not good because these were friends I have not seen in a decade and it would have been nice if we had a good time instead of experiencing the madness of service and food in this environment.
Conclusion: The hotel looks pretty, but the food and service is so NOT worth it. This place is also a long 15 minute walk from the underground so it is not in a convenient spot at all.

Great staff, very friendly and helpful no matter what we needed. It is not too big, the staff actually recognizes you during your stay. There is a beautiful outdoor patio on the 1^st floor to sip your tea or wine! It is located in a beautiful neighborhood w/​lots of restaurants and shops. Very walkable neighborhood and easy to cab to other parts of central London. Love, love, love this hotel!

While this hotel is very interesting in décor, etc. be aware that if you are not reserving one of their «suites» you will be stuck in a shoebox. My room was over $ 500 US and I had a single bed and a bathroom you could not turn around in without hitting the walls (I am 5’10, 180 so not a «big» guy). The brochure looks great but you cannot get one of those rooms for $ 500.
When I complained to management they said they were a «suite» hotel and they would be happy to show me a suite. I am sure at at least $ 1000.
I had also reserved the room and pick up from the AP. Due to travel agency issues they never got my flight info so I did not get the ride from the AP. They gave me 30 pounds credit! After they told me that it was worth 100 pounds.
I know this is London but really???
I travel a lot and all around the US and Europe but I have never seen anything like this. If it were $ 50 – 70 a night then I would expect this.
Go somewhere else, unless of course you can afford a suite! Although I cannot vouch for what they look like because I was stuck in a broom closet for a room.
One star is too much for this place.

This was our first time at Blake’s and I want to particularly comment in the staff. Blake’s provides first class service starting with the general manager, Julian Payne, and continuing to the front desk staff, the porters, the wait staff… They cannot do enough for you and they do it with style.
Our room is lovely with marquetry floors, a dramatic draped bed, and 3 French doors leading out to a wide balcony. The towels in the bath are the thickest and softest ever!
I recommend Blake’s for the service, the location, and the style!

Loving the location, in trendy, residential South Kensington neighborhood. Walking distance to many great spots. It feels more like a friend’s flat than staying at a hotel. Upon entering, you notice the global treasures filling the dimly lit lobby.
We stayed 3 nights in a Chinese dynasty themed room. I am simply docking stars because the room was dark and a bit crowded. Too much furniture in a small space. I also had difficulty getting dressed in the dark space. The room seemed a bit dated and the pillows and accessories were very dusty! After spending the first night, my significant other and I awoke to the game of «Count the bug bites on our body.» That ALWAYS worries me… is the room not clean? It should very well be for that cost!!!
The hotel was redeemed later that night as we had a drink at the downstairs hotel bar. A fun, small spot to start your evening where we met the gorgeous Ana, Head of Guest Relations, who recommended many fabulous things to do during our London stay. The bar attracts a groovy, international crowd and we ended up spending the entire night there… forgetting our dinner reservation!

I thought the hotel had a great reputation but I was sorely disappointed.
1. No porters to assist with luggage (they have them but not there when I arrived or checked out)
2. Room size — my room was very small, you literally couldn’t pull the chair out to sit at your desk
3. Room repair — toilet roll holder broken, room lighting broken, power at desk broken
4. Air conditioning — I don’t think it had any and if it did it wasn’t working
5. Internet Access — wired connection didn’t work and wifi would stay up for more than 3min and you couldn’t reconnect.
All in all, I will not be back

Eclectic Edge
Dramatic Style in a Classic Townhouse Setting
A striking reception at Blakes
Not for the faint-​hearted but definitely for travel connoisseurs, this theatrical hotel in a series of late-​Victorian townhouses was the first venture of Anouska Hempel, a.k.a. Lady Weinberg, the wife of leading city financier Sir Mark Weinberg. The dramatic results reflect her fashion and acting background.
Blakes’s style is esoteric with strong themes running through each room’s décor, from Biedermeier furniture to black Oriental lacquer. There are lots of swagged curtains, trompe l’œil wall treatments and marble in the bathrooms. Each bedroom is different, startling and idiosyncratic, some with painted floorboards, others with fantasy beds.
Some might accuse Hempel of over-​decoration, and fans of minimalism should definitely steer clear, but this place is enormous fun and not surprisingly goes down big with celebrities who make up most of the guests. No doubt they appreciate the gorgeous aesthetics and amenities such as fireplaces and private balconies.
Downstairs, Blakes restaurant displays Hempel’s keen interest in the Orient, with Japanese «Kyoto Country Breakfasts.» There is also an expensive but beautifully executed international menu that attracts a glamorous clientele. The hotel has an affiliation with Holmes Place health club. It has a sister property in Amsterdam.

Myself and a group of 5 friends ate at Blakes recently. We were greeted warmly by the staff and shown to our table. We had a great table for our party towards the back of this intimate restaurant.
We were presented with the menu and the choices looked sumptuous and when each course arrived, they certainly lived up to the description.
I have eaten at various well known West End restaurants and a few in Knightsbridge and Kensington, but so far this has been my favourite in all ways.
Perhaps the price is slightly more expensive than some of the best of the rest… or not so best of the rest, but on reflection the overall experience, food, wine, ambience and service was perfect and I couldn’t find fault with Blakes.
Thank you for a wonderful evening and compliments to the Chef and staff. I’d love to return in the not too distant future.

Blakes is one of my favourite places in London. It is all dark and squished, but in a good way. I would definitely recommend this place for a third date, it will get you laid. Fact. You might want to wait for pay day though.
Everything on the menu is pretty much amazing. Take heed if ordering the soufflé, because it is the size of a small country and could feed five. Easily.

Whether eating, drinking or staying in this sumptuous South Kensington hotel, designed by famous hotelier Anouska Hempel, you can expect to be taken care of royally.
Having spent many a night here ensconced in the bar, or fine dining, I definitely hold it dear. It is an area institution and deservedly so.
The staff are always warm and welcoming, especially to their favorite customers, and although it is dark through and through, the style of the place merits it.
If you desire to be taken care of properly, then definitely look no further than Blakes.

Un petit bijou
Arrivée à Londres avec une amie pour 3 jours, l’hotel que nous avions booké était plein… C’est totalement par hasard que nous avons appelé cet hotel, qui, pour Londres et surtout Chelsea, semblait relativement bon marché. L’accueil téléphonique a été charmant, l’arrivée, une vraie surprise. Cet hotel est tout ce que l’on aime: design mais sobre, le service est impeccable, la chambre était exactement conforme à la description, avec un balcon en plus, le petit jardin? Un havre de paix merveilleusement planté. Le resto et le bar sont visiblement courus: ils étaient bien remplis chaque soir. Le barman mixe au Bouji’s (La boîte VIP de Londres… à 2 rues), ainsi nous sommes vues invitées dans ce lieu pourtant très très sélect. Nous avions une chambre avec 2 lits, plus 2 petit dej et quelques apéro: 225 £ chacune. Pour nous c’est clair, prochain week-​end, c’est là-​bas que nous descendrons.

I love Blake’s. It is quaint but keeps this high end feel to it. So you’d think a conflicting idea but not. The rooms are very European but comfy. The prices are high. Dinner was fabulous and also quite pricey but if this doesn’t matter then well it doesn’t matter!

There is a Hotel in Chelsea, which is a true treasure. If you would ask me what a luxury hotel is, this will be it — it is small, unique and serves all your needs. Having had a drink with a group of friends there, I went downstairs where an exotic but modern looking lounge awaited me. The room was decorated out of dark wood and black walls, seats arranged in squares around tables. Sharing a table we ordered different cocktails. Next ot it there is a restaurant where dinner is served, the menu card is Asian.
I was told that each room looks different and has been carefully designed. Of course the interior is voluptuous and over the top — reminding me of a Hotel designed by Christian Lacroix in Paris. I am sure it is an experience. Nonetheless the prices are sky-​high — no surprise in London!

un hotel innovador
Este majestuoso hotel de cuatro estrellas nos llama la atencion nada más verlo porque su fachada es de un negro azabache siempre reluciente. Sus habitaciones tienen una excentrica decoracion a base de llamativos colores y gozan de toda clase de comodidades. Es frecuente ver hospedados en él a personajes famosos tales como artistas, actores, modelos o deportistas. Un lugar magico para gente de dinero