London - Scala House
Feb 6th, 2007, 02:16 PM
#21
Nope - I leave in a week -- I'll let everyone know how it goes.
But I will say each of my friends (we are taking 3 flats) has had good responses from Chris and it does seem the customer service is still good. I'll give a status report when I get back at the end of Feb.
But I will say each of my friends (we are taking 3 flats) has had good responses from Chris and it does seem the customer service is still good. I'll give a status report when I get back at the end of Feb.
Feb 6th, 2007, 03:03 PM
#22
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Janis, thanks for saying you will post when you get back from Scala House. We will be there again in April so I will be curious about "what's what". We've known Chris for several years now and he's a great guy and very helpful in accommodating the guests. Actually everyone who has worked there has had good customer service skills.
As long as you all don't expect luxury I think you will be fine. I rather doubt if you will like the neighborhood as much as S. Kensington or Chelsea (not as pretty) ... but it is very convenient to many things just the same. Enjoy !!
As long as you all don't expect luxury I think you will be fine. I rather doubt if you will like the neighborhood as much as S. Kensington or Chelsea (not as pretty) ... but it is very convenient to many things just the same. Enjoy !!
Mar 2nd, 2007, 01:06 PM
#26
well - I have NO idea what mjs is talking about.
Anyway - just got back and as promised here is my report back re Scala House (trip report will be a few days off yet)
We booked 3 flats for the seven of us and it worked perfectly. Chris and the others staffing the front desk were very helpful. The rooms are exactly as shown on the web site - maybe even a bit larger than we expected. The living room is quite large for London and the master bdrm is also large (again by London standards) w/ a full sized closet/safe, etc. The place was very clean - though as the pix do show the furnishings are a bit dated. But they are in good condition and better than some other flats I've rented.
The kitchen is the star - modern and very well equipped and w/ a large window for lots of light. My flat was on the 7th floor and the views from every room was out towards the BT Tower.
The Goodge St station is right around the corner and there is a very cheap internet cafe (£1 per hour - open til 2 a.m.) less than 50 yds away. If you have your own laptop, there are connections in every flat
one minus - the beds were pretty hard and the pillows do need replacing.
another minus - nothing to do w/ Scala House itself - is there is lots of work being done on the Northern line so the station is often closed over the weekend (Not just Goodge St - but all the stations on that branch of teh Northern line). But it isn't a bad walk over to Russell square if that happens.
Now, about whether they are still booking or not: The new owners are a company that specializes in longer term lets. That was apparently their plan when they took over. But the final decision hasn't been made - and they are still taking booking for the foreseeable future. If they do continue short term lets, they plan on upgrading the units - both the decor/beds and some of the equipment/public space. I'd assume the rates will go up a bit if they put a lot of £££ into it - but they said they still want to be affordable. So if you are interested in booking - I'd just contact them through the website and see the situation at that time.
Except for some minor kvetching about a couple of the beds, every single one of us thought the location/rates/size/amenities were more than value for money and any of us would stay there again.
Anyway - just got back and as promised here is my report back re Scala House (trip report will be a few days off yet)
We booked 3 flats for the seven of us and it worked perfectly. Chris and the others staffing the front desk were very helpful. The rooms are exactly as shown on the web site - maybe even a bit larger than we expected. The living room is quite large for London and the master bdrm is also large (again by London standards) w/ a full sized closet/safe, etc. The place was very clean - though as the pix do show the furnishings are a bit dated. But they are in good condition and better than some other flats I've rented.
The kitchen is the star - modern and very well equipped and w/ a large window for lots of light. My flat was on the 7th floor and the views from every room was out towards the BT Tower.
The Goodge St station is right around the corner and there is a very cheap internet cafe (£1 per hour - open til 2 a.m.) less than 50 yds away. If you have your own laptop, there are connections in every flat
one minus - the beds were pretty hard and the pillows do need replacing.
another minus - nothing to do w/ Scala House itself - is there is lots of work being done on the Northern line so the station is often closed over the weekend (Not just Goodge St - but all the stations on that branch of teh Northern line). But it isn't a bad walk over to Russell square if that happens.
Now, about whether they are still booking or not: The new owners are a company that specializes in longer term lets. That was apparently their plan when they took over. But the final decision hasn't been made - and they are still taking booking for the foreseeable future. If they do continue short term lets, they plan on upgrading the units - both the decor/beds and some of the equipment/public space. I'd assume the rates will go up a bit if they put a lot of £££ into it - but they said they still want to be affordable. So if you are interested in booking - I'd just contact them through the website and see the situation at that time.
Except for some minor kvetching about a couple of the beds, every single one of us thought the location/rates/size/amenities were more than value for money and any of us would stay there again.
Mar 8th, 2007, 07:28 PM
#30
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We will be arriving in London on 15 March. We are booked into Scala House, our 3rd stay. Has anyone stayed there in the last couple of weeks? Is Chris still managing for the new owners? Has the quality of sevice suffered? Do we have any reason for concern?
Mar 19th, 2007, 02:47 PM
#32
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just returned from Scala House 7 March - 15 March. Still the same management and front desk staff (Chris, Boba, et al.) and they were lovely. I won't repeat the decor comments; suffice it to say if they didn't get rid of the paisley velour furniture and gold poly bedspreads BEFORE it was sold, they certainly aren't going to do it now! =)
We had only one glitch, a lack of water upon arrival. Apparently the construction next door interfered with the water line and the water was out for a few hours (scary when you've just landed and would kill to take a shower.) Luckily water was restored and Chris couldn't have been more apologetic about it; they even covered our transportation to/from the airport as compensation, which I never expected.
For those staying from now until the last bookings in May, it's really the end of an era. Chris and Boba advised they're hoping to find another property close by to rehab and continue short term lets - I certainly hope so! I'll be on the lookout. The staff really made the place.
We had only one glitch, a lack of water upon arrival. Apparently the construction next door interfered with the water line and the water was out for a few hours (scary when you've just landed and would kill to take a shower.) Luckily water was restored and Chris couldn't have been more apologetic about it; they even covered our transportation to/from the airport as compensation, which I never expected.
For those staying from now until the last bookings in May, it's really the end of an era. Chris and Boba advised they're hoping to find another property close by to rehab and continue short term lets - I certainly hope so! I'll be on the lookout. The staff really made the place.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Max
Europe
6
Dec 17th, 2002 12:21 AM
