The progressive, independent hotel group City Inn which created from scratch a new blueprint for contemporary city UK hotels, has opened in Leeds. City Inn has continuously won a string of industry accolades since opening its doors of the first hotel in Bristol ten years ago. Now the privately-owned chain, which has quickly established itself as one of the leading hotel brands in the UK, has unveiled its latest custom made development after two years of construction, a 13-storey, state-of-the-art new build in the heart of the city centre.

The 333 roomed Leeds hotel is the centerpiece in the redevelopment of the historic canal-side destination at Granary Wharf. The hotel is flanked by two unique high quality apartment buildings, the ‘Landmark building’, designed with the architects Allies and Morrison, which overlooks the River Aire and the Leeds Liverpool Canal is just minutes walk from the city’s railway station making it easily accessible to business and leisure visitors to Leeds.

Chief Executive and Co-Founder David Orr said: “We believe in creating interesting spaces for locals and visitors. Leeds has loads to offer and we believe that our hotel with its destination bars and restaurant will make many more people aware of this great area, a hidden gem right in the middle of the city”.

The Leeds hotel is the sixth in the City Inn group, which has based its growing reputation on great cities, great buildings, great facilities and great staff. Everything from the ‘fresh’ air conditioning to keep customers cool throughout the summer, the floor to ceiling ‘openable’ windows for views of the city, the award-winning, multimedia iMac for work and entertainment within the Leeds guestrooms which are also living spaces, to free wi-fi throughout, al fresco dining on the canal side or on the Sky Lounge roof terrace; all within a new building that meets the latest standards of environmental efficiency. Together they combine to provide guests with an affordable yet luxurious stay within lively, contemporary surroundings that are also great new local destinations for Leeds.

Chief Executive and Co-Founder David Orr Said: “Our buildings are designed around our customers’ needs, whether locals arranging business meeting rooms, visitors staying on business or going for a night at the opera, we want to make it easy to enjoy great value and great service. You can visit just to see the skyline of Leeds from the breathtaking terrace and panoramic views from Sky-Lounge, or organise a key business meeting that needs exceptional state of the art facilities in our canal side Leeds meeting rooms.

Our buildings offer outstanding flexibility and quality enabling our guests to be assured we cater equally whether they are on business, absorbing the city’s culture, or simply relaxing in leisure in the best hotel in Leeds city centre. Guestrooms are ergonomically designed as work space as well as a living space; all have exceptional light and views. Our bars, Granary Lounge overlooking the dock and canal, SkyLounge with its roof terrace and our restaurant City Café with an al fresco terrace will be exciting new additions to Leeds dining and bar scene.”

The public realm area of Granary Wharf will be fully completed in September and the public can once again enjoy the canalside of Leeds. A lavish setting for wildlife, boating, tranquility yet which remains in the city centre. The canal side dining at City Café will embrace great value and outstanding locally sourced ingredients combining modern and classic British food with the best in contemporary cooking. A main feature will be live jazz on a Sunday.

One of the outstanding attractions of City Inn Leeds, is the stunning panoramic destination Sky Lounge complete with 360 degree views providing the highest ‘look-out’ over the city, most interestingly opening up the views of the famous, Italianate Tower Works and hopefully giving a view to future developments as well as celebrating great vistas within a proud city.

City Inn has hotels in Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and a Westminster London Hotel, with two more (Amsterdam and the Tower of London) planned for opening in 2011.

ENDS

For further information or to arrange press visits and accommodation please contact Anita Morris or Debbie Pett at Anita Morris Associates on 01943 603311 or email anita@anitamorrisassociates.co.uk; debbie@anitamorrisassociates.co.uk

1. www.cityinn.com/leeds
For reservations, book online or:
Tel: +44 (0)113 243 8885
Fax: +44 (0)113 322 0441
E-mail:
For Room reservations: leeds.reservations@cityinn.com
For Meetings and Events: leeds.sales@cityinn.com

2. City Inn focuses on conceiving, designing, building and operating brand new contemporary hotels to the highest engineering standards in prime city centre locations.

3. City Inn is one of the most acclaimed UK hotel brands, winning awards year on year including; Technology Award 2007 (European Hotel Design Awards), for two years running the Best Business Hotel Brand 2006, 2007 and Best Business Accommodation 2008 (Business Travel World Awards), runners up for awards have included Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental. City Inn also has hotels operating in Glasgow (opened May 2000), Birmingham (March 2001), Westminster (September 2003) and Manchester (May 2007).

4. City Inn guests have come to expect more from their hotel experience as well as value for money. Its more creative creature comforts include: – floor to ceiling windows that open in every room – air conditioning system which pumps 30% more fresh air than standard – pillow menus (Hypo-allergenic pillows are provided in all guest rooms. Two of the four pillows in the room have a firmer filling. For guests that prefer a different style, a wide range of pillows is available.) – going the extra mile with local jogging routes available for guests – complimentary toiletries from The White Company – complimentary DVD and CD rental – iron and ironing board in each room – walk-in power showers – mist free mirrors

5. Granary Wharf consists of two residential blocks, Waterman’s Place and Candle House, from developer ISIS Waterside Regeneration with over 30 different apartment types, high quality public areas where the people of Leeds can enjoy natural canal side landscapes and a fully restored and working graving dock. Waterman’s Place is due for completion in September. www.granarywharf.co.uk .

6. The area will benefit from the transformation of Neville Street, a main gateway to Granary Wharf, due to complete this autumn and the installation of a keenly anticipated walkway from Granary Wharf directly into Leeds train station, expected in 2012.

7. Leeds railway station is one of the busiest in the UK handling nearly 16.1million passenger movements each year, more than Kings Cross or Euston (source: UK National Statistics Online www.statistics.gov.uk)