Hub by Premier Inn King’s Cross London
| 4.8 out of 5.0 stars |
This was our first time in a hotel run by Premier Inn and I can say I was impressed. When looking for a place to stay close to St Pancras International on Euston Road, I looked at three other Premier Inns close by but in the end opted for the more modern styled Hub, thanks also to the reviews and the price. In fact when I looked up what were the best hotels in the UK, the Premier Inns scored very well. See Which?
Location
I initially thought the location of the hotel was a little out of hand not being on the main strip. I was wrong. The hotel is located around the corner from King’s Cross station which is only a little up the road from St Pancras International where the Eurostar trains begin and end their journeys to and from Europe. This is another reason I booked this hotel the vicinity to the station. Also the underground (at King’s Cross) which we didn’t get to experience.
Room
The room we were given initially was fine however my wife found a small issue with the hot water; it wasn’t hot enough for her liking. She loves hot showers, me a bit less. We tried running the water for a while and it was only getting to a warm stage. Called reception and they sent Patricio “Pato” to give it a look. As it wasn’t running hot we were given another room. The hot water was better there. We liked the way this was handled very quickly and professionally. It only took a matter of minutes and we had another room. They allowed us to keep using the first room for a little while longer as I was already resting and comfortable.
Were there other issues? Not really unless you count trying to work out the light intensity on the bedhead touch panel. It had three levels but these didn’t really translate in light intensity with all lights on, rather than which lights remained switched on or off at different intensities. We opted for the lowest level most times which kept the bathroom light on. Not a real issue as we got used to this. The air con was also controlled from here, temperature and fan. I opted for no fan. The air temperature was set at comfortable 21C.
The rooms are small, like many other hotels in this category, but overall we were very satisfied with both the rooms we were given. The only difference between the two was the orientation and where the courtyard window was placed.
We had a large flat panel TV opposite the bed. I had a quick look to see what channels were available and what was on but I don’t usually spend time watching TV. Only a little news and weather. There was no hot water kettle or a fridge which to some will be a disappointment. But I guess you could circumvent this by going downstairs to the bar area for the coffee and tea facilities. I didn’t use the service but I know it is complimentary. It’s a relaxing spot to enjoy a cuppa.
The bed was king-size. Very surprising. You don’t usually get this size bed in such small rooms. But there was enough space to move around so no complaints here. I personally found the bed very relaxing and the firm mattress and soft pillows made for good sleeping and I didn’t disturb the wife (or vice versa). Ten out of ten!
The bathroom was modern and clean. Another reason I chose the Hub compared to the other Premier Inns. I wanted to be sure to get a shower cubicle. My wife and I both find it hard to climb into bath tubs for showers. She has a knee problem so accessibility is important. One odd thing was the location of the hair dryer outside the bathroom. Not sure why. It was OK but I would have thought, wouldn’t it have been better in the bathroom so any loose hair falls on the bathroom floor? Also keeping the noise level down within the confines of the bathroom instead next to the hallway door? It’s a minor thing I suppose.
Storage
I didn’t use the storage as I always prefer to just grab what I require straight from my case. I only had one top on a hanger and jeans set aside. My wife did hang up a few things though. What I should have done was store my case under the bed to give myself a little more room to move. I didn’t try this. I think there was room there for a medium sized case. Next time I visit I’ll do this.
Power Points & WiFi
Power points etc., just enough for the amount of devices we had plus we brought a charger adaptor that made up for any lack thereof. Lights are controlled by a panel above the head of the bed. As already explained adjusting the lights is a little tricky. WiFi was quick. A few times had to login again. No big deal.
Breakfast
The breakfast is served in the downstairs bar area to the side of the lobby. With the bar in the centre and tables, chairs, stools and armchairs spread around. The breakfast was varied enough in my opinion; perhaps to others it may lack a few extras. The combination of a hot traditional English breakfast (baked beans, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage) and preserved fruit (and fresh bananas), yoghurt, cereals, toast, juices, coffee and tea was plenty, I thought.
Breakfast never got crowded during the time we were there. The majority of the guests may have come later though, so can’t be sure. I usually have breakfast very early. My wife joined me too only moments later. I prefer early to gauge how busy it gets. Besides I like to choose my own spot where to sit. Going early has advantages; you won’t have others breathing down your neck when grabbing food, pick your spot and spend a little longer to enjoy breakfast. Separate from breakfast are evening meals. We did eat twice, one night had a Margherita pizza (which lacked basil, only tomato and cheese), and the other night pasta. The menu is a bit limited. I think there was also a curry dish. Perhaps this is an area they could expand on with a few more dishes. That would make it tops.
Staff and Service
The staff we met were excellent. A special shout out to Patricio “Pato” for making sure everything was running smooth. He came to see us when we had the issue with the hot water. His jovial character was infectious. He came to see us several times to see if everything was to our liking. Also a thanks to Cristina who gave me some strong lozenges for my throat. One service (or rather two) we didn’t require was housekeeping, cleaning of the room which you can ask for. Also room service perhaps for a meal or a drink from the bar. So cannot comment about these.
Last take
Everything ran smoothly. Like already mentioned, perhaps the light intensity might need tweaking so that there is one more level. Also wouldn’t the hair dryer be better placed in the bathroom? Not a huge issue just to cut down the noise to the hallway.
Did the hotel live up to expectations? I would say yes, perhaps much better than I expected. The first impression seeing the hotel from outside was good and the location only about 400 metres from Kings Cross station and Euston Road. We were happy with the room overall, the service, no issues. Check-in was done manually as I was sloppy and couldn’t find the booking details, so the fellow there (forgot his name) just did everything himself. We were a little early but got our room. All done very quickly.
The hotel was very clean. Our room (or should say rooms), the bar and breakfast area. I was impressed how spotless the cutlery and plates were. Many times you see drying stains but these were shiny.
Value for money? I think the Hub is good value. They were the best priced of all the hotels in the same category. Was happy with the check-in/out process, the room(s) and breakfast options and after taking everything into consideration these and a few other things, the question would be; would I you stay at Hub King’s Cross again? My answer without hesitation is, yes. Price, location, comfort and service all to my liking. I’m considering coming back again in twelve month’s time. Actually we are booked to go back in November 2025!
All Photos © Carlo Irlitti
| Ambiance | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Cleanliness | 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 |
| Comfort | 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 |
| Facilities | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Food | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Location | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Noise | 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 |
| Service | 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 |
| Staff | 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 |
| Value | 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 |
| WiFi | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
