Hotel Brooklyn, Bringing a Fresh Hotel Experience to Leicester

Getting to Hotel Brooklyn Leicester is a doddle. There’s no hectic subway system or shoulder-barging streetwalkers to navigate. London Road Railway Station is just a 15-minute walk away, while its location just on the southern outskirts of the city centre also makes it easily accessible by car, especially since there’s parking onsite, just be sure to pre-book your space.

The surrounding area is kind of like Leicester’s leisure district. Victoria Park, Nelson Mandela Park and Aylestone Meadows Local Nature Reserve are all within walking distance, while the city’s sporting heritage can be seen on every corner within a mile radius of the hotel. Your next door neighbour for the duration of your stay will be the Leicester Tigers – this storied rugby union team play at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, an impressive stadium standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the hotel.

Meanwhile the King Power Stadium, home to Leicester City football club, is a short stroll down the road. Expect the cultural legacy of both clubs to pop-up consistently throughout your stay, from commissioned murals adorning walls on surrounding streets, to many a subtle – or sometimes not-so-subtle – reference in drinks menus and welcome leaflets.

A very warm welcome from the staff at reception, if our visit was anything to go by. After a friendly chat and a smooth check-in process you’ll make your way up a short flight of stairs (an elevator is also available) to the stunning indoor courtyard that acts as the first visual trick to transport you Stateside.

As you ascend the stairs you’ll be welcomed by a towering exposed brick wall, dotted with room windows and fire-escape style railings that perfectly capture the urban jungle that is NYC. The ground level design captures the Brooklyn of today, a trendy playground for artists and aspirers, where pop art adorns benches, fairy lights illuminate trees and industrial materials have been converted into stylish up-cycled furniture.

That vibe very much continues as you enter The Lair. The hotel’s large, open-plan restaurant has a spacious feel not unlike that of a thriving food hall, with a variety of seating options and lovely floor-to-ceiling windows, not to mention the DJ who, during our stay, set a groovy atmosphere as he masterfully spun records to get us in the mood for an evening of dining and drinking. Or, for more chilled surrounds, take your beverage to the Grandstand, where you can sink into an armchair or one of the big, comfy sofas.

The Lair maintains the Brooklyn feel with a contemporary menu blending global culinary influences with American dining culture, with enough variety to cater to every taste and dietary need. Opt for a classic 2-3 course meal, check out the entirely separate vegan menu, or make it American tapas with a selection of small plates and lighter bites.

Embracing the US spirit we went straight for the juicy New York Strip steak, a beautifully cooked chunk of meat that melts in the mouth, disintegrating into a million mouth-watering flavours, aided in no small part by the accompanying sauce – options range from garlic butter to green peppercorn, blue cheese and more. Other menu highlights include the arancini and cheesy mash potato scallions with spring onion, while the dessert menu is a sight to behold, although it’s hard to look past NYC classics like the Pecan Pie and New York cheesecake.

The drinks menu is equally crowd pleasing, with a well-selected wine menu catering to every price bracket and an extensive cocktail menu that includes the Brooklyn Rickey, Brooklyn Bridge and the New York Cosmo, to name a few. Alternatively, you can never go wrong with a freshly-pulled pint of crisp Brooklyn Lager, on tap and ready to appease all beer-loving Brooklyn hipsters.

Breakfast is also held in The Lair. Expect a classic hotel breakfast buffet experience. Choose from a full English to continental options, including pastries, fresh fruit and cereals, or choose both, of course. And, with this being the Hotel Brooklyn, you can also tuck into a bagel, or even make use of the waffle maker, which comes with an assortment of tasty toppings.

There are a variety of room styles and sizes to fit your needs, including the Liberty Suites, designed specifically with accessibility in mind – grab rails, hoists and extra-wide lifts are just some examples of the thoughtful design behind these suites, as well as the hotel’s shared spaces. This is a hotel that clearly prides itself on inclusivity and accessibility, whatever your need, they will do everything they can to support you.

We stayed in the Brooklyn Suite which, quite frankly, was an utter delight. Spacious, cosy and with a healthy dash of luxury, the room included a stunning king-size double bed – a very appealing prospect after gobbling down that steak – as well as a sofa and coffee table overlooking the city-view window and, without doubt the star of the show, a luxurious roll-top bathtub with direct sightline to the flat screen TV. Believe you me, we did not waste the opportunity for such an indulgent soak.

Upon entry we were greeted with a hand-written note, a striking charcuterie board and a bag of American goodies – popcorn, Hershey’s and a can of Brooklyn Lager, in our case, not to forget the cocktail voucher. As well as the classics – complimentary bottled water, hot drink facilities, fresh fluffy towels and eco-friendly toiletries – the room was populated with a range of thoughtful touches, from a retro digital radio and old-fashioned corded telephone to a hand-picked mini library featuring the works F. Scott Fitzgerald, among others.

A classy addition to the hotel scene in Leicester, and one we expect to become a far more regular sight across cities in the UK. The Brooklyn theme is playful, adding a lot of colour to the blandness of generic modern hotel spaces, without ever quite becoming cheesy or overbearing. The design, from atmospheric shared spaces to the cosy privacy of your suite, is clearly done in an extremely thoughtful manner, with far more neat touches than your average city hotel. Combine that with an excellent dining experience that caters for all, plus a philosophy on accessibility that leaves some establishments trailing in the dust, and Hotel Brooklyn Leicester marks itself as the kind of place that will have you scrambling to make check-out. Time for one more quick bath, perhaps?

Want to know what to see and do during your stay? Check out our list of Leicester’s must-visit attractions, from royal remains to the largest covered outdoor market in Europe.
Nightly rates at Hotel Brooklyn start from £99 on a B&B basis.