Assembly Leicester Square — Hotel in London

My stay at this charming little one-room hotel in Leicester Square was absolutely unforgettable. Tucked away in the vibrant heart of London’s West End, this cozy spot offered more than just a place to sleep — it gave us front-row access to the best of what London has to offer.||||From the moment we arrived, we were steps away from world-famous theatres. We were able to see a different West End play every single night, just a short walk from our hotel. The excitement and energy of the theatre district made every evening feel magical.||||The hotel itself, while compact, was impeccably clean and thoughtfully arranged. The room had everything we needed, and the staff was warm, attentive, and eager to help with anything we needed.||||One of the biggest surprises? The breakfast! We were blown away by how fresh, filling, and flavorful it was — better than anything we found in the nearby cafés or restaurants (and we tried quite a few!). Starting each day with such a delicious meal gave us the energy to explore all day.||||The location is unbeatable. Nestled among iconic spots like Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, and Soho, everything felt like it was right outside our door. Whether we wanted to try our luck at one of the nearby casinos, enjoy late-night eats, or take a stroll through historic streets, it was all incredibly convenient.||||Transportation was a breeze — Leicester Square station is right there, making it easy to get all over London. Even better, we were able to hop on the Eurostar and take a quick trip to Paris for a day. Yes, Paris — and we were back in time for the evening play!||||For anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in the theatre scene and London’s vibrant culture while staying somewhere intimate and welcoming, this hotel is a perfect choice. We'll...

Assembly used to be one of my fav hotels in London, but quality has sadly declined over time as I reflect on my most recent trip. I booked into the largest type of room (with window) and faced multiple issues during my 2 night stay: Rainfall shower head was not functioning properly, with the water spraying everywhere to the point that I had to use the handheld head instead. It seemed that limescale had built up and blocked the holes, and required a simple wipe from maintenance to fix. In their words, ‘the hotel has been busy and they probs didn’t have enough time to properly clean the limescale off as they usually would’. This raised another question in my head - ‘is proper cleaning really something the hotel should be foregoing esp after a time like covid?’.. Bathroom light was constantly flickering. FYI, the lighting in assembly hotel is generally quite dim - so any loss of a light source is not great The bathroom door was completely non functional. I literally had to use my entire body weight to pull the door open and close

To be fair, they did send maintenance to check on my room the next day, who confirmed all of these issues. They weren’t able to fix 2/3 problems in the end, however what I was more disappointed about was that I wasn’t even offered another room / an apology / credit for all of this. Especially as I didn’t book one of the budget options, I’d expect better service and options to be offered as an alternative. What I did enjoy about my stay was ultimately 1. The convenience / location and 2. The really friendly guy who was manning the front door security. But all in all, I would consider other hotel options if the price will be on the same level as many other boutiques/mid tier establishments in London - as this experience just felt a...

DO NOT RECOMMEND

While I rarely write negative reviews, I feel compelled to share my experience to prevent others from enduring the same. We booked Assembly Leicester Square based on its website presentation and central location. Sadly, the location is the only positive aspect.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by an iPad and a “front desk agent” working out of a closet. First impressions matter, and this was far from professional. The “employee” wore a hoodie and sweatpants. We checked in and headed to our room, which was tiny, with the bed crammed against the wall, a sink too small to wash hands in, and no TV. The property felt like a hostel, with numerous rooms squished into one floor.

Given our initial impressions, we decided to leave within an hour. The “front desk” confirmed a full refund for two of the three nights booked, and the third night would be reviewed by management.

While seeking alternative accommodations, we discovered this “hostel” was significantly overpriced, about $400 more than a nearby 5-star hotel.

Upon vacating, we received an email from management, but they refused to honor the refund promise made by the front desk. After numerous emails with Shahan Udder, the Front Office Manager, I requested escalation to upper management. Shahan included Mahmut Aslan, the Area Manager, on June 7, 2024. As of June 27, 2024, Mahmut has yet to respond. Six follow-up emails have gone unanswered. Other management members, Sunny Insular (Rooms Division Manager) and Niral Wijayagurusinghe (Assistant General Manager), have also ignored correspondence.

The photos may look nice, but the facility is poorly run, and the reality is deceiving. It's unfortunate that a hospitality company lacks...