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The Bull and The Hide on Devonshire Rd. in London is a gem of a place to stay for its proximity to the vibrant vibe of the city’s urban scene. Just off Liverpool Street close to the Liverpool Underground station, The Bull and The Hide is a pub downstairs and small 7 room boutique inn upstairs combination that works well. I discovered it to be a perfect place for orienting myself to a new environment after the night flight from New York City to England.
I wheeled in about 10:30 am, well before check in, but the staff member was happy to store my luggage so I could explore the area unencumbered. The check-in desk is actually in the pub with the wait staff doubling as inn keepers. Whoever is behind the bar is happy to help out, however. At 10:30 am, the pub is quiet. Later in the day, it becomes a bustling place as people stop in for a pint or two.
Polished wood, exposed brick, glass chandelier, brass and copper details, a chalk board menu of beer options and ample seating draw in the business people crowd and friends looking to enjoy a place for conversation. On Friday night, it hopped. Saturday night, the pub was quiet. Even so, with the busy Friday night scene, my friend and I were able to sleep well in our lovely room just above it.
When I came back for check-in, my bags were already in our room. Great! The staff member showed me all aspects of a comfortable stay from how to operate the TV to the free snacks and bottled water, plus where to find more in the pantry on the third floor.
I loved this room. Whoever picked the decor from the bedspread to the furniture and the bathroom fixtures has a great eye for colors, textures and shapes. Lighting and the placement of plugs was also well thought out. I appreciated the bedside charging stations. The WiFi is free and the large flat screen TV affixed to the wall across from the bed offers a wealth of cable channels. Friends is a great go-to with jet lag brain, FYI. An ironing board, iron, hair dryer, and upscale bath amenities are included.
There is a walk in shower
The one thing missing was a closet, dresser, or a luggage rack. I’m not sure where any of them would have fit, however. Even though the room was big enough for the two of us, there wasn’t extra space for extra furniture. The free snacks made up for putting our luggage on the floor.
The beer is on the bottom shelf of the fridge
The snacks, gourmet potato chips and cookies, were the type to swoon after. The tea choices were also splendid and so was the coffee. Plus, the free Budweiser beer in the pantry refrigerator upstairs came in handy our second night. We arrived back at our room after the pub had closed.
Despite staying at an inn with a pub, we didn’t spend much time at all there. We missed the fish and chips on Friday, as well as, the last call on Saturday. It wasn’t until right before we left on Sunday that we had a beer. By the way, this beer was mid-afternoon. During the day, we walked to the Columbia Road Flower Market and to the market at Brick Lane.
Like with the check-in time, the staff was perfectly happy to store our belongings after we checked out. I booked our room through Hotels.com. The rate for the queen room was approximately $184. The inn does serve breakfast for an extra charge, but we went out and about exploring. Book your stay at the inn through Hotels.com, Expedia or directly through The Bull and The Hide.
This neighborhood has a grocery store right around the corner from The Bull and The Hide, several eateries and shops. Our first night in town, we hopped on a double decker bus for London Bridge and a walk along the Thames. Super easy.
Post and photos courtesy of Jamie Rhein
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