Sep 27 2010
From Belly And Guts To Beating Heart: Weekend Breaks At Manchester Hotels
Despite being twenty years in the making Manchester’s facelift has been so dramatic that it can still take some getting used to. It is difficult to cast off now anachronistic conceptions of Manchester as an industrial, coke-stained city; ‘the belly and guts of the nation’, as George Orwell described it. Its expansion has resulted in more and more being packed in to the city’s already bustling streets. It can lay claim to two of the country’s richest football clubs, its largest university, two symphony orchestras and a clutch of superb free museums. Manchester is not somewhere that instantly comes to mind when planning a UK city break. However, this might be changing, with a spate of new boutique Manchester hotels cropping up, which are helping to put the city on the UK tourist map.
Ramada Salford Quays
The Ramada Salford Quays is definitely worth taking a look at if you’re visiting Manchester on match day or on business. Within kicking distance of Old Trafford, the Ramada offers convenience and 4-star comfort. The restaurant is light and airy, serving satisfyingly hearty breakfast and freshly prepared Italian dishes in the evening. The impressive Lowry Centre and Imperial War Museum North are just a short walk, while the hotel has a number of conference and meeting rooms for its business guests. The Salford Quays have been transformed by some pretty dramatic regeneration, but they have retained some sense of their original identity and the nearby Museum of Science and Industry lets visitors learn about the history of the Manchester Ship Canal.
The Lowry
Just down the road from the Ramada Salford Quays, the Lowry became Manchester’s first 5-star hotel when it opened it 2001. Many of its 164 rooms offer views overlooking the metamorphosed landscape of Salford Quays, and all are chicly decorated. One of the best, and possible priciest restaurants in Manchester, the Lowry’s River Room restaurant serves exquisitely prepared food from the best regional and seasonal produce. For those guests who fancy a little pampering, the Lowry has its own spa room, which offers a range of different massage treatments. Manchester city centre is easily accessible by metrolink from the hotel.
Britannia
Right in heart of Manchester city centre, the 3-star Britannia hotel is ideal for weekend breaks and visitors looking for something more affordable. Formerly owned by S&J Watts, the vast ornate Victorian building has been grade II * listed and the former textile warehouse occupies a central place in the history of Manchester’s cotton industry. The hotel is just a short walk from Deansgate, where some of the city’s trendiest bars and restaurants can be found. But like many large Manchester hotels it caters well for business guests, with a number of conference and meeting rooms. Although some of the 363 rooms could benefit from a fresh lick of paint, they are all fairly comfortable and well-appointed.
Now an established tourist destination in its own right, the ever-widening range of Manchester hotels reflects the city’s vibrancy and newfound confidence and if you’ve been slow to catch up, now’s a better time than ever.
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