Leven, Manchester, review

A boutique hotel housed in a red-brick Edwardian former cotton warehouse and brewery.

Read on to find out more about what the rooms are like and what there is to eat at Leven.

Where is Leven?

By Canal Street in the heart of Manchester’s vibrant Gay Village, Leven is a five-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly station and handy for pretty much everywhere in the buzzing city centre.

What's Leven like?

Like most boutique hotels these days, there is a lot of lifestyle guff about staying there (“Leven seeks to eliminate the pointless rules that can make life less fun” and “live your best life in spaces designed to inspire you”).

But it is a great friendly hotel that puts you in the heart of the city whether you are there for the footie, a concert or to shop.

And it is a much-needed break from the usual faceless chains.

What is there to do at Leven?

As it is in the Gay Village it can get a bit noisy outside at weekends particularly at, ahem,

But, hey, it’s Manchester - you won't be going to bed early.

There's nightclubs, restaurants and shopping all on your doorstep.

As it is in the Gay Village it can get a bit noisy outside at weekends particularly at, ahem, The Cockatoo Club. But, hey, it’s Manchester - you won't be going to bed early.

What is there to eat and drink at Leven?

The bar does coffee and pastries for breakfast (not included) and cocktails, coffee and snacks in the evening (try the signature rhubarb sour and Adam & Eve) but for dinner you will need to go elsewhere.

Chinatown is not far (we love the basement Mei Dim) and we liked , which offers classic dishes (steak, surf and turf) and theatrically served smoking cocktails.

What are the rooms like at Leven?

Superb. Ours was bigger than our first flat!

All the rooms have parquet flooring, high ceilings and bespoke furniture  with a New York loft feel.

The emphasis is on self-catering, so we had a fully equipped kitchen (dishwasher/washing machine), sitting room, huge bedroom with freestanding bath and roomy walk-in shower.

We stayed for two nights but the Leven promotes itself as the kind of hotel where you would stay for much longer.

How much is Leven?