The hotel: 1 Wilbraham Place, Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9AE. Just one block back from Sloane Square and a few minutes’ walk from the underground station of the same name, Phoenix House is in a very quiet street flanked by Victorian townhouses.
The check-in: Speedy and welcoming. The concierge walked us to our second-floor apartment and provided us with a thorough introduction to its many facilities: if you are here for an extended visit – the average stay is almost 16 nights – you need to know how to work the washing machine, dishwasher and various remote controls.
The apartment: The extremely spacious split-level (duplex) apartment had open-plan kitchen/dining room/lounge upstairs and a bedroom with full bathroom downstairs. All 33 apartments have state-of-the-art, well equipped kitchens. Waiting for us was a large welcome hamper of quality organic food and drinks that included Duchy Originals-branded items. The filter coffee, eggs, orange juice, bacon, bread, pasta and sauce are enough to cover dinner on the evening of check-in and the next morning’s breakfast. The bathroom offered Aveda toiletries, while the bed featured goose down duvets and Frette satin/cotton sheets. A recycling system is in place and all household products are of either eco-friendly or the biodegradable type.
The facilities: The apartments feature Bang & Olufsen televisions on motorised stands with built-in DVDs, CD players, Bose speakers, fax machines with scanners and printers, wireless internet and digital cordless telephones with digital answer machines. The 24-hour concierge will re-stock the fridge, make table reservations and accept deliveries. The fitness room has a treadmill, bike, rower and cross trainer. A maid service is available Monday to Friday. Phoenix House opened Le Cercle, its stylish ‘underground’ restaurant, in May 2004 – and has been wooing food critics ever since with sophisticated French cuisine.
The CHECKOUT: Painless, and the receptionist directed me to the nearest tube station.
The verdict: An ultra-comfortable oasis in a prime location that provides the perfect home from home whatever the purpose of your visit.
The details: Phoenix House is part of the Cheval Group, which owns and operates six properties across London. Studio apartments from £1,197, one-bedroom apartments from £1,596, duplex one-bedrooms from £1,995, and a two-bedroom apartment from £2,485 per week. The minimum stay is one week. Tel: 020 7259 8222; www.chevalgroup.com Steve Hartridge
