M by Montcalm Shoreditch London Tech City

The hotel is a bit too corporate to pull in the hippest media or tech types; for others, this is no bad thing

BACKGROUND Luxury lifestyle brand Montcalm now has five properties in London – the 269room M by Montcalm Shoreditch London Tech City opened in spring last year. The new-build 18-storey tower takes the form of an elongated diamond. Designed by RIBA, it was inspired by a painting by English artist Bridget Riley. The exterior is criss-crossed with lines that lead the eye in surprising directions, and the windows are mismatched. From the outside, it’s striking, but it means views from the rooms are partially, or even fully, obstructed by slats and walls.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? The interiors are very modern, with lots of black and white. Corridors have thick carpets and are illuminated with glowing zigzagging stripes. It prides itself on being high-tech – I overheard a woman saying it was “like a 1970s science fiction film”. On the face of it, it’s impressive, but it doesn’t always work in practice – none of the apps on the table-top touchscreen tablets in reception were functioning, for example.

WHERE IS IT? Wedged on a corner between Britannia Walk and Provost Street on City Road, two minutes’ walk from Old Street Tube station.

ROOM FACILITIES Rooms start from 28 sqm, with suites going up to 35 sqm. The décor is a blend of muted browns, cream, white and black. Wellequipped, they come with work desks, free wifi, media hubs with international sockets, fruit, mineral water, minibars, Krups coffee machines, kettles, safes and ironing boards. The marble bathrooms have showers and/or tubs, underfloor heating, plush robes and Elemis products (Hermès in suites and Club rooms).

On entering, I was overwhelmed by the smell of room fragrance, which was being pumped from a unit. I unplugged it and turned on the air conditioning (windows don’t open). Rooms have 37inch custom-made TVs, and tablets that control the temperature, curtains and lights – these glowed so brightly at night that I had to put them on the floor.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS The 17th-floor finedining restaurant Urban Coterie is run by hospitality group Searcys. Underneath is Urban Coterie’s executive lounge/private members’ club – it can be used by Club room and Junior suite guests (who get a £20 voucher). Membership is £900 a year. There are free drinks and canapés served in the evening, and breakfast in the morning.

Also by Searcys is the Tonic and Remedy lobby bar and mezzanine restaurant. The cocktail menu is inspired by “ye olde” apothecaries, with a focus on botanicals, herbs, bitters and medicinal spirits. For dinner I had the £9 “minor” Cornish crab cake in curried pumpkin soup (delicious), then the “major” pappardelle alla puttanesca in a rich tomato sauce (£14). Guests who don’t know their way around this grittier area of London will enjoy dining here, but if I was a local I wouldn’t go out of my way.

MEETING FACILITIES There are six event spaces ranging from 25 sqm to 163 sqm. In combination, they can hold 200 people for a reception.

LEISURE FACILITIES A “Versace-inspired” spa is on level minus one – it has three treatment rooms, a whirlpool, a 12-metre swimming pool, a steam room, sauna and experience showers. There is also a gym with Matrix machines. Both are open 6am-10pm (from 8am on weekends). Jenny Southan

VERDICT This is a good 21st-century business hotel. Technology glitches and disrupted views are the only significant let-downs. It’s a bit too corporate to pull in the hippest media or tech types; for others, this is no bad thing. Service was polite and helpful.

PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in March started from £199 for a Deluxe double room.

CONTACT 151-157 City Road; tel +44 (0)20 3837 3000; mbymontcalm.co.uk