I recently stayed at The Windermere Manor Hotel and Conference Centre while attending meetings at Western University. The building itself was constructed quite some time ago which is reflected in its architecture, although formally opened as an event space in the 1990s I believe. I had been here years before for an outdoor wedding which was quite lovely given the landscaping. Although the history of the building adds to its charm, unfortunately the overall upkeep has been lacking, including in the maintenance of the gardens and outdoor areas which are now quite bare. This is reflected in the dated furniture and appearance of the individual rooms, the elevators, the carpeting, as well as a musty odour in the hotel itself.
I was given an 'accessible' room which is situated right next to the elevator. Overall, it was quite spacious, but it was very dimly lit. There was also an accessible washroom which was dated in the fixtures, and a small kitchenette with a microwave, very old coffee maker and fridge, along with a 2 seat table. There was a small television which was probably the 'newest' thing in the room, although the picture quality was quite blurry.
I dined in the hotel's restaurant for their complimentary breakfast buffet, and the staff here were attentive and friendly. The buffet itself consisted of various cereals,croissants and pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, as well as coffee, tea and juice. There was also an a la carte option available as well. The food was adequate but not exceptional overall.
The front desk staff were polite with efficient check-in and check-out; however, the were not overly helpful in any way. In fact, there was a very elderly couple who checked in before me who were asking questions about transportation and activities in the city and the desk staff did not address their questions nor provide any information.I myself called the desk in the evening as the wireless internet connection was not working, only to hear the suggestion of 'keep trying.'
The hotel has free parking in the attached lot, and is situated in close proximity to the University, the Hospital, as well as Masonville Mall. For the price of the stay here, you are likely to find hotels of better value; however, as an event venue this still remains a 'charming' setting. read more