Mama Shelter London, Shoreditch, East London

WHERE AND WHY: The quirky, boutique brand Mama Shelter London on Hackney Road, Shoreditch, in the heart of the East End. A few steps from both Cambridge Heath train station and Bethnal Green underground.

Inside it’s fun and funky – a riot of colour and ceiling slogans aimed squarely at the hipster market. But even a couple well into their middle age can feel at home in Mama’s welcoming arms. Maybe that was down to the retro arcade machines dotted around (which all work... without coins!), the Betty Boop cartoon on repeat on the lounge TV or just the warm vibe. It’s a cosy, chic, unpretentious experience at very reasonable London rates.

The rooms boast TVS with a wide range of channels – activated from your phone – the bedding is luxurious and stylish and cartoon masks are draped over the lamps.

London’s Mama also offers two titillating packages entitled Mama Elopes and Sexcation. We politely declined – although regretted the decision when it transpired the Sexcation package included a bottle of champers and a 2pm checkout.

ON THE MENU: Meals can be taken in the Secret Garden, which is a colourful, circular room off the main dining area, with a retractable roof for when the sun shines. Bar staff happily rustle up signature cocktails.

Food is a hybrid of styles. Mama is a French creation – the first was launched in Paris quickly followed by Marseille and Lyon – and Mama’s menus claim “nuances are included from our London home with local produce”. That didn’t relate to our Shetland moules (£16) and roast Peterhead cod (£18), but they were nonetheless excellent. We were too ravenous to wait the 30 minutes for the sharing roast chicken with garlic and lemon (£38), which looked delicious for the more patient diners.

There was a mix up over my wife’s breakfast, when staff didn’t appear to understand the concept of a soft-boiled egg. But she was graciously offered anything else

on the menu to compensate.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Broadway Market area is a short walk away, plus there’s Victoria Park, towpath walks by Regent’s Canal and numerous

good pubs and restaurants.

WAKE UP CALL: Rooms from £109 a night. mamashelter.com/

london-shoreditch