The boutique Manchester hotel with uniquely designed rooms named world’s best for budget breaks

A boutique hotel in Manchester’s Gay Village has been named the best budget break hotel by National Geographic Traveller (UK), beating off competition from around the world.

The magazine published the list of 42 winners and runners up in its November 2023 issue. It covers a whole range of categories, including Mountain Refuge, Romantic Boltholes and Eco Stays and Wellness Haven, to name but a few.

Leven, located on Chorlton Street, opened in 2021 and has already made a name for itself, having been featured in the Sunday Times’ of “Britain’s 100 best places to stay.” The building was originally a Victorian cotton warehouse, and has also been a brewery and comedy club in its lifetime.

The hotel has 42 uniquely designed rooms, with either oak parquet or timber plank floors and bespoke furniture. Some rooms have extra features like high ceilings and stand-alone baths. Leven also a cocktail bar that is open until 1:30am daily and a cafe.

The judging panel said: “The red-brick walls of this former cotton warehouse have witnessed various reincarnations over the years, including stints as a brewery and comedy club. Its latest transformation into a 42-room hotel celebrates the industrial heritage of the building, with the guest entrance in the loading dock, and preserved steel-framed Crittall windows throughout.

“Room rates have been kept in check and there’s an extra incentive for the budget-conscious digital nomad: a spacious communal lounge with wooden canteen tables providing the perfect perch to work-from-hotel.

“If you’d rather relax than hunker over a laptop, a lobby bar serves cocktails until late. There’s also a large selection of room types available, from doubles with king-size beds to duplex penthouse suites with lounge areas and kitchens. From £89, room only.”