Cheek of learner leaving lucky creature outside hotel (8)
I believe the answer is:
backchat
'cheek' is the definition.
(both can mean insolence or rudeness)
'learner leaving lucky creature outside hotel' is the wordplay.
'learner' becomes 'l'.
'leaving' suggests deleting specific letters.
'lucky creature' becomes 'blackcat' (black cats are sometimes considered lucky).
'outside' is an insertion indicator.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'blackcat' enclosing 'h' is 'blackchat'.
'blackchat' with 'l' taken away is 'BACKCHAT'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for backchat that I've seen before include "Effrontery" , "Impertinent rejoinder" , "Impudent talk" , "Cheeky words in response to rebuke" , "Impertinence" .)