The Velvet Experience

Velvet - The stay 

A Signature Duplex Suite, Signature Suite, Superior King Room, Deluxe King Room, Deluxe King, Cosy King and a Signature Velvet Suite have all been added to the original hotel next door.

Jamie the host with the most,  welcomed us and took care of our every need from the point we arrived and checked in offering us a glass of bubbly by Kylie on arrival for a quick journey upstairs to our room. 

We both loved this lovely introduction to this 4-star boutique hotel, right in the heart of Canal Street. Our home from home for the night. 

What has been going on here at Velvet?  Well there has been some construction, involving a brand new wing with 8 luxurious rooms each paying tribute to a separate LGBTQ symbol of pride. 

The rooms are all fabulous and all quite different, the Prosecco is 100% Kylie, and the decor is calm, cool, and definitely configured with a touch of an LGBTQ+ vibe. 

What of our room? 

Well normally I feel that the colour Green makes everything feel smaller somehow and so as a result it's my favourite colour for my Rolls-Royce in my dreams. 

The commanding fluffy king-size bed was like a giant marshmallow just waiting to suck us both in and makes this great space an ideal spot to relax in after the hustle of the day, or a big night on the town.

My favourite part of the room had to be the double bathroom with 2 sinks, ideal to share with that special someone and a huge shower complete with under heated floors which added a cosiness to the whole affair.

In the bathroom you will find too, a deep soaking tub, brass fixtures and a shower head, all helping to create something special for you with your significant other, if you know what I mean. 

I'm not personally the biggest fan of the colour mustard, but here it works pretty well toning down the dark Rolls Royce Green and adding some subtle colour to the room, which along with the large marble table acts as a visual centrepiece. This table is big enough for an entire family, or a group of close friends to enjoy a drink before heading out into the Gay Village or maybe going next door for a cheeky dinner with drinks before bed. 

We chose the latter and had dinner downstairs to sample the entire Velvet experience.

And what a good choice that turned out to be...

Here is what we thought.

The dining experience.

Well I didn’t come alone, which was nice, but somehow me and my partner made it a little date night which turned out to be kind of sweet.

If you have been to Velvet Bistro before, then you know we were in for a treat, with excellent food, amazing cocktails and super service.

We had two great servers, Cleo and Jan, who both made the night special and advised on some great dishes and changes that could be adapted to suit my allergies.

We had 2 great starters, a Chicken wing with a honey marinade and vegan mayo, which turned out to be nicely succulent with a nice subtle hint of honey flavour.

My partner had a nice homemade sour dough bread with 3 different choices of butter and thankfully he couldn't finish on his own and so I was happy to assist.

For mains, I chose the flaked Sea Bass, which was cooked to my taste and served with seasonal roast new potatoes and a selection of vegetables. 

My partner had the Burger cooked medium rare and accompanied by crispy onion rings.This he managed to finish.

Dessert was a shared event as we both felt comfortably full and a vegan chocolate cheesecake was selected and was super Chocolatey and creamy.No complaints and a lovely way to end a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

We would both recommend a stay in the Velvet hotel, for a night or maybe two. The new extension is as a perfect place for a romantic night for couples or alternatively a big party weekend with friends.

It has to be said that external noise may be an issue for any light sleepers out there, but the comfort of the accomodation more than compensates.

Canal Street cardholders also get 20% off their meals and drinks too. Quite a saving.

For us, we’ve booked an another night to stay for a romantic getaway later in the year with dinner and drinks arranged.

Highly recommended.

James Richardson and partner Anthony for Canal St Media.

Published: 8-Sep-2022 (6809)