Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel, Ballroom

Good hotel. It was clean, service was good, food was good and you get to use the gym of Virgin Active across. I wish housekeeping gave us a little more shampoo and body wash though. There was always just one set per day in very very small bottles. We had to call reception for more everyday.

This hotel seems highly overrated. They use alot of words in their marketing which reference or suggest 5 star, luxury, etc. No way. Rooms are highly dated from 15 years ago when it was managed by Four Seasons. Guest hallway carpet is similar. Wallpaper is separating, torn, peeling. In room wooden structured look highly aged. Window seat cushion is very cracked. They promote the Virgin Athletic gym next door. It also is highly aged, tired and very poorly maintained. The locker room is gross.

Definitely not a 5 star experience. We called in advance to book afternoon tea on the terrace which is suggested on their website, the person taking my booking repeated back to me “afternoon tea for two on the terrace” and was ready to end the call until I suggested “do you need a name?” which they realised they did. Turned up and nobody there to greet us, reception was weirdly tucked away with no signs to direct us. They “lost” our key cards that had apparently been prepared in advance to our arrival so we were left checking in for almost 20 minutes. EVERYONE working here appeared like it was their first day not only at the hotel but in the business. The receptionist didn’t know where to direct us to the terrace which was just next to reception, our reserved table was there, no sign of any staff, after waiting we went inside and notified the bar staff of our attendance. Eventually someone came out who seemed nervous and again like it was his first day, I ordered an aperol spritz but with lemonade instead of soda. He wrote down “aperol spirit” and brought me an Aperol spritz made with soda and a separate glass of lemonade. Then he appeared again after some time and asked if we wanted food. We advised we booked afternoon tea, he went away again and returned with someone who didn’t introduce himself but can only assume was a manager of some sort who said “oh yes I recognise your faces now” which was weird as we’d only just arrived and not seen anyone, he then advised the booking was messed up and they did not “hear” afternoon tea and unfortunately could not produce it now as they order the items in specially per request. Feeling absolutely fed up we decided to finish our drinks and go to our room Heading to the room the waiter stopped us to try and charge us £30 for the 2 drinks we had and technically a lemonade I didn’t order I advised as it was their mistake ruining our arrival I would hope the drinks were on the house the manager guy appeared again to say he didn’t have that jurisdiction and would check with higher up Eventually the drinks were comped but by this stage everything felt tainted The room was disappointing as the website advertised a large ceiling to floor window but placed us on the top floor which only had a semi circle window. The river view was amazing but was only visible when sat upright or stood at the window itself The bathroom was ok but the boasted l'occitane supplies were the smallest I have ever seen and unsure if they had been refilled with a cheaper product as it left my hair feeling like straw Rooms were dated and bland No in room dining menu, just a QR code on the tv to constantly get it up on our phones, no charging plugs or ports near the bed. And a cheap as hell tresemme hair dryer, next to a clothes brush that had clearly been used by someone to brush their hair and not cleaned. The slippers were the cheap standard ones, no branding seen anywhere. Save your money if you are looking for a treat and to feel luxurious Had better room and treatment at a 3* hotel They didn’t even ask how our stay was when checking out and have had no follow up email either