THE QUEENS REIGNS SUPREME

Since 1937 the imposing white Portland stone building that is The Queens Hotel has stood majestically overlooking City Square.

The present Art Deco Grade II listed building was opened by the Princess Royal and Lord Harewood in 1937. Prior to this being built a hotel had been there since 1863 when it opened as a hotel for the Midland Railway.

This magnificent building has played host to royalty, the rich and famous over the years including Princess Grace of Monaco, Cary Grant, Nelson Mandela, Laurel & Hardy and Michael Caine to name but a few. The hotel even withstood the great Leeds air-raid in 1941 when most of the buildings around it were damaged or destroyed.

As a little girl growing up in the city I would love to walk along the pavement outside the hotel and imagine one day I would be able to stay there. As mum and I passed, usually on the way to the station or post office, there would be chauffeur driven cars dropping elegant couples in evening dress or dowager ladies in furs and haute couture outfits arriving for lunch – pure enchantment for the little wide-eyed girl that was me!

Mum used to tell me that my father, a dashing army major, proposed to her over dinner at the Queens during the war and they often dined there spotting many famous people in the famous grill room  just after and during the war including Ivor Novello, Dame Flora Robson and Margaret Lockwood.

The Queens was the venue for my first  ball when I wore my first designer evening dress. The years that followed saw me travelling up to the hotel from all parts of the country and later Australia for many functions from weddings to celebration lunches. Even when the more modern trendy hotels of the 70’s started to appear for me, the Art Deco magic and old-style romance of this hotel could not be beaten.

To me the Queens if The Claridge’s of the North – and I can say that with credibility having stayed at that hallowed place in London many times.

True it was often eclipsed by newer, more luxurious modern hotels in the city but despite their appeal The Queens always had the elegance, heart and soul of a bygone age and was nostalgia personified.

On one stay I learned about secret underground chambers and tunnels from the friendly hall porter and top hatted door man and the labyrinthine of passageways with one leading into the station for guests who wanted to get on a train quickly.

If the walls could only talk there would be no end to their story. So when I learned of the £16 million renovation I was filled with trepidation about just what they would be doing to my beloved Queens Hotel.

I need not have worried as the notice in the foyer says ‘Out with the old – In with the new’ Gone are the tired furnishings and well worn carpets. Out goes the very corporate looking add-ons that kept appearing and the dismal downstairs main restaurant.

In comes a stylish refurbished interior that still pays homage to the glories of the hotel’s past. Where else can you sit in an lovingly restored arm chair, as I did, that dates back to when the hotel was first opened in the 1930’s?

The lovely  Art Deco lift doors look better after undergoing a makeover, a larger than life leather chesterfield and oak bookcase in front of them adds to the grandeur and I just adored the two large murals at each side of the lifts with the seating under them. So useful when you have a long wait for the illusive lift after dancing the night away or shopping till you drop.

The Queens Leeds

The downstairs area has been lovingly planned with art deco style furnishings and more than 6 breakout spaces which can be used for anything from a cocktails with the girls, afternoon tea with your aunt or a long boring business meeting. In typical Queens style, they used to have their own florists, there is a plethora of fresh flowers and the ubiquitous potted palms reign in their full glory.

In line with the new trend at most top hotels, reception is not the archetypal check-in. There are shelves behind the art-deco wood counter laden with classic books whilst a marble fire place sits beside the concierge’s table.

The Queens Leeds

Our superior room with its art-deco style door led to our Narnia.   Our room was light airy, spacious and modern – with a wonderful view over the ever changing City Square. How could a Leeds born lass get thrilled about that after travelling and working in so many different countries. Well I did especially in the evening when the lights shone and lit up the square.

Like all the Superior Rooms it had a blissfully comfortable king size bed with crisp cotton bedding, comfortable seating, plentiful occasional tables and all the technology you could think of plus a free mini bar and Nespresso machine. The bathroom was palatial and I loved the black and white mosaic mural on the rainwater style shower wall.

The Queens Hotel Leeds (Bedrooms)

But the jewel in the Queens Crown is The Grand Pacific Restaurant and Bar. Described as ‘a 21^st century reincarnation of golden age opulence’ this is rather like stepping into a 30’s film set. I half imagined to see Lauren Bacall or Clark Gable at the next table.

The restaurant has a regal and majestic atmosphere with heavy gilt mirrors, potted palms and cloth wall hangings and some great mood lighting. Seating and lighting has been carefully thought out to keep that grand feeling. One imagines the décor has been co-ordinated to match the food which we couldn’t wait to sample.

My starter of Wild Mushroom & Vegetable Spring Roll had a tasty filling and the rolls were  crispy and light. I was tentative about dipping them in the Chilli & Ginger Sauce as I don’t like hot dips but I needn’t have worried this was medium strength and very palatable for those who don’t like things too hot.

My partner chose the Glazed Chicken Skewers with a Honey and Lime Dipping Sauce. The skewers were served on a wooden base and the dipping sauce added a great tang to the chicken.

The Lamb Massaman Curry my partner declared was one of the best he had tasted for a long time and served with Forbidden Fried Rice it was so traditional taking him back to years ago in India. The accompanying Oriental Vegetables were not over cooked and the Gun Powder Potatoes spiced to just the right level.

My choice of Roast Cod Loin was a good one. Because of my aversion to certain spices I asked for some simple Buttered Mashed Potato from the menu to accompany my fish and Spinach.

The Cod Loin was white, flavoursome and tasty. It was cooked to perfection with the skin crispy and the inside succulent and the  mashed potato brought out the flavour. Fish is hard to cook well especially in loin form but this was a chef’s triumph.

Craig Thorpe is the Chef at the Queens and this young man who hails from Leeds and trained at Thomas Danby College has worked in some prestigious kitchens in Yorkshire,  including the Boars Head at Ripley Castle.

A real artist with food Craig admits he always wanted to be a chef. “I used to go with my grandmother to the allotment and we would pick fruit and vegetables, cook them and be eating them for our lunch”, he admits.

The dishes are created by an Executive Chef and Craig then recreates the recipe and “that way you develop your very own taste to a dish,” he says

And Craig certainly did that with his very own taste that we will remember for some time to come. However the best was yet to come when my heaven on a plate arrived from what seemed like the angel’s kitchen.

The Pineapple Tarte Tatin was a dream. The circle of fresh pineapple was covered in a sweet batter served with Star Anise Syrup whilst my partner’s Coconut Panna Cotta, which I had to help him finish, served with Exotic Fruits and Mango Sorbet was a presentation winner.

After a cocktail in the bar we retired to our room and I opened the curtains to marvel on the floodlit city square at midnight yes it might have taken a few decades but that little girl was really staying at The Queens.

The Queens Hotel, New Station Street, City Square, Leeds LS1 1PJ. Tel: 0113 243 1323

Website: www.queensleeds.co.uk