The Bells

Definitely style over substance. The photos look nice, but the fridge was dirty and clearly hadn’t been cleaned in a while. The bathroom smelled damp and musty, likely because the grout was broken and worn in spots, and the toilet seemed to have a constant trickle of water. The mattress was hard, the loose chrome fittings on the bath made it uncomfortable, and Netflix stopped partway through a show; the other TV apps didn’t work either. The noise was awful. I wasn’t looking for a party place, but the apartment next door had loud music, banging doors and shouting in the early evening. It stopped around 8pm, then started again about 10pm and went on past 2am. At 6am, people walking around in the upstairs apartment woke me, and I could hear them whenever they used the toilet too. There’s no soundproofing. I tried the guest chat on WhatsApp early in the evening. It says it’s available during business hours, but my message is still unread a week later. Later that night, I called the mobile number on the guest card about the noise and got no answer. Reception isn’t staffed. When I raised it the next day, I was told I should have called a different number that’s staffed 24 hours a day. Neither the website nor the very sparse guest information in the room explained that. They offered me 20% off a future stay, but didn’t acknowledge how unclear the support instructions were. I don’t want to stay there again.

The beds are so comfortable that we leave feeling rested, relaxed and rejuvenated every time. This was our second visit, and both stays exceeded our expectations: we tried Little John a few weeks ago, then came back for a weekend in Old Tom. The rooms are cosy, clean and immaculate, and the jacuzzi baths are a wonderfully relaxing extra that we use each time. Every detail feels carefully considered, from the warm room at check-in and complimentary jar of m&ms to the quality appliances and molten brown shower gels. The man at reception is kind, pleasant and always helpful. The location is very close to Leeds Centre, an easy short walk to restaurants, shops and bars. These apartments keep bringing us back to Leeds and have helped us discover a lovely city. We can’t wait to try more rooms. 10000000/10!!! See you again soon!!

Watching the spooky church yard and the Leeds skyline from the hot tub was a great experience. We stayed in Big Ben at The Bells for my wife’s birthday in November, and the apartment blew us away from the moment we arrived. The photos don’t show how stunning it is, and it exceeded every expectation. Both bedrooms were beautiful and had their own ensuite shower room. The place was so lovely that it was hard to leave for our day in Leeds, though being right in the city centre meant we could easily head out for drinks and food and come back. We’re already looking for another special occasion to return. If you’re considering booking, just do it. You won’t regret it.

I don’t usually write reviews, but I wanted to share this stay. I’d booked another apartment first, but when I arrived it was very disappointing, including because there was no heating. I called to explain the problems and was told someone would come to help. Within minutes, Cameron, the General Manager, arrived. He listened and spent a few minutes trying to fix the heating, then offered to move us. There wasn’t another apartment at that location, but there was one at The Bells. He showed me photos, I agreed straight away, and Cameron carried my bags and pulled my case over to The Bells. I stayed in Little John, and wow, it was amazing. The facilities were spot on, with a lovely separate seating area and kitchen, plus complimentary tea, coffee and all the usual things you’d expect. I could see the church grounds from bed, and it was quiet, yet just a two-minute walk from plenty of bars, restaurants and activity. Cameron’s service was outstanding. He listened, acted right away to sort out the problem, and was so friendly and polite. He went above and beyond to make sure I had a great stay. I can’t praise him enough. I’ll definitely come back to The Bells, for the room and for the whole experience.