After a dreary office building in Shepherd’s Bush is transformed into the latest Hoxton hotel outpost… the Inspector calls to see if the trendy retreat is ‘all style over substance’

• The hotel has a retro frontage and is ‘spectacularly well lit’, says the Inspector
• He enjoys an ‘impressive’ dinner and ‘faultless’ breakfast scrambled eggs
• Read more: Inside the Paris hotel where Sarkozy celebrated his election victory

The newly opened Hoxton in Shepherd’s Bush — with 237 rooms — is the fourth London outpost for this trendy international chain. 

From the outside, it’s lit spectacularly well and the retro frontage in 1930s cinema style makes for an exciting entry, not least with the huge wraparound bar taking centre stage just inside the lobby. 

The atmosphere is buzzy, too. But after waiting 15 minutes to check in at the reception desk, I begin to think it’s all style over substance.

That feeling intensifies when I get to my ‘cosy double’ on the first floor of what used to be a dreary office building. It’s not at all cosy because it’s not much warmer than the streets outside; the radio (which is on, tuned to Smooth FM) cuts in and out as it crackles, and the phone is dead so I can’t call reception.

The Inspector calls at the newly opened Hoxton in Shepherd’s Bush, which is the fourth London outpost for the trendy international chain

When I go back downstairs, a member of staff with an American accent comes to my rescue. He visits the room and decides to move me next door. 

Next gripe is that there is no table in Chet’s Thai-Americana restaurant until 8.45pm and it’s only 7.30pm. ‘Surely you keep back some tables for guests staying in the hotel?’

‘The restaurant is run separately from the hotel,’ says the woman in charge, firmly. 

The Inspector orders a stiff drink and a couple of Thai-inspired dishes to the bar, above. He describes both the food and his tipple as ‘highly impressive’

Above is Chet’s Thai-Americana restaurant, where the Inspector enjoys a faultless serving of scrambled eggs at breakfast 

My American friend steps in and finds me a perch by the bar, where I order a stiff one and a couple of Thai-inspired dishes, both highly impressive.

Later, back in my shoebox, I hang my jacket on a hanger that has ‘Hey Good looking’ written on it and take a shower. 

The controls are behind the glass door, so it’s physically impossible to turn on the tap without getting a cold soaking.

Windows don’t open but I sleep soundly. Chet’s is silent at breakfast compared with the night before and my scrambled eggs can’t be faulted. I like the Hoxton brand and it’s early days for this branch. Things can only get better… hopefully.

TRAVEL FACTS

The Hoxton, 65 Shepherd’s Bush Green, London, W12 8QE. Doubles from £100 B&B. Visit thehoxton.com. 

Rating out of five: *** 

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