Doubletree Hotel and conference centre Woking

WOKING
Woking is just under half an hour from Waterloo station and about an hour south of NW London on the way to Guildford. I attended a conference day at the DoubleTree by Hilton. We drove there via Chobham, which has a pretty olde worlde high street, the opposite of what we found in revamped Woking. Woking has massive modern blocks, at first intimidating. However, the DoubleTree was easy to find.

PARKING
The hotel's own car park was fully occupied by hotel guests but the public car park next door was steps away, near enough for people to pop back for a change of clothes before supper, and spacious too. (I contrast it with the claustrophobic car parks in Watford up steep spirals.

The cost was about £10 a day. We paid £12, arriving at 8.30 am and leaving about 10.30 pm.

THE DOUBLETREE HILTON HOTEL
In the area next to reception was a dispenser of free drinking water with citrus and other fruits. Our arrival conference breakfast of a Danish pastry, assorted teas and coffee was good. We had had a full breakfast before driving an hour from London.

We were in an area at the back with a pretty flower arrangement.


CONFERENCE FOOD
The giant conference room did the job, though I always find it hard to see around others. Water was supplied on side tables.

At our first break time the hotel was slow to bring out the food.

LUNCH
Tables were for four, or two, which is cosy for conversation. When one person at a table for two alongside was left alone at the end of the meal we were able to push the smaller table against our larger one.

Lunch was saved buffet style, in two sections. The first queue was for salads. The second was for hot food. A third section contained desserts. The result was a long queue for the first table. The arrangement should have been different for so many people. The food was good, lost of choice.

The Afternoon chocolate chip mini muffin cakes were good.

Before dinner we sat in the bar area which had news screens. Very comfortable.

DINNER
Our private dinner was in a separate room. The usual round tables had concertina white fabric napkins. the bread was a mixture of plain and poppyseed rolls. Bread was already on the table, as was the red and white wine bottles and still and sparkling bottled water.

The first course was a choice of salmon or goats cheese. The salmon in a circular tart with a fried egg on top was a surprise and very good.

Main courses were a choice of fish or beef. The fish seemed to be cod. The beef was shredded, very nice sauce. Very filling.

The waiters were waiting and smiling. I thought the service was delightful and helpful. I asked for decaffeinated coffee after the meal and up it came.

The band played at just the right level.

Would I recommend it? Definitely.



Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.