The Portobello

On a residential street in Notting Hill, this quirky little hotel is liked for its 'relaxed informality'. It is owned by Tim and Cathy Herring with partner Johnny Ekperigin, who is the manager. 'The changing fashions in hotels may have passed the Portobello by,' said a recent visitor. 'It is redeemed by a real sense of character; nothing anonymous here.' The bedrooms vary greatly in size and style (returning guests recommend discussing choices before booking). The 'special rooms', with unusual features, are popular with visiting celebrities. Alice Cooper is said to have kept a boa constrictor in the freestanding Edwardian bathing machine in the Round Room. The Moroccan Room has lots of red, a bath behind a silk screen. An inspector loved a third-floor room with a tiny balcony overlooking gardens, a dressing area, and a four-poster bed. Smaller Cabin rooms have a tiny bathroom. Breakfast is taken in a 'delightful' drawing room, with a large palm, an enormous mirror, original plasterwork. The Portobello's residents get a discount at Julie's, the owners' nearby restaurant. More reports, please.

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