'Allo! I'm not contributing to Ciao for the time being but if you are bored / desperate / weird enou...
'Allo! I'm not contributing to Ciao for the time being but if you are bored / desperate / weird enough to wish to continue to read my ramblings, you can find me on Dooyoo under the user name plipplop. See you around! :P
Member since:15.07.2000
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Please note that I cannot guarantee the complete accuracy of all detail contained within this opinion. For 70% of my time at the Marriott I was very drunk – for the other 30% I had a terrible hangover.
The Leeds Marriott is located right in the heart of the city, within just a few minutes’ walking distance of the city’s main train station. The hotel opens out onto a quiet ornate square named Trevelyan Square, and as such, the main entrance can be a little bit difficult to find if you don’t know where you are heading. The hotel is well sign-posted from the main roads into the city and Leeds City centre is well served by both the M1 and M62. The hotel is extremely well positioned for most central attractions. The main shopping centre is within walking distance, including the now famous branch of Harvey Nichols. There are a wealth of bars, restaurants and clubs all within staggering distance – but the actual location of the hotel itself means that you are away from the bustle. The hotel does not have its own car park, but offers discounted parking rates in the NCP multi-storey car park in Trevelyan Square.
ARRIVAL AND CHECKING IN
The hotel entrance is large, open and stylish. The marble floor and expansive leather sofas in the main reception area give the hotel a luxurious feel, and there is a real air of peace and calm. Upon arrival, I was greeted promptly by a polite young lady who checked my details and gave me my room card in less
than a minute. One thing I can’t stand is having to wait at hotel reception desks – so I was suitably impressed. We had collected some snacks from McDonald’s on our way over and as we sat in reception, scoffing, the concierge approached us and politely asked us whether we would like plates, or whether we weren’t planning on allowing the food to remain that long. A classic line – and very funny at the time.
THE ROOMS
The hotel contains 244 guestrooms, of differing sizes and standards, but the quality of the rooms is consistently high (I explored several). My room was very impressive – large and airy, with good quality furniture and fittings and an excellent standard of cleanliness throughout. I was greeted by a basket of fresh fruit and some chilled mineral water in my room – all the right sort of touches that keep me very happy. The bed was large enough for three (not telling you whether I tested that theory or not) and was very comfortable. The room also had a small round table and chairs, and a fitted unit that housed the TV and one of the telephones. The lighting in the room seemed t o have a mind of its own – as I clicked each switch, a varying selection of lights seemed to turn on and off. As I said, I was very drunk though.
All the rooms have free SKY satellite television stations and for once, the picture quality was excellent. There was a well-stocked minibar, with the usual expensive selection of drinks and snacks and a relatively varied room service menu. The rooms all contain direct dial telephones, and whilst the rates are still relatively expensive, I did notice that Marriott had reduced their call rates considerably compared to my last visit. The room was air-conditioned – which was a godsend, because without it, the room would have been unbearably hot and stuffy. All the usual extras were available – trouser press, hairdryer, ironing board and kettle.
The hotel also has 36 executive rooms, which are much larger and have a separate dining area and lounge. Guests staying in the executive rooms may also take advantage of the executive lounge, where breakfast is served and business facilities are made available.
THE BATHROOM
The bathroom was relatively compact, and quite claustrophobic. Fortunately, the power shower was efficient and truly powerful, so the facilities were at least up to scratch. For such a comfortable room, I was shocked to find that really cheap and nasty toilet roll that cuts your arse in half, but otherwise the fittings were of a high standard. The room was also very clean - although I had terrible trouble getting the toilet to flush. The hotel also seems to have a good hot water supply – whenever I wanted a shower, there was always plenty of piping hot water, and plenty of sumptuous white towels too.
EATING AND DRINKING
The main restaurant is called Dyson’s, and serves hot food right up until 11 p.m. The restaurant has a pleasant ambience, and serves a selection of different dishes. I didn’t eat dinner at the restaurant but enjoyed a superb cooked breakfast first thing in the morning, which I would heartily recommend. John T’s Bar was our main haunt for the evening, which appeared to be open 24 hours a day. The bar was comfortable and sociable, with plenty of people around to fetch drinks and snacks. Keep your wits about you though. The bar man obviously thought I was a soft target, as he added five drinks to my bill that I had not ordered, thinking that I wouldn’t notice. When I pointed out the mistake, he was highly embarrassed but I wasn’t entirely convinced that it was entirely accidental. I was also rather shocked when the arm fell off my easy chair, but was quite able to see the funny side of it at the time. Strangely enough, the other guests in the bar didn’t seem quite so amused….
SERVICE STANDARDS
The standard of service in the hotel was consistently good. Despite my often-blurred speech and general misdemeanour, all the bar staff members were friendly, patient and game for a laugh. The same could also be said of the reception staff, who seemed intent on stealing my McFlurry. The hotel has a 24-hour concierge, who was bright and cheerful and always keen to help. There are also plenty of porters to help with luggage or provide general assistance where necessary. Marriott hotels are normally very suitable for a good pampering, and the Leeds Marriott was no exception.
OTHER FACILITIES
The hotel has a fantastic leisure suite complete with swimming pool, spa bath, sauna, steam room and gym. All the facilities are complimentary to guests and there is also a solarium, which you pay to use on an hourly basis. The leisure facilities are open from 6 a.m. right up until 10 p.m. – certainly worth bringing the right attire if you’re coming for a stay, because the standard of the facilities is excellent.
The hotel also boasts a broad selection of conference rooms and suites. Prices start from £150 and go up to £2000 according to the room in question – they also offer combined delegate rates that include the cost of the meeting room and a guestroom for the night. Despite the relatively high prices, the rooms are excellent and are well worth the cash.
Disabled facilities are relatively basic. Only four of the bedrooms are suitable for disabled visitors, although all facilities such as the lifts, toilets and restaurant have been designed or amended to make things easier. These modifications seem more of an after thought to me – the main entrance to the hotel is up a flight of stone steps.
RESERVATIONS AND PRICES
Reservations are held for arrival by 4 p.m. with cancellation charges applicable thereafter. You can reserve a room by contacting central reservations on 0800 22 12 22. To contact the hotel directtelephone 0113 236 6366.
Standard room rates in Marriott hotels are very difficult to track down – the company has perpetually changing cycle of promotions and offers. I would also recommend therefore, that you research the rates on the Marriott web site to see what deals are available. The hotel chain specialises in discounted weekend breaks, and there are some good deals to be had. I paid £122 for the night (including breakfast) but I have seen rates as low as £89 and as high as £245 per night.
OVERALL VERDICT
Total satisfaction guaranteed. Whilst you can undoubtedly secure cheaper hotels in the city centre, the Marriott beats them all for comfort, style and service. This is the sort of standard accommodation that I want to experience when I am away from home, and I have no hesitation in heartily recommending the hotel.
Highly recommended
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
You and a friend can spend the day at the?modern and elegant?Leeds Marriott Hotel. Located ... more
in the heart of Leeds city centre, this hotel is the?perfect location for a?welcome break from a busy schedule. Feel the burn in a heart-pumping gym session, or ...
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This elegant and modern 4-star hotel has a superb location in the heart of the city ... more
centre, only a short walk from the train station and all that Leeds has to offer.The Leeds Marriott Hotel is just a short walk from the famous shopping area of the Vict...
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Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
May 5th, 2002
very helpful by (100%):
