I was a little worried about this property after booking and reading some of the negative reviews. First and foremost this hotel could use a good dusting, deeper level of cleaning in the bathrooms, addition of mattress pads and new sheets to replace the fairly threadbare sheets/no mattress pads on the beds, and clearing of the slow tub and sink drains.
But the hotel had some very unique, charming aspects such as the artwork on the walls and the common lobby area with ornate, stained trim, paneling and wainscoting. My understanding is the original owners tried really hard to make this hotel seem just a like a British hotel.
Breakfast is something that stood out. The menu was the same everyday, but cooks made the scrambled eggs taste better than typical by adding green onion and spices, and I usually dislike hotel pastries, but The Cheshire must have baked goods provider that knows how to make scones and breakfast cakes that actually taste good through using good ingredients and baking technique. The Cheshire's were much, much better than sugary, bodiless, mealy garbage that passes for baked goods most places.
The primary reason I booked The Cheshire is proximity to Forest Park. The park is big enough that driving over is somewhat necessary to see the History and Art Museum unless you don't mind a fairly long walk. But, I'm a recreational runner, and in less than a couple of city blocks I was in the park enjoying a run on some paved multi-use trails.