"Per the website:
This property will be closed from 1 August 2013 to 15 October 2013 for renovations and will resume operation once the renovation is complete (completion date subject to change)."

This is a different story than the one they are telling former customers. Their email to former customers says that they are closing food good and the building will be used for a different purpose:

"On account of our valued relationship, I am writing to personally inform you that the Chancery Court Hotel will cease operations on Wednesday 31st July 2013...

With regard to the hotel closing, please do let me know should you require my assistance with an introduction to another hotel in the area, I would be delighted to help you. Finally, I want to inform you that I will be in touch over the coming months with further news on the exciting plans for this heritage building. If you have any questions in the meantime, please do let me know."

Is it possible that the Chancery Court has changed hands and the former owners would like to direct "former customers" to another of their properties? I just checked and the hotel seems to be taking bookings for post renovations.

Based on this article it will no longer be the Chancery Court but the Rosewood London. So, P's email is technically correct.

And, this release is from Feb. so plans could have changed again. If the photo is the reception desk popov saw, it's nothing like the one from the Marriott days.

Oh well, plus ça change....

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Venu...t-Hotel-revamp

The Chancery Court is being taken over by Rosewood Hotels (www.rosewoodhotels.com), a Dallas-based bling merchant with lots of horrid "exclusive" (= ghastly) places in the developing world and the naffer bits of SW America as well as The Carlyle and now the Chancery Court as its two bits of class in a portfolio of places most of us would pay hard cash to avoid.

Too bad as it was such a lovely place when run by the Marriott group as a Renaissance hotel.

I agree, euronovice, I thought Marriott achieved a fresh look without compromising the building. Classic but not fusty.

I had never heard of the Rosewood Group until I read the press release. Hope they don't tart it up. I will be checking on them.

"And, this release is from Feb. so plans could have changed again. If the photo is the reception desk popov saw, it's nothing like the one from the Marriott days."

No, that picture looks nothing like lobby that I saw, which was narrow and darker with no color whatever. It also had a stairway that ran up behind the reception desk for no obvious reason. The stairs were a giveaway that the area was obvious that the area was not designed for a hotel reception. They just threw down the desk there because it was next to an entrance. Like I said, it was very much like the entrance of a pension.

Well, no wonder you were put off. Nothing like it looked up to around 2010, ime.

despite the internicine discussions about the lobby of a now defunct hotel, this was a most amusing if somewhat controversial thread.

glad I found it - I love reading what others think of us, and I get the impression that despite our manifest defects, you quite like us.