Staying curious is the way to keep the mind and spirit alive and hotels are embracing the concept with vibrant art and music scenes.
INNSiDE Manchester is a classic example, bringing continental life into the heart of a once industrial city. And it works fantastically.
Walk through the revolving doors and the reception is colourful and eye-catching with fun and happiness the main theme in the four-star hotel which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Pillars holding up the 208-room hotel have been turned into pieces of art, with local architect Ian Simpson making good use of the city’s time as a hub for the steel industry for the funky and rusty weathered appearance of the reception and bar. There’s lots of colourful pieces, mixed in with a huge deckchair and table football, making a great first impression.
Part of Spain’s largest hotel group, Meliá Hotels International, INNSiDE Manchester is a stone’s throw away from the heart of the city, Deansgate in First Street, a lively district which has been transformed into the place to be, with trendy living, working and playing.
Since January, 16 local artists have been able to use the hotel’s walls as a canvas for their work. The yearlong project, SHOW XL, run by Manchester-based creative brand HEADS, allows artists from different backgrounds and skill sets, from cartoonists to traditional paints, to present their work.
The reception area runs neatly alongside the restaurant and bar which has an Italian theme thanks to input from television chef Gino D’Acampo.
It’s here breakfast that is served, with buffet beauties from pastries to cheeses, fresh juices, filtered coffee and flavoured teas to traditional full English fry ups.
And in the evening the bold coloured dining room with a cool tiled floor is transformed into a traditional Italian restaurant with a fabulous selection of dishes from beautiful bruschettas to pasta and pizzas with exotic toppings, ranging from smoked salmon, asparagus, lemon and creamy mascarpone sauce to Italian sausage, friarielli broccoli, mozzarella and Calabrian chilli flakes. The finest steaks are available, and Sundays are for roast of the day.
Close by is the Spritz Bar, a large copper-effect island has seating for 40 and serves up colourful cocktails and classic and contemporary drinks. There’s also a central bar which has a resident DJ providing the perfect soundtrack background.
When the weather’s good, the outside terrace with space for 120, is the place to people watch while drinking and eating.
Upstairs, the grand hotel offers skyline views from the wall to ceiling glass in the impressive rooms and suites. Family friendly interconnecting rooms are spacious and there’s special accommodation for guests with dogs. There’s also the added bonus of pet hampers to keep the pooches happy.
The Townhouse at the top of the hotel mixes memorable views with serious sleeping. Large beds in trendy neutral decorated rooms and big bathrooms brilliantly interwoven into the rooms without the need for walls are given extra luxury with sweet smelling toiletries.
There’s a minibar with complimentary alcoholic and soft drinks, a lounge for relaxing and a yoga mat for getting the bones moving in the morning.
The room television gives brilliant information on where to go during the day and includes favourite jogging and walking routes with an ongoing partnership with Croissant Club, which encourages guests to join the INNSiDE Road Runners run club, a free, social, guided 5km group run around the city, starting and ending at the hotel.
Fitness is big at the hotel with a 24 hour gym which uses state-of-the art equipment and Wexer technology providing virtual classes to keep in trim.
There’s a spa hideaway in the hotel’s wellness space, with treatments from Escape Spa professional therapists on offer and combined with a relaxing Finnish sauna and steam room.
And to ensure the hotel meets everyone’s needs, there are five, flexible multi-functional meetings spaces, sustainability projects to make sure everything is 100 per cent eco-friendly and the novel INNSiDE The Bedroom, an ongoing live and digital event series, hosting local and touring artist performances in the intimate and unique setting of a hotel bedroom. Set in INNSiDE’s largest rooms, with views overlooking each city backdrop, the idea has collaborated with the likes of Aelius Alternative Music Festival New Rules and Aine Deane and The Sprints.
The Details
INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester, 1 First Street, M15 4RP, England.
Tel: +44 (0)161 200 2500
Website: www.melia.com
The hotel is a short walk from the city’s main shopping and eating area in Deansgate and a 15 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station or 5 minute walk from Oxford Road Station which connects to the airport. It’s 8.7 miles from Manchester Airport and a 30 minute drive depending on traffic.
Type of Hotel: 4-Star Hotel ideal for business, families, sightseers and pet owners
Number of Rooms: 208 bedrooms
Price Band: Rooms start from £100 a night, with a current 10% discount. Breakfast is extra and the hotel runs offers throughout the different seasons.
Insider Tip: Ask for a room with a sky-line city view and discover how Manchester has embraced modern change.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9/10
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2
Photographs courtesy of INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester
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