The Blake is severely mismanaged. It's renovated many of it's rooms and is "trying" to be a nice, hip hotel, but it simply isn't b/c it seems no one in management cares.

Examples:
- The renovated rooms look nice, but they choose to buy cheap hard mattresses.
- The bathrooms look hip, but then your realize not having a shower curtain floods the floor.. Yes, the showers have a half glass door as a curtain... nothing really blocks the water. My floor was flooded after every shower.
- The receptionists made it a point to check us in late b/c "we booked through Expedia". She mentioned this 5 times making it clear we would not get good service b/c we used Expedia (ridiculous).
- They have a pool table in the hotel lobby/bar, but only offer broken pool sticks.. Seriously, every pool stick was broken. How hard is it to buy two new sticks... even one new stick.. so people can play?

I will say the location is great if you have business downtown and everyone (minus the receptionists) are very nice.

I'm actually staying at The Blake as I write this review. I've never been compelled to actually write a hotel review and have always taken the Trip Advisor reviews with a grain of salt. So please, read this review and know that I am just like you.

I thought I was staying at a modern, semi-hip hotel, or as hip as a hotel in Charlotte NC can be. I took a chance. I've had luck in the past, plus the rate was pretty good for the night.

All I can say is that I feel like I am in the movie "The Shining". I am literally the only person staying here. There are a handful of staff walking around. None of which seem to have an ounce of the class that The Blake is trying to represent or attract.

Don't waste your time coming to this hotel. Walking around, you get the sense that they won't be in business very long.

I just returned from my stay at the Blake Hotel and it was my worst stay ever. The boiler broke - at least, that is what we were told - during our stay so we were out of hot water and thusly, unable to take a hot shower. The rooms appeared to be recently renovated but the bathroom and electrical system appeared to be in their original state which was old and in need of repair. To make matters worst, despite the fact that the boiler was broken, the restaurant remained open, probably to the dismay of healthy immune systems everywhere. I have no idea how the kitchen staff maintained a clean kitchen without hot water and I didn't want to find out. Super small beds so someone with my height - 5'4 had a real difficult time sleeping in the bed without my feet peeking out from beneath the sheets. There were a few computers but they were out of service until we left on Sunday. Of course, the staff took a real beating from guests b/c of the hot water issue so I got an opportunity to deal with the arrogant attitude of their management up close and personal. I didn't have an issue with the desk workers and the housekeeping staff because they could only work with the tools available. A guest told me that they had recommended that guest wash in the facility across the street. Now, that's class!

So, to sum up my experience, old hotel and dismissive management. Would you return to this experience with your sanity intact?

Choose this hotel if; It's significantly cheaper than the Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden and Crowne Plaza. If any of these are the same price or only slighlty more expensive I'd suggest staying in them.
Generally the Blake hotel has a lot to offer, good location, nice decor (if a little dark), big modern rooms, city views but I would only choose this hotel again if the rate was right. The Gym room was 85f with most of the equipment out of order! Bathrooms are compact but otherwise fine. Service is average at best except in the bar and restaurant where the staff are friendly and competent. Parking on level 2 is fine, a bit expsnsive and little way from the hotel lobby but otherwise ok. However any other level requires the lift which was out of order and the stairwell was full of empty liquor bottles and stank or urine.