Leonardo Hotel Leeds

Grace at the front desk and Frankie in the bar were both lovely during the first few days. They went out of their way to welcome us and help as much as they could. On checkout day, though, the staff made me feel like an inconvenience, as if I couldn’t afford to stay there. The rooms could use a bit of touching up. The location was fine, and it was handy having a Sainsbury's opposite.

I’m not sure I’d call the stay either positive or negative, but there’s room for improvement. Shawna and Grace were great; other front desk staff felt transactional, without much enthusiasm, and seemed protective of the hotel brand. I stayed four nights and had to get my key card reprogrammed or replaced every day. Staff said I must have put it next to a phone or something magnetic. I explained it was in an RFID wallet, and they said that would decode the key. I booked a family room with a city view, a double bed and a single. The room looked old and tired, with dirt marks in the corners and a stained, dirty-looking armchair cushion. I put my bin liner over it before sitting down. The ensuite also seemed poorly ventilated, and there was mildew on the grout that could have been cleaned off with a product like hg4. The shower head is fixed, and the water flow is so fast it fills the tub while you shower.

I booked three nights for a work trip, but the heating in my room didn’t work on the first evening and it was very cold. I asked to move to a heated room and was rudely told that wasn’t possible because maintenance wasn’t available until the next day. The receptionist gave me a tiny portable heater that barely warmed the room. I woke up stuffy with a really bad chest, had to cut my trip short, and lost money because I was unwell. The key cards also deactivated every time I left, so I was constantly going back to reception to get them reactivated. You’d think they’d fix that after other negative reviews. I’d avoid this hotel at all costs. It’s most definitely not worth the money.

My partner and I had a great stay, despite seeing lots of bad reviews. The room looked nice, and I liked its style. The bathroom was spacious and efficient, great for a short visit. The bed was comfortable, though a little short: I’m about 5'7, and my feet poked over the end if I shifted down even a bit from the pillow line. I’d come back.