| Product: |
Hotels in Edinburgh in general |
| Date: |
13.04.01 (206 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Great location, great hotel
Disadvantages: None
Edinburgh's premier hotel is looking tired. Once an exclusive destination, now tour busses line up outside disgorging weary tourists 'doing' Scotland. Rooms and fittings show resulting signs of wear from frequent turnover.
The George in George Street has been my address in Edinburgh for some ten years. It is in the centre of town by St Andrews Square, convenient for my work, close to restaurants and shops and just off Princess Street.
The staff show true Scot's hospitality, even though, as part of the Intercontinental group they are an international team. Reception and hall staff are welcoming and friendly.
After your room is allocated you turn either to the left or right. To the right is the new wing, the old wing is on the left. Usually I turn right. The one time I went left I had an unpleasant single room in the roof, long and thin with a small window above eye level.
The new wing rooms are comfy, with good-sized bed, two armchairs, coffee table and desk and office chair. A wooden unit houses TV, mini-bar, clothes drawers. Drawers on the top left are fake: the fascia opens out to reveal kettle and tea/coffee making facilities.
The bathroom is compact, with a good range of toiletries including a neat pack of cotton buds, emery boards etc. But special mention must be made of the soap. The bath soap is presented in a classy dark green and gold cardboard box about 3 inches, by one and a half by 1. Inside, wrapped in tissue paper is a large bar curved to fit in the palm of ones hand and round legs and arms. It's a pleasure to use after the micro tablets offered in most hotels. And they're replaced every day.
Soundproofing could be better and the placing of the TV encourages people to have the volume raised. But the windows can be opened wide so one can sleep breathing fresh Scottish air.
You must go in the restaurant. It was originally a stock exchange and is a high hall marvellous
ly decorated. Dinner is a carvery, breakfast is a buffet. I think over the years the carvery meal has declined but I cannot report on it this trip. On Sunday night with just a few guests and acres of empty tables I waited a long time before being seated. They were seating everyone close together in one area although all tables were laid even down to dinner rolls on plates. The tables are very close together, with only a couple of inches between them on one side. When I asked for a more secluded table (I didn't want to sit next to a group of voluble arm-waving Spanish tourists) I was told the only other seats were in the smoking area - a palpable untruth. So I left to eat dinner elsewhere.
Breakfast was good. Tea and toast arrived promptly. The influence of American tourists can be seen on the buffet with two fried egg platters, one sunny side up, the other 'over easy', but unfortunately their excellent back bacon has been replaced by American style streaky bacon cooked to a crisp. If they'd also offer back bacon it'd be perfect.
The hotel has pleasant lounges where you can order tea and scones, comfy leather chaired bar with a great selection of malt whiskies and an up market French restaurant with a separate entrance.
I will definitely stay at The George again. But to maintain it's luxury hotel rating it should revamp the tired rooms and look at the restaurant from a customers point of view.
Summary:
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