My partner and I stayed here, and now reading the reviews below - see others have shared the same experience. Upon check in to a rather tatty reception area quite late at night, we were transported through the gloom to a room that had us in hysterical laughter and not the happy type (we had travelled far and by this time was exhausted) the bed was crammed behind a wall - that must have been a load bearing wall otherwise there is no way any designer worth their salt would have put one in. Either side of the bed was around 10 cm of space just enough to inch down sidewards.

The silver grimy blinds over the window were all bent out of shape and would not open - no doubtless smashed by some poor soul who forgot to edge sideways to get into bed.

I could not get over the greyness and general "gloom". The lighting design is the poorest I have ever encountered and to be honest the decor must have been done in the 1980s after listening to one too many Madonna tracks with lace gloves on.

We also called the duty manager and begged to have another room - they duly let us at 2am in the morning (we had arrived late due to travelling) and charged us a fantastic GBP 300 odd extra the new morning!

Anyhow, the garden bit is quite nice in the morning but this hotel is past it best - in the day and age of chic boutique hotels like Number 16, or opulent designed hotel where maintenance and care has been taken.

Don't stay here unless you are plumping for the best suites, the rest is a rip off and for the same rate I have stayed at some of the best hotels around the world - and yes I could walk normally down the side of the bed!

I adore the Colonial style of this Boutique hotel, decored in style with expensive and gorgeous furniture. You can tell it is a woman who did it ,she think about all little details. The room is great, may be a bit dark, the bathroom however need a serious update. The restaurant is excellent and the loung bar also. The service at the reception is average for this type of hotel. And it was freasing cold in the reception.

The Problem may be is about expectations....
anyway, would you arrive at the Blakes by black cab and no one come to help you with the bag and say welcome bla bla bla..?

would you step in carring your heavy luggage by yourself and see at the desk a blond busy receptionist dressed with a plain black t - shirt checking you in with a visible "in hurry" acting with no explenation of the Restaurant, the Court Yard, the Location, The hotel facilities...?

would you be taken onto your room by a nice concierge and discover you room is very small with a portable and not working air conditioning with the pipe that you must keep open?

Would you extra pay all the items from your minibar which is place on the floor and it is dated 10 years ago?

I do belive that Hanuske Hemple is a really great stylist with amazing ideas and she is divine, unfortunately the people from the blakes to me don't have a vibe as Mrs Hemple style has.

By the way the restaurant is amazing with a great style and such good stlish food.

Unless you are willing to fork out £700 a night for a room here then expect a dark, depressing, claustrophobic room with a tiny fuzzy tv last furnished in the mid 80's with a bathroom to match.

My girlfriend and I planned to stay here for 4 nights but could not wait to get out of there by the second night.

We checked in at 8pm on the Saturday into a 'director’s double' at a rate of £420 a night. By midnight we were suicidal. Any energy or life we had in us was sapped up by the dark red walls and carpets, the black furniture and the small uncomfortable bed. You could not walk around the room with bumping into a wall, table, chair or lamp.

We called the useless night manager at midnight and explained to him our discomfort. He advised us that he had 3 other rooms into which we can move. 2 of the rooms were, although designed differently to ours, equally dark, dingy and unimpressive. The other room was a much larger suite costing £700 per night.
We therefore had no choice but to take the suite however we were told that had to pay an extra £280 even though it was midnight and the manager could see our discomfort and annoyance. The following day, we asked for a 1pm check out but were told that that was not possible as they needed the room.

Blakes has had its time and is in desperate need for a refurb. With so many other beautiful, comfortable 5 star boutique hotels in London this should be last on your list of choices. Do not make the same mistake I did.