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With outposts from Dijon to Dubai, Mama’s been getting about. And at her Shoreditch branch - a sprawling space at the Bethnal Green end of Hackney Road, complete with 194 bedrooms, large restaurant, karaoke rooms, terrace bar and meeting spaces - she is everywhere. Mama merch fills the cabinets of the lobby; Mama-branded cushions decorate the room; ‘Mama Loves You’ - the chain’s ubiquitous phrase - is scrawled on mirrors and menus and stitched onto seats.
If Mama’s love is a slightly all-consuming one, then it is also indicative of the Shelter’s vibe as a whole: kooky and aimed at either a younger crowd, or one who wants to visit Shoreditch for its proximity to all things ‘hip’. With prices starting at £170 a night for a Medium Mama Double, to £237 a night for a Large Mama Triple (not including breakfast), it’s not cheap but it’s also not unreasonable for the area; a night at The Hoxton would get you scant change from £400 for a self-described ‘Shoebox’. In trying to find the sweet spot between budget and memorable, they’ve opted for a space that feels a little like a quirky European hostel. If you’re looking for a great location and some amusing pics to fill your travel Insta round-up with, Mama’s got you covered; if you’re a minimalist, she might not be for you.
Why stay at Mama Shelter?
A short hop on foot from Bethnal Green Underground and Hoxton Overground, with many of East London’s most buzzing neighbourhoods a walk or a short bus away, Mama Shelter is primely placed for people visiting the city for the nightlife. The hotel clearly caters for a lot of party animals too. Not only are there those aforementioned karaoke rooms (£22 per person for two hours), they also have bottomless food deals in the restaurant almost every day: wings on Wednesday, fish and chips on Friday, brunch on Saturday, and bottomless roasts on Sunday. Mama clearly enjoys a tipple.
What are the rooms like at Mama Shelter?
We stayed in a Medium Mama Double, which - even as one of their smaller rooms - was a good size, with a big, comfy bed and a seating area and table decked out with complimentary fruit bowl and cookies. A nice touch. Then we get to the slightly bemusing bits: hanging on the two bedside lamps were a pair of plastic masks, one of Looney Tunes’ wild man, Tasmanian Devil; one of Jessica Rabbit. Mama Shelter’s bumph, FYI, makes a big point of mentioning their free porn on the TV. Lord only knows what previous occupants have done with those masks, but I really hope they’ve been cleaned.
There are also decisions that have clearly been made to reduce staffing needs or adapt to the space, but that take you out of the hotel getaway bubble somewhat. In lieu of room service, they’ve tried to make their click and collect function a feature by giving it its own hashtag - #roomservicereinvented, which doesn’t really work when you’re reinventing it into something less appealing than the original. Likewise, as someone who lives in a studio flat, I understand the need for what I like to call ‘home decor Tetris’, but putting a clothes rail with hangers directly above the kettle seems a bit much.
What’s the food like at Mama Shelter?
Generously-sized small plates, crowd favourite mains and an extensive cocktail and booze list are the order of the day here. Prices are around those of an average gastropub menu with small plates largely landing in the £6 - £10 mark and mains ranging from £17 to £33.50 for a steak. We opted to start with some sharers - a massive, juicy plate of crispy teriyaki chicken bites, padron peppers in chilli oil, and charred broccoli and crispy kale on a standout smoked aubergine emulsion - and were full enough to only be able to split a main after. Ras El Hanout spiced chicken pieces, on a rich, creme fraiche-heavy chickpea and harissa stew, was a comforting winter warmer.
The buffet breakfast, meanwhile, is a winner, with a comprehensive spread of hot options (scrambled and poached eggs, sausages and bacon, hash browns etc), pastries, cereals, waffles and some continental flourishes like beetroot hummus and baba ganoush to liven things up.
What’s the service like at Mama Shelter?
A mixed bag. At breakfast everything was ideal, with a very helpful waiter going to fetch us some extra much-craved hash browns when the tray had run out. Maybe they were understaffed the evening previously as we were visiting during the limbo period between Christmas and New Year, but we waited at the restaurant front desk fruitlessly and eventually gave up and sat at the bar, where we waited another five minutes for anyone to take our order despite being the only people there. When we sat down to eat, our waiter was lovely but again, if you’re looking for formality then Mama Shelter is not the place; I’ve never been called “love” more times by a stranger in my life. Personally, I didn’t mind - others may not be so keen!
What’s the area like around Mama Shelter?
Here’s where Mama really comes into her own. Whether you’re looking for an excellent cup of coffee, a massive night on the town, or basically anything in between, you’ll find it all within walking distance. Superlative sarnie slingers Dom’s Subs are a few minutes stroll down Hackney Road, where you’ll also find Hackney City Farm if you’re after a dose of cuteness after you eat. The Sebright Arms has great gigs on most nights; Satan’s Whiskers will rustle you up a top drawer cocktail; recently-opened ‘new-wave Asian’ eatery Tempo is a personal fave just around the corner, and they’re just the things within a five minute radius.
Why you should book a stay at Mama Shelter
If you want a comfortable base in the heart of east London, with every local amenity possible at your fingertips, then come to Mama.
Address: 437 Hackney Road, E2 8PP
Price per night: Starting from £170
Closest transport: Bethnal Green and Hoxton are both a 10 minute walk
Book now: Via Booking.com
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