42 The Calls

I stayed here, as a surprise trip for my birthday last year and the boutique hotel is lovely. After arriving the check in was smooth and we had the option to have breakfast in our room — bonus!
We were given a street facing room, in the converted mill, which didn’t bother me as I live pretty central in Manchester — nothing wakes me up now! The room itself was cozy with a spacious double and small steps up to the en-​suite. The TV was tucked away in the wardrobe, which continued the traditional feel with the exposed beams.
After going out for dinner we decided to head back to the hotel and grab a drink in our room. We called down to the concierge who came up with our bottle of prosecco on ice — which was a lovely end to our evening.
We pre-​ordered our breakfast before hit the hay and popped it on our door giving a reasonable time for us to have a lie in first. I woke up feeling re-​freshed and of course having slept well!
The breakfast was timely and arrived in a small cubby-​hole next to our door. We both ordered some tea and yogurts and fruit came as standard. For the main event we both ordered smoked salmon and scrambled egg muffins. They were wrapped up in white cotton napkins, which kept them warm, and all on a tray so we could dine like kings in bed!
The muffins were divine — with plenty of salmon parceled in the muffin and with creamy eggs that were perfectly done it was the type of muffin you could eat without finding you’ve made a huge mess in the process.
After breakfast I went to use the lavish bathroom which was done out nicely and with the addition of luxury toiletries which were great. I loved the little touches so when finding a small soap made in the shape of a little frog I knew he was coming home with me! He’s still sitting on my bathroom sink at home now — I’ll be back again to make sure I can get a companion for him to return with…

Joan Collins, that’s how I’d describe this place… still performing but really showings it’s age. £99 gets you a room in a great central location, a complimentary glass of wine on arrival and free wifi. The hotel is housed in an old riverside mill, you’ll see lots of old beams, columns and historic brickwork. The rooms are an ok size, clean and there’s some nice touches: White Company shampoo and shower gel, homemade shortbread, mineral water. The bathrooms have a Victorian theme, but like all of the furniture, fixtures and fittings they’re unashamedly showing their age. The chair in my room was ripped, the bedside lamp broken, everything just felt past its sell by date.
Breakfast is extra and served in the River Room, there’s a big choice of cooked options along with fruit, cereals, pastries. All the cooked options we had were great.
Would I stay here again? No. I’d definitely try some alternative city centre digs before returning. I didn’t get a great nights kip, noise travels in this creaky old building. You hear every footstep and toilet flush from the room above! There’s a steady flow of banter outside the window from drinkers leaving the local pubs late at night.

Almost worth bumping up to 4 stars for the exquisite shortbread alone. I’m not even joking, it was delicious. Having not had time to eat it at the hotel, I snuck it away in my handbag, and enjoyed with a cuppa today. I can say in total honesty, probably the best shortbread I’ve ever had!

A hotel does not get much closer to a percetion (imho): overlooking a river, extremely comfortable and decorated with good taste and just enough quirk to make you smile, handmade cookies, excellent bathtub, complementary wi-​fi… And Leeds ain’t so bad itself either.

This converted mill is really a quaint hotel option. The staff were pleasant and the warm short bread was a very nice touch.
The rooms are spacious and the bathrooms are impressively large. The bed is luxiourous but the loud knocks from the cleaning staff irked me. I’d rather if they gave you the option to have your room cleaned or a general idea of when they came around.
I did find it difficult to exit the hotel not because I lost my vision but because the layout seemed to meander like a Tudorian wet dream even though overall the theme is more Georgian. This is not a negative assertion but rather another quaint facet of the hotel along with the key for the door that has a wooden duck or maybe it was turd, it was wooden and large. Most hotels use key cards so that was a nice reminder about key holes etc.
Only compliant was the room was far too hot and I found it impossible to turn off the heating. I asked at the desk and they happily did it for me but warned that it should be at least on a bit as it would be far too cold. It was still far too hot, I am a Celtic cross bred with a Viking so I like hardship. The bed was like being back in your mothers womb.

I screwed up, I did royally… but to save you the same disappointment, make sure you request the canal side rooms when reserving!
So I got a room on the road side but this part of Leeds is hardly the M1 so I didn’t notice the traffic at all. I did feel a little down when walking in as I’d missed out on the canal view but quickly perked up when I looked up and saw what awaited me. A room that was beautifully decorated, the softest looking bed ever, complimentary shortbread biscuits that had been handmade by ‘Nigel’ that day (who is that guy and how come he makes them so crumbly!!) and real coffee that you make in a cafetiere… wow, when have you ever seen that in a hotel room?!
The room was weirdly laid out, almost maze-​like, with doors everywhere leading into walk in wardrobes, bathrooms (well, just one) and other wardrobes (seriously, how many do I need?) but all this quirkiness comes form the fact the building is a converted mill. Lovely old beams, and metal struts galore here, all make for a wonderfully warm industrial welcome.
This is where I’ll be staying each time I come back to Leeds.

A free glass of wine upon checking in? Yes, please!
A gorgeous view across the river toward Granary Wharf? Yes, please!
Free Smarties offered as part of the turn-​down service? Yes, please!
With a location relatively close to the city centre of Leeds, comfortable environs, a cute little lounge area in the lobby, and impeccable service, I can’t imagine staying anywhere else in Leeds.

This was my first time to both Leeds and 42 The Calls. I definitely will be back.
I was consistently impressed by the service and quality of this charming boutique hotel. Extremely friendly staff who offered me a complimentary glass of wine when I checked in. Funky but well kept room, that has many of the features from when the building was a warehouse. Fantastic in-​room amenities — free bottled water, free shortbread (soo delicious as Laura N notes!), free fudge, free wifi. Add a comfy bed and what more could you want??? Location is great, just a short walk away from the main train station and nearby all the bars and happening joints on The Calls.
And the best part — it was priced exceptionally well. 75 pounds a night!

Its an amazing sweet looking place in an amazing location

Who is this Nigel and where can I get more shortbread?
I had been told that this was *the* place to stay in Leeds, but I certainly didn’t expect 42 The Calls to read, and consequently blow my mind.
You see, the key to winning my heart is by satisfying my continually demanding tummy. But how did 42 The Calls know this? Once I made it through the check in procedure, I walked into my room and it was like trick-​or-​treating around every corner!
–Free shortbread, made and date stamped by mysterious Nigel, whom I now want to marry.
–Free bottled water on the corner table
–Free tasty fudge caramels on the desk
–Free free-​trade teas and coffee in the closet
–Free box of Smarties that magically appeared at the end of my bed
–And when I passed through the lobby again, free wine on the way out. (And back in. It was delicious!)
I woke the next morning to free breakfast that involved cereals, fresh fruits and preserves, granola, fresh bread, bananas, apples, coffee, tea, heaven, heaven, heaven.
So that this hotel review is not completely based on the free food factor, I must say that the bed is like sleeping on a cloud, the room is spacious with fun authentic features like exposed beams and large wooden window shutters, the location couldn’t be better, the wifi is fast and free, and the staff (especially the twins!) are kind, helpful and extremely efficient.
If all those things didn’t win you over, the room key (yep, it’s an actual key, not a card) comes on a large wooden kitty, and the bathroom soap is in the shape of a little tree frog, perched up on a washcloth. That alone is worth 5 stars.

I’m happy to report that I have found my Leeds home away from home!
It’s not often I return to the same hotel. Variety being the spice of life, I’m always wanting to try something new. But occasionally, I find a place like 42 The Calls that just beckons me to return. And return I did this week to find the same warm welcome, super shortbread and wonderful wifi that’s both free and reliable.
I had a much smaller room on this visit, but it still looked out upon the river and I liked it just as much as the bigger one I had last time. I should also say that no Smarties materialized but I didn’t miss them. Well, until just now…
First time visitors take note and visit these nearby gems:
— La Bottega Milanese for coffee and Italian sandwiches:
— Pin for real ale:

Down Call Lane along the River Aire rest some buildings from the era of the mill industry. These beautiful buildings were built to last and lucky have been refurbished rather than demolishes as is often the case. Restored to a former glory and it is so pleasant to walk this way and admire the character of these buildings. 42 The Calls is a luxury hotel, with a bar, brasserie, restaurant and events facilities. All are held in room retaining original features such as polished oak beams and exposed brickwork. The staff are very courteous and the food is of a high standard using locally sources produced. For a little luxury in the heart of the city this is perfect.

My girlfriend and I, we like to live beyond our means; eating out all the time, spending money on high-​end goods, spending lots of money on vintage stuff that’s not much use. Oh, and, staying in hotels after a night out when we could get a taxi home for a fifth of the cost.
42 is a boutique hotel. Every hotel seems to be a boutique one these days, but 42 really is one. There’s open brickwork in the rooms, giving them a real rustic feel, with luxury linen and spacious bathrooms. We had a brilliant stay — it wasn’t cheap but compared to the similar prices you’ll pay to stay in the likes of the ageing Holiday Inns and Hiltons, it really is worth it.
It is almost as good as it gets to stay in Leeds, here. But there’s a reason why I haven’t given it five stars. You can’t check in until 4pm and you’ve to be out by 11am. When you’re paying almost a ton, is that really getting your monies worth? Let me stay in past midday, please. Or let me in for afternoon tea.

Thanks to some hunting around on t’internet I managed to bag a deluxe room with breakfast for £99, for a bit of a treat this weekend (so I only live down the road, who cares?). The room was great, with a lovely view over the canal (chucking out time at Oracle meant that it was a little noisy, mind), the bed was deliciously comfy, the staff were friendly, and the location, obviously, was great. So it was a little more expensie than getting a cab home after a few drinks, but it was also a hell of a lot more luxurious.
The breakfast the next morning was scrumptious, too. Am hoping Hot Steve will get a taste for these little city breaks and take the initiative himself next time
Ooh and one of the Appletons (and the Prodigy) stayed here the night before us! So close!

Undoubtedly 42 the calls is a classy little boutique hotel. Soft subtle touches of understated style with a modern twist. Located in the trendy part town it doesnt stand out, more like a secret little special treasure that you find. Bars and brassaries within walking distant make its location good, but for the person seeking a more central place find somewhere else.
Also, it isn’t cheap. The average room starts at about £150. This is the only thing that lets an otherwise great hotel down.
That said, if you are tired of sleeping on travellodge (or any other generic hotel) wooden stiff beds, then go to this hotel. You are guaranteed great service, and a soft comfortable bed in class and style.