HOTEL of the week

NOVOTEL SHEFFIELD CENTRE

WHERE AND WHY This modern and stylish hotel is in the heart of the city right next to the Winter Garden and perfectly located for anyone visiting students at the universities.

The rooms are spacious and stylish with a sumptuous bed and luxurious bathroom.

We particularly enjoyed the little extras in the executive room – the Nespresso machine and fluffy robes and slippers.

Staff could not have been more helpful throughout our stay.

ON THE MENU We tucked into hearty pub grub – handmade 8oz burgers with lettuce, smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, tomato, red onion chutney, onion rings and fries (€15) and fish in beer batter, mushy peas and fat golden chips (€15.50). All delicious.

We finished with a shared warm chocolate brownie with salted caramel ice cream. We

ate in the bar which had a relaxed atmosphere and popped back later in the evening for a nightcap.

Special mention must go to the extensive breakfast which included all the usual favourites as well as a pancake machine and lots of delicious fresh fruit.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE Check out a play at the city’s famous Crucible Theatre or tap into the city’s industrial and artistic history at the Millennium Gallery and Kelham Island Museum with its mighty River Don Engine.

Support the local economy with some souvenir Henderson’s Relish (Sheffield’s legendary equivalent of Worcester Sauce) and Sir Robin Locksley gin. If you have time, leave the city and head for the hills: the Peak District’s many delights are right on your doorstep. Bakewell – the home of the eponymous tart – is around a 35-minute drive.

Book lovers should make a detour to Scarthin Books in Cromford near Matlock. The three-storey treasure trove has tomes on every subject under the sun. Cromford Mill is a former water-powered cotton spinning mill and part of a Unesco World Heritage Site. WAKE-UP CALL

Double rooms start at €68 a night, room only. accorhotels.com