No1 top of the stops
The Jane Hotel, New York, US
South Wales scores
Rock bands based in and around Cardiff exploded on to the music scene in the 1990s, coining the name Cool Cymru. Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals and Feeder were among the sublime sounds from across the Severn Bridges. Catatonia were formed, so the legend goes, early in the decade, when guitarist Mark Roberts saw Cerys Matthews busking on Cardiff’s Queen Street. South Wales sons and daughters Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Shakin’ Stevens and Bonnie Tyler paved the way for the bands that rocked Britpop. Charlotte Church took the classical reins. Womanby Street is the heart of Cardiff’s live music scene, with Welsh language venue Clwb Ifor Bach, The Moon and Fuel. Famous concert halls the Motorpoint Arena and St David’s Hall host the big shows. And Spillers Records, established in 1894, is the world’s oldest record shop located in Morgan Arcade. visitcardiff.com
HOT Manic Street Preachers
Brum beat
Renowned for reggae and heavy metal, Birmingham has always been a hotbed for music. Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, UB40, Steel Pulse, Electric Light Orchestra, Musical Youth, Duran Duran, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Ocean Colour Scene, The Streets and Laura Mvula are among the much-loved acts hailing from here.
Like every big city, Birmingham is constantly evolving, meaning some of its famous venues have disappeared or been repurposed. Mothers Rock Club in Erdington, where Pink Floyd recorded half of Ummagumma and Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, The Who and Led Zeppelin played, still exists, but as the local branch of the PDSA.
Barbarella’s nightclub, which played host to the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, The Jam and Judas Priest, was flattened by the Brindleyplace development; a salvaged
HOT
VIBE
If quirky Hollywood director Wes Anderson decided to open a hotel – it would probably be The Jane.
Overlooking the Hudson River on the western edge of Manhattan’s trendy Greenwich Village, it used to be a sailors’ mission and once housed the survivors of the Titanic.
It has now been turned into a 200-room hotel or as they say in New York – apartment cooperative – as residents also share the building.
But despite its domestic side, its overriding vibe is one of hipster cool and kooky charm.
STYLE
The Jane very much aims to and achieves boho chic throughout with obvious nods to the past.
Befitting of a sailors’ mission, dark wood panelled walls abound, and vintage furniture and aged wall mountings are the norm.
You could be forgiven for thinking you were walking through the bowels of a 19th century steam ship in some areas with its narrow corridors and brass portholes.
In fact The Jane can take tiny to quite accomplished levels with three categories of rooms appropriately called cabins, one with bunk beds, the Captain’s, and the standard (single bed).
The bunk bed cabins are a masterpiece of ergonomics and feel like you are sleeping in an overnight sleeper train – perfectly good for a cosy night’s sleep but it does mean you have to use a shared bathroom.
Standard rooms are 50 sq ft and lovingly detailed but still require you to make that yomp to those shared bathrooms – but if you don’t mind that, they’re delightfully atmospheric.
For those of you who prefer more space, and more importantly, privacy, there are the extremely well appointed Captain’s cabins. These are limited, and some even have large patios on an inner courtyard with an ensuite. It certainly pays to request a Captain’s cabin with patio in advance if you can.
FOOD & DRINK
The Jane also has a trendy cafe and a swanky ballroom which has been turned into a stylishly lit cocktail lounge and nightclub.
The ballroom is open later in the week and can get raucous at the weekend, while the cafe is the Old Rose and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Book ahead, though, even if you’re a guest as there seems to be no end of cool cats hanging round in there at all times of day and night. The menu offers seasonal Italian fare as well as local craft beers on tap, “natural” wines, and
speciality cocktails.
THE SIGHTS
Although it may seem out of the way at first glance, The Jane is actually very well located on the doorstep of the Meatpacking District and Greenwich. A short stroll from The High Line walkway, the Whitney Museum of American Art and Chelsea Market, it is also an excellent base from which to explore most of lower Manhattan on foot.
Local pub Tavern on Jane is a wonderfully cosy bolthole with a loyal clientele, while a short hop from there are sights such as Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment and the Stonewall Inn, one of the birthplaces of the modern gay rights movement.
THE DEAL
It’s on the doorstep of Greenwich and the Meatpacking District
The attraction of The Jane for many is chic style with a reasonable price tag.
This only applies to the standard and bunk bed cabins with shared bathrooms which appeal to hipster types on a tight budget. A bunk bed cabin can be rented for as little as £78 per night and standard is around £71. The sought-after Captain’s cabins cost about £140 per night.