Anyone stay at this B&B/restaurant/pub?

With the dollar's steady decline my old favorite (57 Pont St in Knightsbridge) has gone from a splurge to out of my price range. This restaurant/pub has a few rooms and was recommended to me by a 'foodie' friend. It's right on the Portobello Rd (the Saturday antique market section). I've never seen anything posted about it here though, and multiple opinions always make me feel more assured before trying a new place to stay.

One last try before we head off across the pond!

I just found my old thread and thought I'd report back on the Portobello Gold. We were in room #4, and for 85 GBP a night for the two of us, it was just fine. It was clean, and the bed was a tad worn but still comfortable. The room and en suite bathroom were both tiny. This is not a place to lounge around in, but fine for the three S's. Although the window faces Portobello road, it wasn't loud at night and the street noise didn't bother us in the morning.

We were able to walk to Kensington Gardens, and there tube was just a few blocks away. Location is good, but not great (I'm spoiled by staying in Chelsea, Knightsbridge and South Kensington in the past).

I love 57 Pont Street (now renamed the Lennox) and Knightsbridge, but a double there's 165 to 185 GBP. Since we were on a tighter budget, the Gold worked out just fine. If you're looking for a place for under 100 GBP and don't expect 'style', the Portobello Gold's just fine. Another plus - good ale on tap downstairs!

I always wonder why folks are willing pay so much for a place "not to lounge in", "a tad worn" w/ "tiny room/bathroom", in a "not great location"

For your £85 (approx $150) per night, you could have stayed 2 nights in a 4 star hotel in the center of town using Priceline.

Not trying to rub it in after the fact - but even for travelers on a budget in London, there is no reason to settle for a bad place.

I want to know where I'm staying before commiting to paying for it. In fact, I want to know what it is I'm buying before purchasing it, whether it's a hotel room or any other item.

As for "center of town", I'm not sure where that is for London (Leicester Square?), nor if I'd want to stay there. I understand why many love and use Priceline, and I'm pleased for them if there's bargins. However, I won't use Priceline because of the requirement to purchase an unknown.

A little tip for Alan: You don't have to purchase the unknown on PL if you visit biddingfortravel.com and study the PL bidding process thoroughly.

alan64: For your future info - one reason Priceline is so good for London is because the bidding zones are well laid out and very specific. There won't be a mystery about what neighborhood your hotel will be in. And w/ biddingfortravel you have a VERY good idea which hotel it would be. Since you pick the star level, you won't get stuck w/ a 2 or 3 star if you bid for a 4 star. PL doesn't work out nearly as well in a lot of places - but in London it is wonderful.

Great to know. I'll read up on it, and hopefully it will be back to my favorite haunts of Knightsbridge and Chelsea. I'm already looking forward to lunch and a pint at the Admiral Cod, although I'm not sure when I'll be back to London. Our next quick trip to England (Spring 2006) will probably just be in Lancashire.