Reality Check ➔ HOTEL HOTEL DU VIN, YORK
THE HOTEL: The Hotel du Vin group consists of 14 stylish and individual hotels and this York property is no exception. It’s housed in a Grade II listed building, 10 minutes’ walk from the railway station, and has 44 rooms across four categories, all named after wines. THE CHECK-IN: A small reception is discreetly hidden away between the front door and the bar. A small booking confusion was quickly dealt with and we were then shown to our room with an offer to show us its features. THE ROOM: Spacious and comfortable with a very large bed, work table, large wardrobe with safe and mini-bar, flatscreen TV with CD/DVD player (the hotel has a free to use CD library) and a Nespresso machine to complement the normal kettle. Two mirrors and several pictures adorn the one darker green and three taupe walls. The bathroom had underfloor heating, a bath and rainhead shower, plentiful supply of towels and Arran Aromatics’ toiletries and candles. The room is a nice mix of dark tiling and pale taupe walls. THE BUSINESS: There's free wifi access throughout the hotel, plus three meeting rooms – the Abbey Well, the Ouse and the Library – all of which have LCD projectors and offer lots of natural light, with capacity for up to around 20 delegates in each.
THE FACILITIES: The hotel’s bistro is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a varied menu including ‘local heroes’ to promote the hotel’s homegrown and local food philosophy. Walls are adorned with copious quantities of pictures, photographs and framed wine labels. The hotel bar is zinc topped and has a relaxing and convivial feel with a main bar area, cosy lounge room and a spacious courtyard, heated in winter, which has a retractable roof. The hotel has a free of charge CD library. There’s plentiful off-street parking at the back of the hotel for £10 per night.
➔ HOTEL PARK PLAZA, LEEDS
THE HOTEL: Aside from the nightmare to find the hotel by car, around the labyrinthine one- way system that is Leeds city centre, the 185- room hotel is well located in the heart of the city, opposite Leeds railway station. It has four precious parking spaces next door so booking these ahead is vital. The hotel is bristling from a £2million refurbishment programme. THE CHECK-IN: The hotel has a small but welcoming lobby area. It’s been recently refurbished in warm tones of orange and yellows and is an open-plan space that leads to a smart coffee bar overlooking City Square. Check-in formalities were dealt with promptly. THE ROOM: Our 12th floor accommodation was two interconnecting corner rooms, one newly refurbished and one not, which helpfully pointed up the differences, namely much larger flatscreen TVs, new mattresses, bedding, carpets and soft furnishings. Overall it’s a more contemporary décor, with a silver feature wall, and good wardrobe space neatly incorporating a laptop-size safe, minibar, tea and coffee-making facilities, iron and ironing board. Soft furnishings are in warm red tones. THE BUSINESS: Almost a dozen meeting rooms and four large function rooms – all with wifi – are spread over two floors, all with natural daylight from the floor to ceiling
THE VERDICT: An outstanding and delightful hotel for a business stay – some 80 per cent of its clientele – or leisure, with a friendly and relaxed yet efficient atmosphere, ideal for visitors to the city’s university and the many R&D, medical and start-up companies. The bistro menu and wine list is well priced. THE DETAILS: Rates are from £105 room only or from £115 including the excellent buffet breakfast. Hotel du Vin & Bistro York, 89 The Mount, York YO24 1AX. Tel: 01904 557350; see
www.hotelduvin.com for more information. ALAN ORBELL
windows. They can accommodate up to 200 in banquet/theatre style or up to 70 in classroom style. Day delegate rates are from £32. There is also a business centre and ground floor executive lounge. THE FACILITIES: A gym, one restaurant and two bars complete the facilities. The Chino Latino restaurant and bar is ablaze with dramatic red and black décor, trendy mood lighting and an enticing pan-Asian menu of noodles, curry, black cod et al. The friendly staff were very attentive. On the ground floor, the Scene coffee bar offers more informal
fodder, from burgers and club sandwiches to salads, all in the region of £10. THE VERDICT: A well located hotel and smart looking after its makeover, with young attentive staff that are eager to please. It ticks all the boxes for the business traveller. THE DETAILS: Park Plaza Leeds, Boar Lane, City Square, Leeds, LS1 5NS. Lead-in rate from £69 including breakfast and tax. Suites on the 20th floor have spectacular views and start from £149. Tel: 0113 380 4000; or see:
www.parkplaza.com for more information. GILLIAN UPTON
86 I FIND MORE REALITY CHECKS AT
WWW.THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM
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