Marylebone is a refined area with classic London architecture, boutique stores and it’s also become one of the hottest neighbourhoods to hang at night thanks to the addition of the bustling Chiltern Firehouse (opened in 2013).
Rooms at the fabled hotspot start from £520, but if you’re looking for something a little more affordable and away from the thong, No. Ten Manchester Street is located a hop and a skip around the corner.
The small boutique hotel, which has 44 rooms, offers a slice of cosiness and quite calm.
Thanks to an elegant interior design job, the period rooms boast a contemporary edge with a slight injection of Art Deco.
I checked into the place on a Friday night and the friendly receptionist swiftly sorted my booking.
I spotted a couple of other guests but it seemed fairly quiet and I immediately felt pretty relaxed in the place.
My room, number 411, was located on the second floor. There was a tiny lift which one of the members of staff called, but I opted to take the stairs instead.
The junior suite was a good size, with a large double bed on one side and a lounge area on the other with a tall television cabinet dividing the two spaces.
The bathroom was a little on the cosy side for two people, but the addition of a bathtub won me over along with a rain shower.
There were also a range of ‘No Ten’ branded products, with a vanity kit and dental kit being handy additions.
Classic FM had been left playing on the TV and I settled on one of the couches with a cup of earl grey selected from the English Tea Shop caddy next to the in-room kettle.
After a swift nap on the soft bed, 8pm suddenly swung around and it was time to head to dinner.
No. Ten Manchester Street does have a restaurant on the site but in the run up to Christmas, it has partnered up with a local cheesemonger to offer a festive stay and fondue package.
LA FROMAGERIE
It didn’t take us long to get to La Fromagerie, a family-run business well worth checking out.
The quaint store, which has other outlets in Highbury and Bloomsbury, boasts around 350 different cheeses and there is a small restaurant on the premises.
The candlelit venue was buzzing on a Friday night but we got a little table by the front door.
Those who book the festive stay and fondue package at No. Ten Manchester Street are entitled to a bottle of wine, and one fondue per person.
We decided to start things off with a negroni infused with locally-produced Sacred gin. The cocktail had a punchy flavour and it was the perfect warmer on a cold winter’s night.
The fondue was pretty quick to arrive and we suddenly fell quiet as we got dipping away.
While my partner optd for a mix of charcuterie meats to dunk in the pot of bubbling cheese, I went for a bowl of broccoli and potato. Both servings came with generous chunks of toasted bread.
The bottle of house red wine we were offered paired well with the fondue flavours, with a dry and earthy taste.
Our super friendly waiter explained that the creamy fondue concoction was made from a blend of Comte, Beaufort and Emmental and Le Skieur and the flavours proved to be moreishly devine.
After dinner we popped into the Chiltern Firehouse for a few cocktails and the place was buzzing as ever.
But heading around the corner back to No. Ten Manchester Street I was kind of glad for some quiet calm.
I slept the night through with the bed proving to be very comfortable. Before heading down to breakfast the next morning we tested out the bathtub and both commented on how nice the bath lotions and potions smelled.
The dining area in the hotel is fairly small but does the job and it has exceedingly comfortable chairs. The eggs royale is highly recommended as a morning dish the punchy coffee guarantees to kick start your day.
As we checked out of the place and wandered into the London winter drizzle, the doorman gave us a smart umbrella to keep.
It’s little touches like that which go along way and I think that’s what I liked about No. Ten Manchester Street.
It’s not the kind of place decked out with USB slots and funky Bluetooth sound systems but it does boast a cloak of good old-fashioned charm.
The hotel is located at 10 Manchester St, Marylebone, London W1U 4DG
No. Ten Manchester Street’s Christmas package starts from £315, based on a minimum of a two night’s stay. To book, visit www.tenmanchesterstreethotel.com
