The / Nook

NEIGHBOURHOOD LOCATIONS

LONDON - BRISTOL - MANCHESTER LEEDS - EDINBURGH - YORK - PARIS LYON - MILAN - TURIN

Fact Sheet V.1.
Cosy, soulful, social
Small in scale, big in character: your cosy corner for comfort, connection, and authentic neighbourhood living.

Nook is a fresh hotel concept for today’s traveller and tomorrow’s explorer – cosy, characterful, and connected. It offers a “neighbourhood pad” feel: small in size, big on experience. Every Nook is a personal bolthole where guests can relax, connect, and experience their destination in an authentic way.

Nook stands in the middle ground between tired budget hotels and over-designed luxury. It blends pared-back design, warm character, and thoughtful touches of luxury at an accessible price point. The goal is to be the “anti-hotel”: informal, convivial, and rooted in community.

Interior view of a living space with wooden stairs, a large potted plant, an elegant side table, framed pictures, and a colorful patterned rug.
A young man and woman standing against a concrete wall, with the woman leaning against the wall and the man standing with one hand in his pocket, both looking at the camera.
Interior of a bedroom with a bed, pillows, a wooden bench, and a framed artwork of a rainbow on the wall
Empty modern meeting room with white walls, framed artwork, wooden furniture, and potted plant in the foreground.
A bedroom with a green paneled wall, a bed with a white quilt and red pillows, a black metal canopy frame, wall-mounted white reading lamps, and a small wooden side table holding a red lamp, books, and personal items.
An empty espresso cup on a saucer with a gold trim, a spoon, and a napkin on a white table. Part of another cup and a sugar container are visible.

The Opportunity
A scalable, design-led hotel model that delivers strong margins, rapid market entry, and high guest loyalty in an under-served mid-market space

Nook is positioned to capitalise on shifting traveller behaviour and market dynamics by offering a scalable, mid-market “anti-hotel” concept that blends authenticity, social connection, and digital ease.

With a lean operational model suited to smaller, characterful buildings, Nook can enter markets with lower barriers to acquisition and quicker speed to scale, while maintaining strong margins through high direct-booking conversion and reduced staffing needs.

The brand’s broad guest appeal – from solo explorers to groups – alongside its flexible room mix maximises occupancy and average rate potential. With proven consumer appetite for neighbourhood-driven, design-led hospitality, Nook presents a clear opportunity to capture market share in secondary UK and European cities where demand for distinctive lifestyle hotels exceeds supply.

Model

  • Scale: 30–70 keys in smaller, characterful buildings

  • Rooms: A mix of Dens, Dorms, Rooms, Studios, and Apartments to suit solo travellers, groups, and families. Mix of configurations maximises awkward buildings and allows for easy expansion/spread from a central hub

  • Design: Paired-back, eclectic interiors with signature bathrooms, big beds, and luxe touches where they matter

  • Tech: Mobile-first, automated booking and check-in, digital guest journey, minimal but personal human service via Duty Host

  • Operations: Daily housekeeping optional, prepaid bookings, focus on direct sales (80%)

  • Rooms: Mix of Dens, Dorms, Rooms, Studios, and Apartments to suit solo travellers, groups, and families

  • Design: Paired-back, eclectic interiors, signature bathrooms, big beds, luxe touches where it matters

  • Tech: Mobile-first, automated booking and check-in, digital guest journey, minimal but personal human service via Duty Host

  • Operations: Daily housekeeping optional, prepaid bookings, focus on direct sales (80%)

The Design Approach
Characterful, paired-back, social

The design approach of Nook Hotels is rooted in being pared-back, warm, and characterful, with a focus on comfort, functionality, and a sense of place:

  • Characterful small-scale buildings – each property is chosen for its individuality, giving guests a unique sense of discovery and connection to the neighbourhood.

  • Paired-back yet eclectic interiors – natural materials, warm tones, and whimsical touches create a cosy atmosphere that feels soulful rather than sterile.

  • Luxe where it matters – investment in the best beds, linens, and bathrooms ensures guests feel indulged without unnecessary frills.

  • Flexible and functional – room categories range from compact “Dens” to Studios and Apartments, designed to suit solo stays, groups, or longer visits, always maximising usable space.

  • Social at the core – cafés, lounges, and work-friendly nooks are designed as vibrant hubs for connection, blurring the lines between live, work, and play.

  • Recognisable yet adaptable brand identity – a consistent design language across all Nook hotels (e.g. bathroom experience, natural-but-not-neutral palette), while still reflecting the unique flavour of each location.

In short, Nook’s design is about being small in scale but big in personality – thoughtful, shareable, and always inviting.

A modern bedroom with a wooden headboard, a white bed with pillows, a wall-mounted black reading lamp, a framed yellow artwork, a wall mirror reflecting a bathroom, and a small bedside table with a notebook, pen, and black lamp.

Differentiators

Nook breaks away from the conventions of traditional hotels by combining the warmth and character of a neighbourhood guesthouse with the sleek efficiency of a mobile-first platform.

Unlike formulaic chains, Nook’s smaller, characterful buildings create an immediate sense of place, while flexible room types cater to solo travellers, groups, and longer stays alike. The pared-back design is elevated with luxe touches where they matter most – the bed, the bathroom, and the social spaces – ensuring comfort without excess.

Community is at the heart of the brand, with cafés, events, and collaborations replacing anonymous lobbies, and personal, light-touch hosting replacing formal reception desks. This balance of soulful authenticity, digital ease, and operational efficiency positions Nook as a distinct alternative to conventional hotels and an appealing choice for modern travellers.

The Audience
Curious, well-travelled, connected

  • Age: typically 25–45, but defined more by mindset than demographics

  • Seek simplicity, authenticity, and personality over convention

  • Value soulful details, ease, and flexibility

  • Want to feel part of a global community while exploring locally

Accommodation

  • Dens

    • The smallest, but perfectly formed

    • Single traveller or two good friends

    • Possibly no windows/internal facing

  • Dorms

    • Bunks and beds for 4-6 friends/family   

    • Efficient storage and double shower – just in case

  • Rooms

    • Bigger than Dens, more room to move around

    • Bigger beds, more space

    • Two categories only: Small Room, Big Room

  • Studios

    • Bed, seating, sofa-ing, working

    • Kitchenette/bar – something additional

  • Apartments

    • Eat, cook, work, entertain, sleep 

Project Appraisal V.1.
Interior Mood Board

A bedroom with wooden paneled wall, two framed sketches, a wall-mounted shelf with a black adjustable reading lamp, and a bed with white pillows.
A neatly made bed with white pillows, a brown blanket, and a white quilt in a bedroom. A wooden side table with a decorative statue, a black book, and a picture frame is next to the bed. A abstract art piece hangs above the bed, and sheer curtains are on the window to the left.
Side view of a bed with a textured off-white upholstered headboard, next to a wooden nightstand with a rounded top and a lower shelf, positioned against a wall with dark curtains.
A minimalist bathroom with a white shiplap wall, a marble sink with a wooden cabinet base, a uniquely shaped mirror, a wall-mounted faucet, and a black ceiling light fixture.
A bathroom vanity with two large mirrors, wall-mounted sconces, and a potted plant between the mirrors. The vanity has wooden drawers and shelves with folded towels. A ceiling light hangs above.
A cozy living room corner featuring a tan leather armchair, a wooden side table with a modern silver lamp and black sculpture, a framed painting of a seated nude figure on the wall, and a large rectangular mirror.
Interior wall with various framed artwork, a sculpture on a pedestal, a zebra-print chair, and a staircase railing.
Modern living room with a white fireplace, built-in bookshelf, artwork, and contemporary furniture including a white armchair, blue sofa, and coffee table with decor, under a wooden ceiling with a large spherical chandelier.
A person pouring hot coffee into a glass mug with whipped cream and caramel syrup on a dark wooden table.
A commercial espresso machine with brown cups stacked on top, a small cup underneath the spout, and a yellow cloth beside it. In the background, a person in a white shirt and tie is visible, along with glassware and books on shelves.
A person with blonde hair lying on a mustard yellow velvet couch, curled up with eyes closed, inside a room with wood flooring and gray paneled walls.
Living room with a brown velvet sofa adorned with multiple throw pillows, a black coffee table with a chess set and books, a floor lamp with a gold shade, and framed artwork on the white wall including a large line drawing of a flower and various paintings.