Latest news with #HotelPelirocco
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Brighton's original boutique hotel is voted its best still
I've woken up next to a knitted GPO 706L telephone and underneath a hand-knitted bedspread. Knitted seagulls dangle from a mobile above my head and elsewhere in my 'Do knit disturb' room at the Pelirocco. Artist and knitwear designer Kate Jenkins has created a plate of fish and chips, flowers and er, the curtains. Design trends have come and gone, but 25 years after it opened, Brighton's Hotel Pelirocco is still the queen of kitsch. Guests step through the hotel's Regency Square façade into an intoxicating pink-and-gold explosion of modern and retro art. At the turn of the millennium, the 'Peli' opened on a budget. Its website calls it Brighton's original boutique hotel – though so does that of Blanch House, which opened around the same time. In the late 1990s, its creator and former owner Mick Robinson (AKA'Ginger Mick') had stayed in the Oscar Wilde room at another Brighton hotel and checked out disappointed. He began looking around and found a run-down property in a central location close to the seafront. 'When we turned up on our first day, the balcony had fallen off,' Robinson tells me at the hotel's 25th birthday party. Robinson named Pelirocco after his DJ name. At that time he had a radio show called Pelirocco Platters. Pelirocco channelled Brighton's music scene with a record label and one of the earliest, if not the first, hotel soundtracks. Primal Scream, Howard Marks, Irvine Welsh, Carl Barât, Eddie Izzard, the Happy Mondays, New Order, Tim Burgess, the Scissor Sisters, Mr Scruff, Jessie Wallace and Gilles Peterson have all checked in. Fatboy Slim, the Cuban Brothers and Asian Dub Foundation have performed in the bar. The 19 themed rooms pay homage to cultural heroes (Leigh Bowery) and musical subcultures (Modrophenia). The country cabin-style Dollywould and Rebel Rebel have fancy dress kits, so guests can get their Dolly or their Bowie on before heading to the bar. Some are more risqué than others. Botanica has a dancing pole. Taboo, a collaboration with a local adult boutique, has a bed with anchor points. Nookii has other surprises in store. The building's transformation into a hotel was facilitated through sponsorship with companies including PlayStation, Nokia and Kraken. Robinson spent £40 on the art. 'We trolled Brighton's junk shops and car boot stalls and kept adding to it.' Profile shots of Bowie, Paul Weller, the Specials' Terry Hall and Brighton's own Fatboy Slim stare from hall landings, while film and gig posters and memorabilia celebrate punk, ska, reggae, dub, jazz, country and house music. Mark Gibson has been here since the hotel opened and has worn many hats. Since taking over as manager 12 years ago, he has navigated a slew of competitor hotels, the advent of Airbnb, a global pandemic and, more recently, a generational shift away from excessive behaviour. Maturing Gen-Xers have creaky hips and Gen Z's idea of Friday-night fun is a low-impact workout and a kombucha. That the Pelirocco is consistently voted Brighton's top boutique hotel on Tripadvisor is testament to its continued success. How does a hotel rooted in hedonism and fading subcultures stay relevant in the face of stiff competition? 'Guests have calmed down a little over the years,' says Gibson. 'There were times when we partied to the max, bands came back after their gigs, TVs went through windows, the bar didn't close and people partied until the sun came up. That was a weekly occurrence.' The team is always looking ahead to the next room re-theme, art launch or collaboration. Décor in the hotel's lounge and bar is constantly refreshed with bi-monthly art exhibitions, while annual upgrades keep rooms fresh. Gibson admits Airbnb has posed a challenge, but 'service' scores highly on the hotel's Tripadvisor rankings. 'We've got lots of staff who came for a 'short time' and are here a decade later, so often a guest's breakfast or cocktail is served by the same person they met years ago.' Pelirocco has not stopped partying. At its birthday celebrations, DJs include Don Letts, the Grammy-award-winning documentary maker and musician credited with walking a generation of punks down the reggae path. In the Rebel Rebel room, one half of street-art collective the Postman, whose pop-art murals are dotted around Brighton, is showing guests how to create their own piece of pop art. Pressure Sounds – which doubles as a small recording studio – has become a reggae room for the night and musicians are setting up in Bettie's Boudoir. On my way out I see Letts, talking to camera. 'I've had a long-standing relationship with the joint. And in a time where we are all glued to screens, places like this, where people can come together for a creative, collective, synchronised experience, should be treasured,' he says. The next morning I message Gibson. Has anything gone through a window? 'TVs are safe. All body parts are working,' he replies. The Peli tastes different to when it was bottled, but there's plenty of fizz in the old bird yet.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Extraordinary stays across the UK for £100 or under
The UK is full of one-of-a-kind places to stay – and a lot of them are easy on the pocket too. From shepherd's huts and glamping pods to converted buses, sometimes the weirdest and most wonderful accommodation options turn out to be the cheapest as well. Read on to browse 25 unique UK stays where you can spend the night for £100 or less... *Prices correct at time of writing. Set on an organic smallholding near the Mourne Mountains, this gorgeous and secluded off-grid cottage is entirely solar and wind powered. There's a wood-burning stove and solar-powered hot water (which also provides underfloor heating), with plenty of scenic walks, local pubs, restaurants and shops to explore. The owners, who live on the farm, run courses and open days focused on sustainable living, from growing your own food to going off-grid. Stays at one-bedroom Birch Cottage cost from £80 per night. The owners describe Windmill Campersite as "the quirkiest glamping site on the Isle of Wight", and it more than earns this title with a range of wacky glamping options. The family-run site boasts shepherd's huts, VW campervans, a wooden shack and a helicopter among others. The facilities are out-of-the-ordinary too – showers at the Showershack come with a sound system and disco lights, while guests can cook up a storm with the bizarre Big Bertha BBQ and Spudomatic potato oven. There's even a silent disco area, communal fire pit, cinema and honesty shop to boot. Shepherd's huts start at around £35 per person per night. Sleep soundly aboard a boat with no chance of sea sickness: this converted narrowboat is now moored up inland on Middlemoor Farm near Alnwick. It sleeps two in a double bed, and there's also a galley kitchen and a bathroom, with views across to Lindisfarne Castle from the porthole. There's no chance of cabin fever either, since it's got a lovely decking area where you can enjoy panoramas as you cook up a campfire feast – logs and marshmallows are provided. A four-night stay on Moonraker works out at £94 per night. A popular jumping-off point for excursions into the Mourne Mountains in County Down, this rustic mountain lodge and glamping site combines a plum location with some great amenities. For the cheapest stay, the pet-friendly glamping pods serve up authentic outdoor adventure with plenty of home comforts. Guests can make use of an open fire, outdoor kitchen hut and shared shower and toilets. Sauna and hot tub sessions are also available for an extra fee. Pricing for the Pevensie pod starts at £95 per night for one person. When it opened in 2000, this quirky hotel on Brighton's seafront was a pioneer in the hip B&B scene. Today Hotel Pelirocco still hits the mark with 19 unashamedly kitsch rooms, each with a different theme. At the cheaper end for double rooms are Lord Vader's Quarters, Star Wars-themed bunks kitted out with a Darth Vader costume, lightsabers and DVDs. Single rooms like Do Knit Disturb start at £59 while doubles like the aforementioned Lord Vader's Quarters are available from £84 (both including breakfast). This stylishly converted 1960s bus can be found parked up in a gorgeous garden near Hay-on-Wye, a quaint market town close to the England-Wales border. You'll find plenty of home comforts once onboard, from a wood burner to a plush double sofa bed. Outside there's a fire pit and wood-fired hot tub that up to five people can slip into. A stay here starts at £90 per night, assuming two people sharing. Situated on The Leas promenade, this 4-star boutique hotel is perfect for couples, with ensuite bathrooms and sea views. The 44-room property also features The Cliffe Restaurant & Bar, so after a day spent exploring the nearby Leas Cliff Hall or at the beach, you can hunker down for hearty food and drink. For longer or more intimate stays, book one of their ground-floor apartments, which come with two bedrooms and a private living/dining room with kitchenette. Rates start at £70 per night. This historic hideaway is available for hire from the Landmark Trust. Sitting above a little square in central Lancaster, it's thought to have been built in around 1730 as a garden pavilion for a wealthy lawyer's residence. Long since detached from the house, the Music Room has an exceptional Baroque interior that was painstakingly restored by a building preservation charity. Now guests can marvel at the extraordinary plasterwork as they recline in a four-poster bed. There's also a baby grand piano and a roof terrace with incredible views over the castle and historic city. Four nights cost from £332, which is £83 a night. Howgills Hideaway's cute hobbit-esque huts are bound to charm even the most reluctant glampers. Set on an organic farm that's surrounded by the dramatic landscape of the Howgills Fells, they're a great base for walkers. The timber-framed pods sleep up to four in a double and sofa bed and come with a little kitchen and outside deck area, while a communal shower and toilet block is nearby. Pods start at £80 per night. Retreat to this private clifftop farm, set along the hilly coastline of northeast Aberdeenshire, where you can stay in hideaway huts, a vintage railway carriage (pictured) or a refurbished 18th-century cottage. The wooden camping pods sleep between two and four guests and come with beds, crockery, cutlery, a kettle, a fridge, a microwave and a TV, while outside you've got your own dining and cooking area. Spend your day winding through the great Scottish countryside with coastal views – you might even spot a dolphin – and by night relax by the fire. Communal bathroom facilities consist of a shower room while the toilet is housed in a disused whisky barrel. Hideaway huts start from £70 per night. Affectionately known as Boris, this glamping pod began life as a military trailer – but today the camouflaged shell is the only real nod to his former gig. His insides have been transformed into a comfy place to spend the night, with a compact kitchen and two single or one king-size double bed. A sky light ensures there's plenty of natural light too. Set in the mountainous landscape of Kylerhea, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the views are sensational and you can see the best-known locations on a vintage jeep tour. A stay here starts from £100 per night. It's not the prettiest of properties from the outside, but it's certainly a stay with a difference. This observation tower at RAF Wainfleet, a former weapons range, dates right back to the 1890s. Spread over five floors, you can book the properties individually or together for up to 22 guests. Alternatively you can stay at former RAF bunkers and helicopters which have been converted into more unique accommodation. The Helipods start from £70 per night. A stay at the Church of St Mary the Virgin really does put the glam in champing (camping in historic churches). Not only are you doing your bit for charity by protecting at-risk historic churches, but you're tucked away in England's tiniest town of Fordwich. Just three miles (5km) from Canterbury, the property sleeps up to eight guests with fold-out camping beds, and is also dog-friendly. You'll need to bring your own bedding, but you'll have exclusive use of this Norman church, which comes with hot chocolate, hammocks and all the basic kitchen supplies. A stay starts from £49 per person per night. Ideally situated on the North East 250 (a popular 250-mile/400km circular driving route), this family-run farm offers glamping pods and caravan and camping pitches, with the historic Craigmin Bridge just a short stroll away. Each wood-panelled pod sleeps up to four adults with a double bedroom and sofa bed, while there's a wet room with an electric shower, compact kitchen and L-shaped sofa facing the neat dining table. Prices start from £90 per night, or £100 if you need sofa bedding. Law-abiding citizens can stay in this prison-themed spot in Margate. It's set up in a former cold store in an attractive Georgian house, and the attention to detail is impressive: think bars on the windows, bolts on the doors and an optional mugshot on arrival. It's built for comfort, though, with bunk beds and bundles of blankets – and at £95 per night, the price isn't too punishing either. Is Tŷ Milford Waterfront the ultimate bargain with a view? Have a cwtch (hug) on the king-size double bed while watching the flat-screen TV or wander down to the hotel's Fitness Suite, where guests can enjoy complimentary access. The swish, slick rooms are bright and airy and are equipped with an ensuite bathroom, kettle, towels and iron, while a one-night stay in a king room with breakfast included is just £82. This luxury boutique hotel is set within a Grade II-listed building, and while there are nods to its history (like the hallway's chandelier and elegant staircase), today it's been fully renovated with a modern feel. Most of the rooms offer views of Leicester Cathedral and it's just a short walk from the King Richard III Visitor Centre. The spacious rooms are set in muted blue tones and are equipped with a Nespresso coffee machine, mini fridge and flat-screen TV. There's also free on-site parking and electric vehicle charging points. A one-night stay in a standard double room costs around £99 per night. You're guaranteed a stylish stay at this boutique hotel: think subtle glam with all the silver trimmings. Situated in the picturesque Oulton Broad suburb of Lowestoft, all rooms are ensuite while downstairs you can sit at the bar and order a sumptuous cocktail or two. Rates start from £63 per night. Set in a beautifully restored Edwardian townhouse a short stroll from Derry/Londonderry's city centre, this boutique adults-only hotel hits all the right notes with its jazz-themed interiors. Each of the five individually designed guest rooms pays tribute to a jazz icon, while the overall vibe channels the spirit of a 1930s speakeasy. There's also a lounge, a shared kitchen and a pretty garden to kick back in. In low season, double rooms start from just £68 – a smooth deal if ever we saw one. This airy lodge started life rather prosaically – it used to be a railway signal box. Previously overlooking Wymondham Station, it was moved to its current lush location in the Norfolk countryside back in 2000. Set over two floors, it's large and light-filled with an open-plan dining area and a spacious bedroom. Costing from £473 for a week, a stay here works out at less than £68 per night. This cute, family-run inn started life in the 16th century as a coach house, but today it's best-known among locals for its cask beers and traditional grub, and for being a great base for exploring nature and wildlife. There are only two rooms here – a double and standard twin room – both of which come with ensuite bathrooms, landmark views and breakfast. This only adds to its splendid English charm, and rooms cost roughly £100 through This refurbished bijou hotel near Llanelli is the perfect setting for exploring the wider Carmarthenshire area and neighbouring Swansea Bay. The old manor house offers five themed rooms from Cariad (Love) to Cwsg (Sleep) and all except one are ensuite. The Cwtch room features an inviting fireplace while Cariad overlooks the heart-shaped lawn. Topped with a lounge bar, terrace and restaurant, Llwyn Country House is a great base for exploring or simply bunking down. A one-night stay costs around £84 per night or from £99 for two people. Glampers will adore these charming timber-framed roundhouses and luxury pods set on a country campsite within the gorgeous North York Moors. Designed to blend in with the surrounding woodland, the pods sleep up to four and come with a wood-burning stove and lovely deck for alfresco eating. Meanwhile the roundhouses also sleep four, with electric heaters for chilly nights and decks with barbecues. Handily there's an on-site shop that sells all the camping essentials you need. The roundhouses and pods typically start from £160 for two nights, working out at £80 a night. Nestled in the Moors Valley Country Park & Forest, this red shepherd's hut comes with an equipped kitchenette including a fridge and microwave. There's also a bathroom, flat-screen TV and outdoor patio area. A double bed is tucked into the corner of the white-walled bedroom with a small table and two comfy chairs beside it. The outdoor patio area is perfect for listening to morning birdsong with a cup of coffee, or star-gazing after dark. A night's stay costs around £99. Locals say the water around this grand Victorian hotel is health-boosting, so don't be surprised if you leave feeling practically bionic – especially after some time in the spa. Perched on a hillside just outside Pitlochry and set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Perthshire Highlands, the hotel blends traditional highland hunting lodge architecture with plenty of contemporary touches. Two stylish lounges and a renowned restaurant are ideal for relaxing after a day exploring the hills. Depending on the season, you can snag a double room for just £79.
