View from the Room - Tower Hotel, Lincoln
This is one of the main reasons for coming back to Lincoln. I’ve stayed here before and it houses one of my favourite restaurants in the country. The first time was for a birthday in 2011 (before going to Iceland for the actual birthday celebration).
It’s at the top of the hill so good if you’re driving, not so good if you’re walking up from the bottom having arrived by train.
It’s as old school as it comes, probably a converted house so just stairs rather than a lift. The bar is always noisy and as it was almost unbearably hot inside, the front garden tables that our room looked over were fully occupied. Mostly it quietens by 11 pm though.
The staff get 5 stars every time. They all wore masks and had activated all the precautions that 2020 could muster to keep us all safe. Sadly we did not notice a single customer who took the same care.
Ours was a larger room with a bay window. Small by modern hotel standards, it is wonderfully furnished. There’s no air con, however, the windows open and we had a good fan which was on pretty much permanently. Luckily our stay was just before the temperatures soared to over 30c the week after, 25/26 was just about bearable
Sadly in the current circumstances, not all of the menu was available though luckily our picks were. We would have shared the sticky toffee pudding if they had it although in hindsight after a generous main of Beer Battered Haddock with Crushed Garden Peas and Triple Cooked Chips, better I didn’t.
Strangely, there was no kettle or coffee making facilities in the room. This was our first post-lock-down hotel experience (the first in 8 months!) so we were learning a whole load of new behaviours. We never did find out why we couldn’t have a kettle to utilise the cafeteria we take with us and had to call down for complimentary hot drinks as we needed them. We never did but we did ask for endless jugs of iced water which was all we really needed.
There were a lovely armchair and coffee table in the large window alcove plus comfortable chair with the desk.
Storage
2 bedside units with 2 drawers and pull out shelf
wardrobe with 6 quality wooden hangers
An actual trouser press and actual tie rack
Dressing table/desk with drawer
Bathroom
Bathtub and detachable overhead shower
Wall fixed full-size shower gel, shampoo and conditioner
Bar hand soap
One wall shelf
Ample space on a large windowsill
Opening window (although to street/pub garden
Mirror light & overhead light
Lighting
Ceiling bedside lights
2 desk lights
2 floor lamps
Comfort
Mini fridge
Wall mirror above dressing table plus full length outside bathroom opposite (very clever)
One power socket at desk although could unplug fan etc for more. Others around the room.
Floor fan
Opening windows
Fold up luggage rack that I always use to air worn clothes
Wall fixed TV although curiously on the sidewall (the only place it could go) rather than in front of the bed
Spare bedding and heater
You can request anything for breakfast (at this time we had to order it the night before) and it was OK. The dinner was much better and although limited, fabulous as always.
I couldn’t help notice the decor of botanical animal printed wallpaper which is the theme I chose for our lounge last year. Either the Tower hasn’t changed it’s the decor in ten years (unlikely as it’s in good nick) or I’ve been unconsciously influenced.
Overall, another wonderful experience at the Tower with pretty good value for our comfy room.
August 2020
