Hello,

I have an upcoming stay at Marriott Leeds in their 2-bedroom duplex Rochester suite. I have read a fair number of reviews on Tripadvisor noting how dated the rooms were and a particularly unflattering review of this suite.

Can anyone here comment?

Thank you

No idea about the suite re: dated, but interesting difference in room descriptions between exec lounge & Rochester suite (well really - not that much difference ).

Exec room
This room features Executive lounge access
Open: Mon-Sat, Open: Breakfast: Monday to Friday 6.30am - 10.30am; Alcoholic Drinks Monday to Saturday 5.30pm - 9.30pm
Closed: Weekends, Closed: Closed for Breakfast on Saturday, Sunday & Monday.
Complimentary food:
- Continental breakfast
- hors d'oeuvres
- late night snack
- High-Speed Wi-Fi
Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages
Complimentary business services
Executive Lounge on First Floor
Upgrading to an executive room adds much more to your stay
You can enjoy all the extra space an executive upgrade will give you
The stylish rooms have a luxurious king size bed, with soft bed linen for the ultimate sleep.
The calming en suite bathroom includes scented toiletries, soft towelling dressing gowns, slippers.
expanded a la carte menu (for purchase)

Rochester Suite:

Special Benefits

This room features Executive lounge access
Open: Sun-Sat, Open: 6:00am- 00:00am Continental Breakfast Mon - Fri 6.30am - 10.30am; Alcoholic Drinks 5.30pm - 9.30pm
Complimentary food:
- Continental breakfast
- hors d'oeuvres
- late night snack
Complimentary business services
Perfect for families and long staying guests!
This spacious suite offers bedrooms and living space on 2 floors.
Relax in a separate living area listening to your favourite music on built-in IPOD docs.
The stylish room has luxurious king size bed, with soft bed linen for the ultimate sleep experience.
The calming en suite bathroom includes scented toiletries, soft towelling dressing gowns, slippers.

I have stayed at the Leeds Marriott numerous times but have only been upgraded to a suite there once, and it was not the Rochester.

The hotel is very well kept but it's not modern nor recently refurbished. The property is well managed so rooms are clean and everything works. The style is very much 1990s Marriott. The exec lounge is very good with strong breakfast and evening food and a lengthy help yourself 4-hour free beer and wine offering. Staff are very pleasant. The hotel bar also serves as one of Leeds favourite city centre haunts and is therefore a busy place to be, and packed on weekend nights. Both the hotel restaurants are very good, as is the bar food too!

I like the Leeds Marriott and think it offers good value for money. Don't be put off by the TripAdvisor naysayers, but don't expect a deluxe nor modern stylish suite. Comfortable, clean and competent is the best description, though locals will tell you it's one of the best hotels in the city, and I'd think they're right.

Thank you SkiAdcock and BrightlyBob.

To be fair it is a city where most of the other options are terrible.

I haven't done the Marriott yet as despite a lower corporate rate than the Doubletree (my usual haunt). My clients corporate travel booker won't book it. I have yet to stay at the Marriott but have thus far seen the DT as the best of a very bad bunch.

I previously stayed in a suite at the Hilton Leeds, which was very dated. Doubletree does look like the best option. I have Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold, and need two rooms this time. The duplex 2-bedroom suite at the Marriott with complimentary lounge access for the three of us felt like a marginally better option than two standard rooms at the Doubletree with complimentary breakfast but without executive lounge. Also I felt the location of the Marriott was significantly better.

I might regret this.

I wouldn't disagree particularly with you there LandOfMiles, Leeds doesn't have any luxury hotels but I do think the Marriott suite with lounge access should be a better option than 2 ordinary rooms at the Doubletree. Do remember, you should be able to take breakfast in either the lounge or restaurant, the restaurant breakfast is a very good buffet...

I've done both the Marriott and the Doubletree. The Marriott is really in the centre of the city, but still quiet. It's an older hotel but kept in good condition.

The Hilton is a bit further out, but still within easy walking distance. A newer hotel and nice, with the Sky bar being a good option too.

T

It's typical of a lot of UK Marriotts in that it is clean but needs a makeover and a bit of freshening up. I have stayed there a few times and the only suite I was given was the one on the 1st floor near the lounge. Think it is named after a writer but not 100% sure. It was a great room with separate bathroom, bedroom and living/dining room. Biggest downside was that it is at the front of the hotel overlooking a busy street and Leeds nightlife goes on until the very early hours of the next day.

I spent nearly 9 months in the area and eventually decamped to the Hollins Hall Marriott as it was much quieter and put up with the inconvenience of having to drive between Bradford and Leeds.

Please let us know your thoughts after your stay. I'm likely going there later this year so appreciate any advice.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'll post some photos and write up a short review after my stay this Saturday.

Meanwhile in case you are interested in my other mini-reviews:

Ritz, Paris
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post27090650

Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...l#post28000227

Mandarin Oriental, Milan
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post28094161

Le Meurice, Paris
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post28128522

I am originally from Leeds before moving to Canada in the 1980's. We have recently been staying in this hotel when visiting family. It is basic but as others have said the rooms are very 1990's. If luxury is what you want others have suggested Oulton Hall, although I have never stayed there.
https://www.qhotels.co.uk/our-locati...medium=organic

My real reason for posting, however, is that I came across the following painting on a Leeds nostalgia website. The painting is from the Victorian era and the building on the left, with the Number One sign, is the building that is currently the Leeds Marriott.

Yes that is my recollection. Breakfast was in the main restaurant at weekends and is a pretty good breakfast IMHO. The lounge was open in the evenings, although we were never there for that as we were visiting family at those times.