The Observer

Article: 'Cheap and Chic' (26.08.07)

"Finding a bed in a British town or city used to mean either paying the earth for a 'proper' hotel, slumming it in a motel on the outskirts, or taking your chances with a B&B that might turn out to be someone's back bedroom last decorated in 1973. But now a new generation is emerging: hotels that combine decent mattresses, an eye for design and a non-frightening room rate.

Room sizes may veer between small and minute - and some even skimp on windows, replacing them with plasma televisions showing views of the outside. Room service will be noticeable by its absence, as will a gym. You won't find hothouse flowers and bottles of champagne greeting you at check-in. But all these hotels have panache, offering a sense of occasion, Egyptian cotton sheets and flatscreen televisions. The hotel industry even has a name for these genre-busting properties: 'luxury budget'.

The first handful of such properties opened in the past couple of years, but now they are gearing up to roll out their concept around the country, and in doing so are forcing change through the entire industry.

'Hotels such as the Dakota and the Hoxton are really forcing hoteliers like Marriott or Hilton to raise their game, because good standards of design are becoming the norm now,' says Matt Turner, editor of Sleeper, the hotel design magazine.

And the future looks good. The vast Starwood chain is poised to jump on the bandwagon with a new hip, cheap sub-brand called Aloft (which has been successfully trialled in online world Second Life).

One word of warning though - with the modern furnishings often comes a modern, fluid approach to prices. Like the budget airlines, starting prices can be fabulous, but book last minute for busy periods and they may soar. Thankfully most allow you to check dates online, and so home in on the cheapest nights to stay.


nitenite, Birmingham

Even nitenite calls itself a 'micro' boutique hotel. The rooms are small, there's a singular lack of windows in the rooms. Instead, the 104 rooms (all around 70 square feet in size, although the disabled access rooms are bigger) have urban touches, including a large plasma TV showing scenes from around Birmingham (as well as a full set of satellite channels), along with wifi, leather headboards and a location that is a mere stroll from Selfridges, plus a bar where a continental breakfast is served.

There are power showers, and our tester felt 'amazingly safe' in her cabin, particularly enjoying the vicarious views of Birmingham.

· Double rooms cost £50. (0845 890 9099; nitenite.com.)

· Plans to open two more in London and one in Manchester. "