Our Story | The Met Hotel Leeds

Our People

We are friendly, professional, and a little unconventional

We strive to find the best of talent who live and breath our character; bold, self assured, vibrant, witty.

We are here to lift your energy and ignite your curiosity.

Our ultimate goal? To bring sophisticated joy to a premium hotel in Leeds and Yorkshire.

And we think we are doing alright.

A True Tale of Two Halves

Our Building

Let us take you back…

Our charming hotel opened in the late 1800's under the name Hotel Metropole. It was the brainchild of local architects Messrs Chorley, Connon & Chorley, a glittering new addition to Leeds, ready to welcome the great, the good, and the gloriously well-to-do.

It quickly became a magnet for wealthy businessmen, traders, and upper-middle-class leisure seekers, not to mention a favourite backdrop for formal civic soirées and the occasional overindulgent dinner party.

The porch formed the main entrance into the hotel from King Street, while a separate doorway at the rear of the ground floor was reserved for salesmen and staff: a true tale of two halves.

Interesting fact: Examples of the Harry Chorley’s designs include the Leeds Girls’ High School at Headingley, Askham Grange and Westminster Bank.

Sophisticated on the outside and the inside

In the Victorian days of course, everything was done with flair, drama, and a healthy disregard for subtlety. Nothing was done by halves and this hotel was no exception. Built from gloriously decorative red brick and terracotta, and crowned at its pinnacle with the original 1860s stone cupola from Leeds’ demolished Fourth White Cloth Hall, giving it a rather grand (and slightly mismatched) top hat.

Inside, an opulent entrance hall, a billiard room, a drawing room, a reading room and a grand dining saloon, of course, with high ceilings and decorative cornicing.

Thankfully, many of these beautiful features have survived the decades and now sit proudly under the watchful protection of a Grade II listing.

Interesting fact: The site on which the Hotel Metropole is located originally formed part of the grounds of Leeds’ first infirmary. So depending on your view, you could say it’s always been a place of care and recovery (now with better beds and far superior wine).

Historical Highlights

Opening its doors on Tuesday, 27th June 1899 with a banquet for 100 guests, The Met introduced a new standard of modern comfort, boasting electric lights, a hydraulic passenger lift, and even telephones.

At the time, the local press praised both the technical innovations and the ornate exterior. Much has changed since that first day - but one thing has never wavered: our commitment to genuine hospitality.

During the Second World War, the South-West corner of the building was bombed and the upper floors suffered severe damage. Materials were salvaged and used to craft a 4.5-foot dolls’ house, which was gifted as a very special Christmas present in 1942 to the young daughter of the hotel manager’s friend. The hotel’s upper floors were rebuilt, though, not quite with the same style and charm as the original design.

En-suite toilets - considered the height of luxury at the time - were added to elevate the guest experience, offering privacy and convenience that few establishments could match. Fire safety was also significantly improved, with modern systems introduced to protect both visitors and the building itself, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to comfort and care.

The building underwent a stylish redecoration. Sadly, some original decorative elements were lost or covered, such as original fireplace openings, mosaic floors, tiled walls and the original stained glass laylights to the dining room ceiling.

Brighter, Bolder, and More Charming than ever

Today, The Met steps boldly into the spotlight once again. Freshly renovated, fabulously reimagined, and still dressed in its finest Victorian charm. With vibrant pops of colour, thoughtful new touches, and a whole lot of personality, we’re ushering in a dazzling new era.

Come on in, won’t you?

Our People

We are friendly, professional, and a little unconventional

Our Building

Let us take you back…

Sophisticated on the outside and the inside

Historical Highlights

Historical Highlights

1899

1940s

1960s-1970s

1990s-2020s

2025