The fourth of July was a fitting date to unveil a New York-inspired hotel in the city of Leicester, around the corner from a small replica of the Statue of Liberty that once crowned the Liberty shoe factory in the 1920s.
Hotel Brooklyn LEI is the East Midlands outpost of the hotel that raised the bar in Manchester in early 2020. Hotel Brooklyn MCR went on to be named Hotel of the Year 2020/21 at the itravel Staycation Awards for its winning style and welcoming philosophy.
Leicester’s Brooklyn is no different, with a unique blend of style, function and access – 16 of its 191 rooms have been designed to suit a wide range of disabled access requirements. Some even have adjoining rooms for an assistant if required.
Location
The hotel is conveniently located a stone’s throw from the entrance of the Leicester Tigers rugby stadium, which can be reached via a bridge. Hotel Brooklyn Leicester is close to universities, museums and art galleries. A hop, skip and a jump from the town centre, it’s also a 15-minute walk from Leicester station.
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Ambience
In spite of its size, this hotel feels intimate and welcoming throughout. It has adopted the distinctive hipster vibes of Brooklyn, New York, while celebrating Leicester’s heritage and diversity. Bespoke art and photography, featuring foxes and tigers are a subtle nod to local sports club mascots, but avoid a sports bar feel.
The five floors reflect New York subway lines, while tigers and jungles feature throughout and there are several banana plants and a living wall. Designed with an eclectic nature-meets-industry aesthetic, the brown, green and grey colour scheme creates a stylish, warm atmosphere.
Accommodation
This hotel raises the standards and expectations of what access could and should look like, with uncompromised style, dignity and elegance. Some suites have baths in the bedrooms, outdoor terraces and hot tubs. The 16 accessible rooms, including Liberty Suites, have been adapted for disabled guests with a range of access features, without compromising on good looks. Some contain wheel-in showers with handrails, while others have track hoists for those who require assistance from the bed to a chair.
As a full-time power chair user, I benefited from the option of the track hoist, roll in shower and acrylic shower chair. It seems simple, but the hotel guarantees an adapted room when you book it, taking away the anxieties associated with the uncertainty of room allocations. Travelling for work and pleasure means my needs change depending on what is happening that day. Hotel Brooklyn puts people at the heart of what it does, and has been designed accordingly. I did ask myself, if Brooklyn can do it, why not others?
Accessible rooms at other hotels sometimes feel like a compliant medical facility, yet Hotel Brooklyn celebrates inclusion authentically, considering access and inclusive design. Subtle and functional, the rooms and showers are more compact than the Hotel Brooklyn Manchester. As expected with any new build, there is of course a small snag list, though the management are open to dialogue and suggestions.
Food and drink
Restaurant, The Lair, is a nod to the Tigers in the stadium next door. The breakfast buffet has an array of transatlantic and continental offerings, to the well-loved English breakfast and American waffle. The evening menu is still in development and though a little limited in choice, offers an impressive range of beers, spirits and cocktails.
What to do
Cool and stylish, Hotel Brooklyn LEI is a city escape, which somehow also feels like an escape from the city. Whether you’re a fan of sport or space Leicester is a multi-faceted city with a small-town feel. The National Space Centre is home to the UK’s largest planetarium and the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery is a short walk away. The Richard III Visitor Centre tells the story of the monarch who was discovered in a car park. Fans of street art can check out Leicester’s “Bring the Paint” exhibition, featuring international artists. Tranquil green spaces include Abbey Park and the Attenborough Arboretum.
“I’d recommend going to the New Walk Museum or heading to Esquires coffee for a bite to eat”
Kelly Bradley, Assistant Manager front of house
Worth writing home about
Hotel Brooklyn brings a welcome buzz and sense of excitement to the local area. Its staff deliver impressive service, going out of their way to make all guests feel at home. Accessibility has been seamlessly and authentically woven into the fabric of the design and the result is polished, quirky and inviting. It’s a classic and stylish younger sister to Hotel Brooklyn MCR, with its own unique sense of style, proving that this hotel aims to be no paper tiger.
To book
Hotel Brooklyn LEI, 101 Welford Rd, Leicester, LE2 7QS (0116 366 5693; hotelbrooklynlei.co.uk). Doubles from £76.
