I had been invited to a very special friend's birthday party. One of those '0' ones so i knew it would be a late do, so sensible to stay over I thought. Checking around I came across the Portobello, which just happens to be in the next street to where I was going, Have a look on their web-site, I did, it looks great. About 3 weeks before the event I rang to book a room, now I should point out that they aren't cheap £145 (ex VAT) for a single up to £315 (ex VAT) for the best. The cheapest double works out at £234 inc Vat, but the 20% offer mentioned on the website apparently only applies to bookings made on the day, a novel way of pricing thought I! I found another bookings site which actually showed the number of rooms available and tracked that so I did book on the morning of the day I was staying and got the room for £200 inc.

You have to look for it in Stanley Gardens, but the ubiquitous 2 Bay Trees gave it away so I pulled up on the yellow lines outside (it was a Sunday) and went in to check in. The young lady on reception was having a blazing row with some other guests who seemed to be having a row themselves, but that's life, so when she gave me that look which sort of implies that I had no right to be on the same planet as her I put it down to her recent experience. How wrong can you be! The welcome is neither warm or polite, but check in I did and then asked (because it wasn't offered) if someone could help me in with my bags. Someone was (after a very audible tut) summoned. I went up to the room! Small didn't come into it, how 2 people manage I'd love to know, then I looked at the bathroom! Tired would be polite. It had a toilet, facing the shower room with a washbasin in between, not so much a room, more a corridor! Having driven for 2 hours I made use of the facility, but I could not get the flush to work. I knew I had to move my car so I went down to reception and explained about the problem with the flush, only to be told that 'I had to push hard' Not sure she was happy when I said that for £200 per night I didn't push hard on anything, but she said she'd get someone to look at it whilst I sorted my car out. On my return I was assured that someone had been up to the room and was again advised to 'push hard'
On the plus side this Hotel does have complimentary wifi and that was easy enough to get connected too.
Early October this year was unseasonably warm, the hotel doesn't suffer from air conditioning and my little room was getting hotter so I thought I'd have a shower. That was a challenge. Firstly you have to climb into it, secondly to get to the tap you have to close the door, thirdly the cubicle is so small you can't avoid the water, end result you either get very cold water or very hot! Not bad for over £200 eh!
It's impossible to dry yourself off in the bathroom so back into my now even hotter pen where I changed into my party outfit, sweating profusely and I set off for the party. On the way through reception I mentioned the heat and without a smile I was told that they could put an air-conditioner in my room and, fair enough it was there when I got back. These portable units could not be described as quiet and to use it you have to open the window and doing that lets in the loud traffic noise from Kensington Park Road, a bus route and hilly at that point too. So the choice was sleep cool, but be woken by the noise, or sleep warm, I opted for warm, although as they haven't yet found double glazing the noise element is still very much there.
I watched some tv, marveling at the way the wiring to the wall mounted set had been done in black with no effort made to conceal it, sent down for a glass of wine which was served by the same guy as sorted out my luggage so I assume they run the place on 2 people with some chambermaids in the morning.
Continental Breakfast is included in the rate and you can have it served in your room, but as there was nowhere to sit and not being a breakfast fan I skipped it, maneuvering round the shower was challenge enough!
There is a mini-bar, they charge for water which is not stored in the fridge.
Wardrobe space is at a premium, if you are staying more than one night and there are 2 of you, you'll struggle They do use duvets on the beds though which I thoroughly approve of.
Would I go back? No
Would I recommend this hotel, no unless you really do want to be in that particular part of Notting Hill and your stay is short.

It's a few minutes walk from nearest tube quite nice entrance. Space is at a premium. Cooked breakfast was actually very good continental nothing special. Room was clean bed comfortable. One nasty is they mix chocs and Florentines and jelly beans in with the complimentary tea and coffee and biscuits etc the charge is £7 for a small bag. Mini bar stuff in every hotel I have ever been to is kept separate. So I thought this was sharp practice and marred an otherwise pleasant stay. Ps portobello is just a street Market, pleasant enough

After googling hotels with big baths i found this beaut through rooms for romance. I instantly fell in love with it, we needed it for the next day so waited until the morning to book and get 20% off. I spoke to Hannah on the phone, and she couldn't have been nicer, she gave the discount straight away and was helpful about the size and details of the rooms. Hannah gave me the options of two rooms so i booked one and she said i could look at the other one if it was still available when we got there and upgrade if we liked.

When we got to the hotel, i ran inside to find out about parking and got some really helpful info off the other receptionist (also very nice) after parking just up the road (4 hours max and v expensive, we moved the car to the hilton later even more expensive 32 for 24 hours!!! so avoid driving if you can!) we went inside and were greeting by the smiling hannah herself! she instantly remembered me from the phone and explained the colonial room had been booked but gave us the option of two morrocan rooms and asked the porter to show us them.

both rooms were gorgeous but we went for the one with the mirrored ceilings! ;)

There was a bath in the room, a massive bed almost on the floor a huge plasma tv, molton brown smellies, airconditioning. the room was perfect. I was worried it wouldnt live up to the pictures on line but it did, the room was small but any bigger and it would lose the amazing cosy feel.

the walk to the underground was easy and there was some gorgeous delis along the main road. When we came in around 1 we were greeted by the porter straight away and when we ordered drinks via room service they too came almost instantly (probably took a while to get up the millions of stairs or the comedy lift)

There is alot of renovation going on around the area but we slept undisturbed, infact we didn't hear a thing from anywhere. we had breakfast in bed, delicious croissants, toast, rolls with tea coffee, orange juice with a selection of jams and honey.

when checking out (we thought it was 11 it was actually 12) we were greeted by Hannah and the other receptionist, after discussing what we'd had she mentioned a mini bar, i didn't even know we had one! so look out for it, apparently its in the cupboard! oh and in case you get confused like me the toilet is in what looks like a wardrobe!

I really did not want to leave the hotel its just a perfect romantic hideaway, I want to live there. I can't wait to go again!

Tucked away on a side street off Portobello Road in the very trendy neighborhood of Notting Hill Gate lies a hidden jewel. If you’re not looking very carefully, you may miss Portobello Hotel London. The building is very much like the other mansions on Stanley Gardens. Once inside, the warm décor of the lobby is just as inviting as the lovely ladies waiting to greet you. I was directed to room number 2, which is located beneath the main floor. The elevator is a bit tight and has a mind of it’s own, but you’ll get used to it. Room number 2’s furnishings are sensual and reminiscent of colonial India. Windows and back door open onto a cute hideaway patio that’s perfect for fresh air and afternoon tea/coffee. The pièce de résistance, however, is the amazing king size bed with Kama Sutra figures carved in the wooden headboard. Great room service, great in-room amenities and a bathtub for two makes this hotel the perfect getaway for lovers, poets and anyone who wants to take the road less traveled.