42 The Calls

Hotel description

It may seem a perplexing name for a hotel, but The Calls is the name of an old cobbled street down by Leeds' waterfront, and 42 is, true to current style, merely the street address. The building was once home to a corn mill, and the city's riverfront area, though resurgent, bears strong remnants of its industrial heritage, with the still-active Tetley's Brewery just across the street.

This is a Scotsman hotel, and though elegant, it is not exactly a posh luxury hotel in the style of the original Scotsman or Paris' La Tremoille. The feel here is more like a classic town house — which is not a slight against the service, or the creature comforts, but just a matter of scale.

The hotel's 41 bedrooms (shame they couldn't squeeze another one in, just to match the name) are all decorated in distinct schemes, perhaps a bit more modern than one would expect, but without sacrificing comfort — the beds, particularly, are massive. The building's original character is allowed to shine through as well, with exposed beams in the upper rooms and walls of whitewashed brick in some others. Business travelers will be delighted by the suites, many of which can be converted to meeting rooms, and the dedicated conference facilities are state-of-the-art, and no less elegant than the rest of the hotel.

As for the surroundings, there is more to Leeds than just industrial relics; the waterfront area is newly trendy, bustling with activity, with a host of options to compete with the hotel's own Pool Court and Brasserie 44, though these two are fine enough that there is no dire need to explore. And the morning reveals what may be 42 The Calls' strong suit — whatever you do the rest of the day, plan to stick around for breakfast.