Came up from Suzhou and the first thing that hits you is Wuxi is like a bombsite. Not in the negative sense as they are in mass redevelopment for the future but the city and hotels must be hurting. Subway I beleive under construction and elevated road being built allover. So tip - do not let an out of town driver use a GPSA Navigation as he has no chance. After a merry tour around the city we spot the kempinski, right by a site of mass construction. As we pulled up I looked around (next to the Inter Continental) and knew I would hate this. Also looked nothing like the picture but that could be the brick dust that covered it.

First, got out of the car - my bags were took inside but the reception is away from the doors so they were given back to me at reception and they said call if I needed more help. Check in smooth-ish - although I had booked this myself after looking on here as a solo traveller but the receptionist was insistant I should have a twin not a double, made no odds to me but funny - I kept saying JUST ME and I booked a double. Rate was room only and it seem like an age before the receptionist had reeled off everything that was extra. Took my own bags to the room. For a hotel towering over the city the view was dire. It will probably be ace once Wuxi is finished ! -

I travel china more frequently than I post on here and one thing that stuck out was the staff. I appreciate its a job and most times the hospitality is false but in the Kempinski they could at least fake it. I stayed in the China Hotel in Guangzhou before and every member of staff is trained to be interested, so much so it feels like a business centre, even the security guards are pleasant. Not in the Kempinski, everyone runs a mile - maybe training is the issue - I think the hotel is very new. Even eye contact was avoided. I had to look twice at some people to check they were staff. The hotel is too big for inexperienced staff they appear out of their depth.

I don't do a lot of Chinese food ~(well certainly not daily) so the main reason for booking the Kempinski was the Brauhaus. First night the waitress was telling me that the Sizzling Menu was recommended, so I went in on Rib Eye Steak. I have had better in a Roadside Cafe in the UK. The room info said something about leading local "bands" - well if they are the best I am Robbie Williams. I also got the feeling the waitresses counted how many beers you were having in some sort of shock.

Second day I returned from the factory early and thought I would walk around the local area. After being sent in the wrong direction (my fault not the Hotel) I got cheesed off and with my head full of construction dust returned to the hotel. Don't be fooled by the proximity to the river as its the most dull and uninspiring river I have ever seen. Having had a belly fully of Chinese at lunch I ventured back to the Brauhaus. Chicken and Chips - can't go wrong except the speed it came out it must have been on the plate with my name on it. The band had not improved.

Did not sleep at all on second night. Smoke alarm flashing like a beacon in the room, I had to switch the entrance lights on to nulify the flash, but eerily the hotel seemed to creak and knock. I was on floor 10 and probably not half way up but I was not comfortable at all.

Check out was horrendous, however for the first time a representative of the hotel touched base and apoligised. Queued from 8.20 to 8.50. Bizarrely they still have to ring someone to check your mini bar usage.

Not sure if the general construction in the area set me off on the wrong footing when I arrived or not but no chance I will come back here. I would consider other Kempinsky as I have had bad exeperience with other chains in single hotels but not normally first time.