Sheffield’s Jonas Hotel, the first of its kind in the UK housing students and visitors alike, has won a top award for the University of Sheffield.
The unique hybrid hotel, which opened a year ago in the university’s Endcliffe student residences Campus, has won Best Student Housing 2018 in the higher education sector’s CUBO Awards.
The 79-room Jonas was born from an imaginative £2million revamp of UoS’s Nineties student residence Jonas Court.
Judges heard the venue operates as a vibrant hub for communal living and offers affordable and flexible stays. City tourists, visiting business people, academics and students alike can stay from one night to six months and are encouraged to share communal spaces including kitchens, gaming/cinema room, lounges, meeting rooms and study areas.
It offers a flexible alternative for students who do not require a longer term contract as offered by the rest of the university’s accommodation portfolio, which houses approximately 6,500 students across the city in beautiful rural and convenient locations. Quirky design features include upcycled furniture, a graffiti wall and artwork showcasing the city’s history and humour. 
“We are so proud to win this prestigious national award. It is recognition for the hard work and energy our teams put in, and champions the fact that we had the courage to create something new,” said Ian Jones, the university’s Head of Accommodation Services.
“Our award puts Sheffield on the map once again. We believe this exciting concept signals a new era in university accommodation which will appear elsewhere in the UK before long.
“It is truly flexible, multi functional and by serving not only the entire university’s needs but also the Sheffield community, it fosters a vibrant mix of visitors,”
The University of Sheffield beat higher education institutions from across the country to take the title at an awards night staged at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Launched in 2012, the CUBO Awards recognise the achievements of those working on campuses and in the industry’s commercial services.
Jonas was inspired by the revolutionary Student Hotel in Amsterdam, and is run by UNICUS, the subsidiary which operates the university’s commercial arm.
Commented manager Andy Flowers: “This award is the icing on the cake. Since opening we have sold 14,000 beds and welcomed a real mix of guests, from all as far away as Colombia and Australia.
“They had different reasons for being in the city. Our concept has drawn students, employees and visitors of our university and Sheffield Hallam, companies such as Siemens and the Neurology Academy, universities in China and Spain and visitors to Sheffield Doc/Fest this year and next.”
The university was also highly commended in the Innovation in Catering category of the CUBO Awards for its meat-free cafe.
The View Deli, which is on level 4 of the Students’ Union building, serves only vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.
