Leman Locke hotel review - London, UK

With a blend of dusty pink upholstering, industrial furniture and sheepskin rugs, you might think the rooms at Leman Locke were the result of a domestic design commission – but you’d be wrong. Located a short stride from East London’s buzzing Brick Lane, the property is a new aparthotel concept that fuses the benefits of an Airbnb rental with the facilities of a boutique hotel.

'This is the first time an Aparthotel is being presented with lifestyle experiences,’ explains Stephen Hanton, CEO of SACO, the serviced apartments company behind Leman Locke. 'We understand that travellers no longer want just a comfortable night’s stay. They want an experience and to feel a part of a community.'

Catering to this new audience, the 168-room property – designed by New York-based Grzywinski + Pons  – includes a 24-hour gym, a series of meeting rooms and co-working spaces and a Treves & Hyde Lounge and Purist cocktail bar that taps into East London’s famed food and drinks scene. Instagram-friendly rooms feature L-shaped sofa beds, living rooms and a kitchen, while hallways have been transformed into cosy nooks and modern meeting spaces, ideal for an upcoming events calendar which includes tech meet-ups and gin tastings.

It’s this smart approach to space that gives Leman Locke the edge, highlighting the modern traveller’s need for stylish interiors of a boutique establishment, with the convenience of rented accommodation.