six out of ten magazine: LONDON | Review: Supercity Aparthotels, The Rosebery

After spending the night in an apartment a while ago - and leaving feeling thoroughly disappointed and refusing to write a review because there was very little good that could be said and I'd end up sounding like a bad-tempered, whining bitchbag - I was really hesitant to try another. Because while apartments give you the experience of living like a minted Londoner in some of the most exclusive postcodes, you're very much on your own. You don't get the amenities and luxuries of a hotel. Like shampoo. Or a fully functioning kitchen.

Except at Supercity, which call themselves luxury aparthotels. The website doesn't do this brand any justice whatsoever - I had no idea what to expect. All I could figure out was that the apartments are new, I saw a Nespresso machine in one of the photos and mention of them being serviced which, after my last stay in London was welcome news.

There are three locations, Templeton Place in Earl's Court, Nevern Place in Kensington and The Rosebery in Farringdon. This review is for the latter.

Getting there
It's about a five minute walk from Chancery Lane tube station, and a bit longer from Farringdon. The thing to remember is that Rosebery Avenue is actually a raised road. So if your GPS is telling you you're standing outside it, look up and take the stairs to access the road and bridge. Chancery Lane is literally two stops away from Oxford Street, while Farringdon gets you access to King's Cross, Euston and the river. So it's perfectly placed for London newbies and seasoned city pros. Farringdon itself is closed down on the weekend, so this isn't a massively lively place - depending on the kind of person you are, reader, this can either be a good or bad thing.

Check in
Reception is a huge glass-fronted façade in true East London style with exposed brick, quirky blowfish art and antler head clocks dotted around. Check in took about five minutes, and Enni the receptionist was so accommodating. She took us to the room on the fourth floor and showed us how to use the very high-tech control panel, which turned on and off the lights, air-con, could dial reception and probably controlled a nuclear reactor in deepest darkest Russia

Access to the building is through keycards. After your receptionist leaves for the night, the only way to get in and out is by scanning a card on the panel outside.

First impressions
We stayed in room 416 - a one bed suite. It honestly took my breath away. The quality of the fixtures and fittings is seriously top notch and no expense has been spared anywhere as far as I could see. The kitchen has everything you need for a one night stay or a week stopover, with soft-close cupboards and state-of-the-art appliances. You can tell real money's been spent on furnishings, and real thought's gone into the design and planning of each and every room.

But the real winner was the view. With East London and it's warehouses on one side, and the city, Gherkin, the Shard, St Paul's, Heron Tower and the Walkie Talkie on the other, you realise just how central you are. And how beautiful London can be.

The good

I slept like a baby. The bed was comfy, pillows are plump and there was no noise from outside, even though there was actually building work going on in the courtyard below. There were plenty of Nespresso pods for espresso and long coffees. Milk was provided, as were Mint Club and Mars bars. The hair-dryer was hidden away with a mirror conveniently placed for me to dry and straighten my hair - something every image-concious person worries about.

The best part, though, was when we did the morning test. You see, I'm a firm believer that there needs to be flexibility with check out. 11am was the official time we were meant to be done and gone. So with a quick call to reception Enni said that as there was no one booked in after, we could take our time and check out later. This scored massive brownie points for me. You can also leave luggage in the secure storage area meaning even if you do have to check out on time, you're free to wander around the capital without feeling like a pack horse.

Not only that, but every Christmas Supercity offers ten rooms to Crisis volunteers to enjoy a bit of downtime. Which we think is just great.

The bad
Honestly, I'm nitpicking now, because nothing stood out to us as something we could criticise - and I was with a serial complainer. The bath was a little bit too curved, so you kinda have to lean to have a proper shower and it was awkward to get in an out. The lack of curtains made the place look a bit too clinical (I'm not a fan of roller blinds) and the Nespresso machine plug didn't fit properly due to the granite splashback so I had to move the machine to the desk. But aside from that, I can't really say any more. This place oozes luxury from the flooring to the lighting.

All in all...
If you're looking for something a bit more luxurious than a standard apartment but less regimented than a hotel, then this is a great option. It's the place I'd recommend to even the fussiest grinch. We're back in London for an awards bash (rah rah) in January and we're definitely headed back here.

Tip: Ask for a city-facing room on the fourth or fifth floor for stunning view.