HOTEL of the week

SOFITEL HOTEL, GATWICK AIRPORT

WHERE AND WHY A couple of minutes’ walk from the North Terminal of Britain’s secondbusiest airport, this is an excellent contemporary fourstar property. We arrived by cab and our bags were immediately whisked up to the lobby by a friendly doorman. At check-in we confirmed dinner in the two AA Rosette Brasserie and headed to our room on the 8th floor, where there’s access to a smart executive lounge which offers a continental breakfast or evening canapes with drinks.

THE ROOM Matched the star rating with a smart TV, an extremely comfortable bed and a good bathroom with Hermes amenities and an easy-tooperate shower (not all are!). Despite the proximity to the terminal, we heard no jet noise – but there were great runway views for us plane geeks.

ON THE MENU A high point of our one-night pre-flight stay. Dinner in the Brasserie was one of the best meals we’ve ever had at an airport hotel, and we’ve stayed in a lot. While the craft burgers we saw being served in the bar looked rather tempting, the main restaurant wowed us. Service was perfect and the food matched that, with the standouts being my smoked trout and quail’s egg starter (£8.50), my wife’s pork belly main (£19.95) and my stellar cheese platter to finish (£10.50). Food and drink is admittedly not cheap, but this is of course one of the top airport hotels in the country.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE Possibly you’re at a conference, but realistically you’re here to catch a plane. If you need a workout, there’s a 24hr gym.

WAKE UP CALL Room-only from £139 a night. sofitel.com