8 minute read
Reality Check: We check in to an aparthotel fit for a motown legend, a fun budget hotel in Shoreditch, and a conference hotel with a facelift – and fly business class to Singapore
Reality check
THE APARTHOTEL This new complex of 180 modern, spacious apartments, from Edyn's aparthotel brand Locke, is in a newly-built sustainable district, called Eddington, two miles northwest of Cambridge city centre (15 minutes by bike). It's set around a large, partlycovered courtyard that feels quite tropical thanks to a lawn, palms and other greenery in giant pots. The 150room Hyatt Centric Cambridge is on the opposite side and the two share an independently-run restaurant, Kota, and a bar, Dutch. There's also underground parking for £15 a night, 200 bike spaces and 20 EV charging points.
THE CHECK-IN A cute reception desk sits in the middle of a funky, industrialstyle co-working space. We were warmly greeted by Des, who was our superfriendly, super-efficient contact for the rest of our two-night stay. The front desk is manned at all times but our keycards gave us 24-hour access.
THE APARTMENT Our two-bedroom apartment, on the second floor, was big enough to host a party. A bright openplan living area had a well-equipped kitchen down one side, a sofa, dining table and a large flat-screen smart TV, which shows all the info about the property. A large L-shaped balcony links the living space with the two double bedrooms and looks out over the leafy courtyard. Bedrooms have ample wardrobe space and the bathroom has a double sink and large walk-in shower. THE BUSINESS The lobby doubles as a work or meeting space with communal desks/tables and private alcoves and natural light through floorto-ceiling windows. There are two separate meeting rooms, each seating 14 and which can be joined together.
THE FACILITIES Dutch is a classy, New York-style bar with a colourful cocktail menu (Mezcal is the speciality). It's popular with locals too. At Kota we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of sour dough with crushed avocado. Unusually, there's no breakfast buffet. We hired bikes (for free) and there's a mini gym.
APARTHOTEL: TURING LOCKE, CAMBRIDGE
A FABULOUS, SUSTAINABLE APARTHOTEL COMPLEX THAT'S FIT FOR A MOTOWN QUEEN
THE VERDICT A fabulous, sustainable aparthotel complex that's fit for a Motown queen, literally. We stayed during The Cambridge Club music festival and discovered (from fellow guests) that the headline act, Diana Ross, was staying at Turing Locke too - in the same corridor!
THE DETAILS 47 Eddington Ave, Cambridge CB3 1SE, lockeliving.com From £100 a night Bev Fearis
THE HOTEL The former East London Hotel was rebranded as a YOTEL and opened in April 2022, the group’s fifth city centre hotel in the UK. Despite its name this 161-room hotel is in Tower Hamlets – Bethnal Green tube station is a two-minute walk away.
THE CHECK-IN This was self-service. At a station called 'Mission Control' I keyed in my name and booking reference and my Smart key card was cut – except it wasn't. It didn't work for me but an assistant was on hand to check me in and point me in the direction of my room. Guests can also use their mobile devices as Smart Keys. THE ROOM Although compact by design, the bed occupied all the space between the end of the bathroom wall and the window. It felt a touch claustrophobic and the oversized TV at the end of the bed was too close to make viewing comfortable. However, the room made smart use of space and was super comfortable. The white walls gave it a nice clean feel and the mood lighting made it feel cosy. There was a body-length mirror, a small coat hanger hook and a Nespresso machine. The bathroom was disproportionately large, with a rainfall shower. I liked the bathroom mirror that lit up when you approached it or squeezed hand wash from the Urban Jungle toiletries.
THE BUSINESS Komyuniti, the lobby area cum restaurant and bar, is set up for those needing to spend some time on their laptops. WiFi throughout the hotel was super-fast.
THE FACILITIES There's a small bar that doubles as a breakfast counter serving yoghurt, apples, bananas, croissant and a bacon and egg or veggie burrito (£10pp). Komyuniti's menu features a range of pizzas, curries and bar bites, plus local craft beers and spirits. The hotel doesn't accept cash. There are plenty of pubs, restaurants and fast-food outlets nearby. The hotel doesn’t have a car park of its own, though parking facilities are available nearby at 27 Brubeck Street, E2 OEL.
THE VERDICT Minimalistic by design, this stylish hotel is comfortable and great value. It is not often you would describe a hotel as 'fun' but it deserves this tag with its Smart technology and neat quirky touches.
THE DETAILS YOTEL London Shoreditch, 309-317 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9LH London. yotel.com. Premier Queen rooms start from £140.
HOTEL: YOTEL SHOREDITCH, LONDON
IT'S NOT OFTEN A HOTEL IS DESCRIBED AS FUN BUT YOTEL SHOREDITCH WARRANTS THIS TAG
Steve Hartridge
THE FLIGHT I flew Business Class on flight SQ 317, an A380-800 series aircraft. Flying time was 13 hrs, 10 mins.
THE CHECK-IN There were long lines for most check-in desks at Terminal Two, including for my flight. I was grateful I was flying Business Class and stood in line for less than 10 minutes.
BOARDING I had an hour or so in Singapore Airline’s SilverKris Lounge, serving warm food and light snacks. Although mid-morning, there was none of the usual breakfast fare, bar a bacon roll that, with Covid rules still in place, was served to your seat. Masks were required whilst walking around the lounge. It was a short walk to the gate. Two cabin crew greeted me with smiles. THE SEAT The entire top deck of the plane was dedicated to Business Class. My window seat (95A) was in classy premium hand-stitched full-grain leather in warm purple, grey and yellow colours. It was spacious and ultracomfortable, with multiple compartments for stowing essentials and cleverly-placed small shelves for drinks, earphones, phone, etc. The foot cubby was positioned at an angle that points towards the window, which took a bit of getting used to. Seat arm ‘wings’ made it feel very private. Flattening the seat into a bed was quick and easy, with a plush pillow, duvet and sheet which fitted over the head rest. Some centre seats in the cabin opposite me folded into a double bed for two. A free WiFi package of 100M is available to Business passengers and additional packages are available to purchase.
THE SERVICE Superb from start to finish. Lunch was a sumptuous king prawn and salmon starter with satay sauce, roasted halibut in parsley sauce with perfectly-cooked sautéed green beans and roast potatoes. Snacks such as a salmon and cheese roll, crisps and nuts were available through the flight and an equally delicious breakfast, with a fresh fruit bowl and egg-filled croissant, was served two hours before landing.
AN ATTENTIVE AND CONSCIENTIOUS SERVICE WITH LOTS OF SMILES THROUGHOUT
THE VERDICT Stunning! An attentive and conscientious service with lots of smiles throughout, an extraordinary high standard of cuisine and a seat with all mod-cons, comfort and space made this a memorable and very enjoyable flight.
THE DETAILS The lead-in return Business Class London-Singapore fares is £3,472, Heathrow to Sydney £5,103. singaporeair.com
Steve Hartridge
THE HOTEL On the site of Birmingham's famous N.E.C and just five minutes from Birmingham's international airport and train station, The Hilton Birmingham Metropole opened back in 1976 and has, since then, welcomed untold numbers of conference delegates. But anyone who hasn't visited in recent years might not recognise the place after a major makeover, giving it a new lease of life with a stylish nod to the city's rich industrial history.
THE CHECK-IN The lobby, also home to the bar, was bustling when I arrived, with most guests looking like they were attending a conference. Check-in was super efficient.
THE ROOMS More than 600 of the 789 rooms have been upgraded as part of the refurb. Spanning across five floors and at either end of the hotel, the rooms have been designed to reflect Birmingham’s rich heritage (namely car manufacturing and canals) with soft metallic headboard fabric and brushed bronze artwork and, in the suites, bronze drinks trolleys and coffee tables. Good-sized desks have abovedesk power points and phone jacks and all rooms have a large LCD TV, speedy WiFi, tea and coffee making facilities, black-out curtains, hairdryer, iron/ ironing board – everything you need to get you through a conference.
HOTEL: BIRMINGHAM HILTON METROPOLE
THE BUSINESS The largest residential conference hotel outside London, the 31 spaces span more than 65,000sqft, the largest accommodating up to 2,000 people. This hotel is completely geared up for conferences and you know you're in experienced, safe hands. There's a modern, newlyrenovated Executive Lounge too.
THE FACILITIES The Gild Bar in the lobby stays open 24 hours, while breakfast and buffet dining is in the Arbor, inspired by the creator of Birmingham's Botanical Garden. A new addition is Brightsmith on the Water, with fabulous views of the adjoining lake and which can be hired for private events. A LivingWell Health Club has a huge pool and 24-hour gym.
THE VERDICT Major investment has ensured that this superbly-located hotel will continue to be a firm favourite for conferences and events.
THE DETAILS Pendigo Way, Birmingham, B40 1PP. hilton.com/ birminghammet. Lead-in room rate is £90 a night.
COMPLETELY GEARED UP FOR CONFERENCES, YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN EXPERIENCED, SAFE HANDS
