Dorset Square Hotel, Firmdale Hotels

The Dorset Square Hotel, part of Firmdale Hotels, is a Michelin Key Selected property in London's prestigious Marylebone area, consistently praised for its distinctive design, intimate atmosphere, and exceptional service.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for the Dorset Square Hotel is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as "fabulous," "wonderful," and a "home from home." It boasts high scores for comfort (9.5), staff (9.4), cleanliness (9.6), and location (9.5) based on numerous reviews. The hotel is often lauded as a luxurious, intimate boutique escape with a "great overall ranking" and an "excellent romantic hotel" status.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently highlight several standout features:

• Design: The hotel's interior design by Kit Kemp is a major draw, characterized by "beautiful colors and decor," "bold patterns and colored textiles," and an "idiosyncratic tapestry of textures, colours and styles." The design seamlessly blends antique and contemporary elements, creating a stylish and cozy ambiance.
• Service: The staff receives widespread acclaim for being "incredibly friendly and helpful," "smilingly efficient," and providing "outstanding service." Many appreciate the highly personal, boutique luxury experience.
• Location: Situated in Marylebone, the location is described as "perfect," "central," and "convenient." It's a short walk from key transport links and attractions.
• Amenities: The hotel offers a designer drawing room with high ceilings, a fireplace, and an honesty bar. Guests also appreciate the free WiFi throughout the property. The private leafy garden square, accessible with a key provided to guests, is also a unique highlight for relaxation.

3. Room Quality

The 38 individually designed bedrooms are elegant yet contemporary, styled with complementary colors and designer fabrics. Guests frequently praise the comfort of the beds with "nice linens," "big bath towels and fluffy robes." Rooms feature flat-screen LCD TVs, minibars, and private bathrooms with Rik Rak by Kit Kemp toiletries. Many rooms offer charming views of the leafy Dorset Square. While generally well-outfitted, some guests have noted that certain rooms, particularly "standard" or "very small" rooms, can be on the smaller side, though the decor helps them feel cozy. Closet space is typically ample, and mini-bars are cleverly integrated into the design.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's restaurant and bar, "The Potting Shed," is open all day, serving English brasserie-style cuisine using locally sourced produce. It's a lively spot buzzing with both hotel guests and locals.

• Breakfast: The breakfast often receives positive feedback, described as "delicious" with "many options." Some reviews mention a "sumptuous spread of dainty sandwiches, decadent cakes and scones, high-quality teas and glasses of champagne" for afternoon tea, also served at The Potting Shed. The continental breakfast buffet is noted for its artistic arrangement of fresh fruits, homemade granola, and various breads and cereals. However, one past review noted the subterranean breakfast room as "a bit depressing" and the breakfast "unimpressive," and a recurring minor criticism mentioned overdone toast.
• Restaurant Quality: The Potting Shed offers a tasty and varied menu, including dishes like Potting Shed Fish Pie and grilled West Country lamb cutlets.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Dorset Square Hotel is consistently highlighted as a major strength. Staff are described as "friendly and helpful," "kind," "willing," and "smilingly efficient." Guests appreciate the "amazing attention to detail and service," noting that "customer service is first in mind." Reviewers frequently mention warm greetings, supportive front desk, housekeeping, and restaurant staff. The personalized attention contributes to guests feeling like they are truly welcome.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Dorset Square Hotel is ideally located in the prestigious Marylebone area of Central London.

• Neighborhood: It's situated on the edge of a leafy private square, which was once the original Lord's cricket ground, influencing some of the hotel's tasteful decor. The immediate vicinity is filled with shops, bars, and restaurants, particularly around Chiltern Street and Marylebone Village, offering a unique "London village atmosphere." Regent's Park is less than a 5-minute walk away. Nearby attractions include the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
• Transport: The hotel offers excellent accessibility:
  • Underground: Baker Street Underground Station is a 2-minute walk away. Marylebone Station (Bakerloo line) is also about a two-minute walk.
  • Train: London Marylebone Train Station is 3 minutes away on foot. Marylebone station also serves Chiltern Railways trains to Birmingham.
  • Taxis/Ubers: Taxis are plentiful, and Ubers are easily accessible.
  • Airports: Heathrow is 18 miles away, with Gatwick, Stansted, or City airports also accessible.
• Accessibility Features: The hotel has two ground-floor rooms adapted to be fully wheelchair accessible and offers a wheelchair-accessible concierge desk, lounge, registration desk, and restaurant. An elevator is available.

7. Value & Pricing

The Dorset Square Hotel is generally considered a luxury property, reflected in its pricing. While some guests acknowledge it as "pricy," they often find it worthwhile for the "boutique luxury and outstanding service." Room rates can vary, with an average price for a weeknight around $512 and a weekend night around $392. October is typically the cheapest month to stay, with August being the most expensive. Some guests have expressed that while lovely, they find the price, especially without breakfast included (which can be an additional £52), to be high, hoping for cheaper rates for a return visit.

8. Common Complaints

While reviews are largely positive, a few recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:

• Room Size: Some guests found standard or certain rooms to be "very small," particularly compared to American hotel room averages.
• Extra Charges/Pricing Transparency: A significant complaint from one reviewer involved unexpected "accommodation service" charges upon check-out, accumulating daily and amounting to over £100, which felt like being charged again for an already paid stay. Another mentioned issues with overcharging on bar usage, though these were removed when brought to attention.
• Lack of In-Room Coffee Machine: Some guests expressed a desire for a coffee machine in the room.
• Inconsistent Housekeeping Services: One guest noted that cleaning times were not always reliable and that water was not consistently replenished without being asked.
• Limited Room Keys: The provision of only one room key for two people was a minor inconvenience for one reviewer.
• Breakfast (Minor): While generally praised, one older review found the subterranean breakfast room "depressing" and the breakfast "unimpressive." Another consistent, albeit minor, observation across Firmdale hotels is that toast is often overdone.
• Lack of Elevator in the entire building: While there's an elevator, a review mentioned "no elevator" in a way that suggests it might not serve all floors or sections, but staff assist with bags. (This contradicts other sources mentioning "small lift" and "elevator" generally, suggesting it might be a partial lift or a perception issue).

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