On a recent three-week business trip through the United Kingdom and Kenya I was able to experience some interesting small business setups worth sharing. One is a small hotel, Mimi’s Soho, which has found a niche its clientele is loyally rewarding.
Mimi’s is in Soho, the bohemian section of London’s famed West End theatre district. London hotels, especially in the West End, tend to be quite expensive and what Mimi’s has done is position itself as a clearly differentiated alternative to larger opulent competitors. The hotel offers high end luxury in very small rooms with prices that reflect square footage. The hotel’s decor is top shelf: stylish and opulent throughout, with small touches carefully added.
The hotel’s guest rooms either have windows or they do not. They range in size from 65 square feet “tiny” rooms to the “lux” alternative, which includes 226 square feet with a window and 193 without. Regardless the size room you choose, the decor is stylish and luxurious. The hotel has invested heavily in the finest of materials, so what visitors trade off in room size they receive back in high end quality. Especially noteworthy is the soundproof nature of the rooms and surroundings. A marching band could pass by and no one would hear it. The doors, walls, and rooms are soundproof and, located in such a high activity part of town, the soundproofing alone is a remarkable touch of customer enjoyment.
The hotel has a small bar on the ground floor (Henson’s) that features a fireplace, oak flooring, fine furniture, and welcome ambiance. In the morning Henson’s provides for a continental breakfast and nice meeting spot, complete with an extensive selection of teas and coffees. At noon the bar transforms into a vibrant cocktail scene that featuring a high quality, creative drink menu.
The sound insulation for the walls and doors is especially impressive, as is something guests do not see but greatly appreciate: under-floor heating throughout rooms and bathrooms. Every guest room feature a large flatscreen TV with complimentary in-room movies and music. Free guest wifi blankets the place, and the beds and bedding are luxurious. Bathrooms feature efficient rainwater showers, high end Molton Brown cosmetic products, and heated mirrors.
If you are the type of traveler who spends more time outside in London than inside, but who values a quiet, luxurious sleep experience after a long day of hoofing around one of the world’s great cities, Mimi’s “pocket luxury” is an interesting and affordable concept well worth considering.