THE NOVOTEL and Adagio hotels and independent NineB restaurant on the Great Central Square development in Leicester city centre, have opened their doors early to reveal an exclusive first look ahead of the official opening on 16 January 2020.
The £40 million schemes, owned by developer Charles Street Buildings Group, will offer two flagship hotels and an exciting new independent restaurant to Leicester locals as well as tourists, the business community and corporate travellers.
Both hotels are part of the Accor family of brands and include a Novotel for business and family travellers, and an Adagio, offering a more informal, long and short-stay facility.
Designed by Koncept ID in partnership with the owners, the hotels have been built with high-end luxury and comfort in mind and the designs feature many bespoke fittings commissioned exclusively by its owners, including marble columns, atlas carpets, solid brass knobs on the doors, designer lighting and rugs imported from America.
The one-off pieces include a spiral staircase made from steel with a bespoke ‘brandy snap’ bannister, exposed concrete columns, and gold metal finishes throughout for shelving and display, along with a bronze reception desk - which add the wow factor to the Novotel’s lobby area. 
The ten-storey full-service Novotel hotel has a state-of-the-art gym and 154 bedrooms: including 38 executive suites all fitted with 55-inch televisions; nine bespoke junior suites built into the corner of each floor with stunning double aspect views across the city; and a stunning 60 square foot presidential suite on the penthouse floor of the building, which features a walk-in shower room and en-suite, dining space for six people, meeting space and separate lounge area.
James Conaghan, general manager of the Novotel and Adagio Leicester hotels, said: “The design influence of its owners will mean this hotel will appeal to visitors and guests who want style, convenience and comfort in one beautiful hotel. No detail has been overlooked and everything is in place to ensure our future guests have an enjoyable and most of all memorable stay in Leicester. I am very proud of everything that has been achieved.
“It is a modern space that offers both easy living and luxury and as a full-service offering, we will be far more than a hotel. We can’t wait to open our doors to the general public.”
Novotel’s corporate offering has also received huge investment and attention to detail.
The five flexible daylit meeting rooms include Leicester’s only wireless interactive 82-inch screens, high-speed wi-fi, separate break-out spaces and stunning views across the city centre, showcased with floor to ceiling picture windows. The facilities include beautifully finished and furnished interconnecting flexible meeting rooms with moveable screens and walls, which can be configured exactly how guests would like them.
The Westmoreland Suite can cater up for up to 200 people at a time, whilst the Dinglen, Haramead and New Star suites can each accommodate up to 50 guests. The private Davenport boardroom can sit 14 people. The conference and banqueting spaces have their own private bar area, a breakout area for refreshments and a corridor that houses kitchen and washroom facilities.
Situated within Leicester’s Great Central Square development, both hotels offer stunning views of Leicester city centre and are interconnected with seamless transition. The exterior of the hotels has been built in keeping with the rest of the city to blend in with the history of Leicester.
The Adagio, designed for short and long-term stays has 98 apartments, including 73 two-person studios and 25 two-room apartments for up to four people. All rooms are complete with fully-fitted kitchens including microwaves, dishwashers, hobs, fridge freezers and coffee machines and are designed for travellers to live and work comfortably.
Each apartment is kitted out with modular furniture and fold-out and slide-out components, including beds that fold up into the wall, sliding kitchen counters 
and movable bedside tables. All Adagio apartments have high-spec technology, including USB alarm clocks, wireless chargers and 43-inch televisions and are fully-fitted, fully-serviced apartments perfect for those who need a longer stay in the city.
Prints and photography on the walls of the Adagio are all Leicester scenes as well as historic Charles Street Buildings Group buildings.
James Conaghan, general manager of the Novotel and Adagio Leicester hotels, said: “Adagio offers the service of a hotel with the freedom of an apartment. It’s a real home away from home. We’re proud to be offering real at-home comfort for visitors to Leicester, whether they’re on a long-stay business trip, have recently relocated or are visiting family at university.
“The Adagio will have such a homely and welcoming feel that we are even putting on weekly get-togethers for our guests – from cinema and popcorn evenings to book groups,” said James.
Its bright and airy reception area will have self-service iPad check-ins and a welcoming breakfast area called The Circle - an area for guests to meet and eat and is the only Adagio in the UK which serves a hot breakfast. Guests can also go downstairs and dine in the NineB restaurant, which will be open for all-day dining and modern British cuisine.
James added: “For those guests who are staying a little longer and require a few more home comforts our library book shelf area in the lobby will carry items to borrow – including soft toys, pouffes, books and magazines and a selection of other goodies. We have tried to think of everything to make our guests feel at home during their stay with us.”