The last time I stayed at the Sofitel St. James was just over a year ago and, frankly, I wasn’t too impressed. In hindsight, I suspect it may have been that the hotel was completely full on that previous visit. I say this because the visit I’m reporting on in this post is very different.

The Gatwick Express brings me in to Victoria Station, just behind Buckingham Palace. I think I’d normally just take the tube or even walk. But I’ve been schlepping a huge suitcase around with me and I’m slowly running out of steam. And so, I decide to take a taxi instead.

Location

The Sofitel St. James is located in the very heart of London’s Westend. Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square are literally just around the corner.

Check-In

By the time I reach the hotel, we’re approaching eight o’clock in the evening. The hotel is quiet and I’m seen to straight away. The lobby looks very different without an enormous Christmas tree standing in the middle of it. The young lady checks me in and tells me I’ve been upgraded to a superior room on the top floor. She wishes me a pleasant stay and tells me the bellman will be bringing up my suitcase shortly.

Superior King Double

My room is on the sixth floor, which is in the attic of the hotel. The front doir opens into a hall with windows along one side. The turn down service has already been, so the curtains are drawn.

Opposite the bed is a credenza with a large television screen on it. It also houses the minibar and the tea kettle and coffee machine. The bed itself is large. It has a good, firm mattress. The pillows are a bit too soft and fluffy for me, but that’s just a minor thing. At the far end of the room, by the window overlooking Waterloo Square, is a small dining table for two.

And that brings us to the bathroom. Ladies, gentlemen, and others, may I kindly have a drum roll because…. I found it! The holy grail of hotel showers, the black swan, if you will. This, boys and girls, is the perfect shower. It ticks all the boxes and gets full points on all counts. The pressure and volume are simply beyond words. Just… a dream. The faucets are all in perfect working order and with good, stable temperature, and absolutely no spillage at all. Nada, niente, nothing! Not a single drop. I’m convinced the heavens sang when this shower was installed!

Amenities

As usual at the Sofitel, the cosmetics are by Diptyque of Paris and there are the usual bathroom amenities.

Other than that, there’s a stylish SMEG tea kettle and a Nespresso machine in the room. The tea and capsules are replenished daily. I particularly like that the hotel provides the milk in a small glass bottle, rather than this flimsy single portions.

As previously mentioned, there’s an evening turn down service, during which the bottles of still water are replenished and the room is tidied.

For a welcome gift, there’s a nice bowl of fruit and a plate with two macarons and two pralines on it. In addition, there’s a further, large bottle of still water and a welcome note. When I return to my room the following day, they’ve also brought me a box of sea salted caramel biscuits.

Dining – Breakfast

The restaurant has changed since my last visit. It’s now called Wild Honey and the offerings are significantly improved. There’s an extensive buffet with a wide variety of dishes to choose from. This includes a separate buffet just for pastries. I try the croissant filled with mascarpone and strawberries, which is divine and positively sinful. In addition to the buffet, there’s also an à la carte menu with hot dishes. My favourites are the full English breakfast (minus the black pudding) and the poached eggs on avocado toast.

The Staff & Service

Perhaps the most noticeable difference to my last visit is with the staff. Where they seemed aloof and perhaps not overly motivated last time, on this visit they couldn’t be any more different. All the staff I interact with on this trip are just lovely, really very nice. I don’t know how they manage to do it, because they’re friendly and inquire about my day as though they have all the time in the world. But at the same time, they’re highly efficient and attentive. For example, I finish my English breakfast and the waiter quickly comes to take away my plate. I’m just thinking “there goes my cutlery”, when another waiter appears out of nowhere with a new set and inquires, while he’s at it, if I’d like more coffee. And that, right there, is my personal favourite: there’s a steady supply of tea and coffee!

Conclusion

I suspect when I stayed at the Sofitel St. James the first time, the staff may have been overwhelmed by the busy Christmas period. In any case, this time around was a very different experience. All the staff seemed more alert and eager to help.