LONDON’S newest four-star hotel, The Shaw Park Plaza, has become the first in the capital to publicly admit it cannot guarantee service will stay at its usual level on New Year’s Eve.
General manager David Sharpe said services could be hit by the millennium bug or staff shortages as many people may not be prepared to work on that night. He added: “No hotelier or restaurateur can really be sure what service they can provide over the millennium.
“I believe it is impossible for any London hotel or restaurant to really gauge so far in advance what level of service they will be able to offer.”
He said that due to the uncertainty, The Shaw Park Plaza has opted not to charge a premium for accommodation on New Year’s Eve. It will be sticking to its rates of £125 per room per night. The hotel is offering only bed-and-breakfast packages in case it is not able to offer a full restaurant service.
n A New Year group package has been launched which takes in the Tower of London, Thames boat trip to the Waterloo Millennium Pier and British Airways’ London Eye observation wheel. It costs £61 per person based on a minimum of 20 people. Bookings can be made through Historic Royal Palaces on 020-7488 5762.