The Ampersand Hotel

Excellent hotel overall, check out the other reviews; this review will focus on my experience for four nights last week in Accessible room #12. I use a wheelchair a lot. We were warned the room was small but it was sufficient for our needs. King bed and the wheelchair might struggle to the far side of the bed but you don't want the far saide--you want the side near the bathroom, and that was a piece of cake. The ledge into and out of the room likely needs backing over. Accessible hotel entrance/lift at adjacent restaurant--not far, always cheerful staff around eager to open doors. Carpet not so thick wheelchair can't move. Recessed shower floor helps control water; shower chair bolted in wall. Welcome plethora of adjustable grab bars in bathroom. Sink mirror unusable in wheelchair. Bathroom slightly raised (undercarpet ramp). On the constructive criticism side, the shower floor is exceedingly slippery when wet. I just used a soaken bath mat, but management might want to treat the floor or put down no-slip strips or some such. Wholly recommended for a stay in South Kensington.

We had a wonderful seven day stay in London. The hotel is nice and very convenient to the south Kensington tube station. But the rooms/bathroom/workout facility are much much smaller than we are used to in the US.

Hotel was perfect. Beautiful location, comfortable beds and outstanding service especially when we forgot our passports in the safe and they expedited a courier cab to deliver them to the airport for us. Amazing!

We had a wonderful stay at The Ampersand, chosen for a last-minute weekend together as my parents were looking after our toddler. The staff went above and beyond to ensure that we had a great stay, our room was beautiful and bright, and the bed was incredibly comfortable. We had the best night’s sleep! We also loved the location, 5 minutes away from the V&A, and really enjoyed having a delicious breakfast in bed the next morning. Will be back to try the afternoon tea!

I was a loyal customer of The Ampersand Hotel for over ten years. I regularly came for drinks, meals, or to give a quiet one-hour private lesson – always discreet, always ordering, and always respecting the space. I have brought colleagues, organised professional dinners, and even recommended the hotel to many guests from the nearby Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle. The staff have consistently been warm, courteous, and professional. Sadly, this does not extend to the General Manager, Mr. Roberto Pajares. During my last visit in June, the lounge was quiet with plenty of available seating. I had ordered two drinks and was giving a calm one-hour lesson to my student when Mr. Pajares approached me abruptly. He informed me the sofas were “for guests” and added, “this is becoming too much of a habit” – without giving me a chance to speak or explain. The tone was dismissive, condescending, and made me feel as though I did not belong there, despite my years of loyalty and the revenue I have brought to the hotel. I later wrote a polite and detailed message to Mr. Pajares and two senior managers. His reply was cold, and my follow-up was ignored. The contrast between the way the rest of the team treats people – with courtesy, regardless of who they are – and the way the leadership behaves is stark. It left me with the strong impression that while the staff practice genuine hospitality, the hotel’s leadership reserves its respect only for those it perceives as wealthy. That is not the hospitality I have known for the past decade, and it is the reason I will not return.