Dakota Leeds

Dakota opened its fourth hotel, and first outside Scotland, on 1 May 2017: an 84-room conversion of a multi-storey car park at the corner of Russell Street and Greek Street into a boutique hotel overlooking Bond Court in Leeds city centre. The £25 million project, developed with Leeds-based Evans Property Group, gave founder Ken McCulloch's Dakota Hotels its first foothold in England.

The place

The hotel sits at 8 Russell Street, on the corner with Greek Street, overlooking Bond Court in the heart of Leeds' commercial district — a short walk from Leeds railway station, Victoria Leeds shopping centre, Leeds Playhouse and the First Direct Arena. The site was previously a multi-storey car park, part of a wider £25 million regeneration of the Bond Court area led by Evans Property Group.

The concept

Dakota Leeds — originally branded Dakota Deluxe Leeds — was the fourth hotel from Dakota Hotels, the group founded by Glasgow hotelier Ken McCulloch, and its first move outside Scotland after openings in South Queensferry (Edinburgh) and Eurocentral (Motherwell). Built in partnership with Leeds-based developer Evans Property Group as the centrepiece of a £25 million rejuvenation of the Bond Court area, the hotel replaced a multi-storey car park with a new building carrying Dakota's dark-wood, low-lit design register. It opened on 1 May 2017 with 84 rooms and suites across several categories, from standard rooms up to a Grand Deluxe suite. The Leeds opening set the template — dark interiors, brasserie dining, a cocktail bar — that Dakota has since repeated in Manchester and Newcastle.

Dining & wellness

Food and drink runs through Bar & Grill, Dakota's steakhouse-and-brasserie format, alongside Salon Privé, a red-brick, art-hung cocktail bar for evening drinks and private events. There is no spa, gym or pool reported at the property.