Chic and luxurious business or pleasure hotel (Hilton Manchester Deansgate (Manchester))

Member Name: k4ssie

Product:	Hilton Manchester Deansgate (Manchester)
Date:	27/05/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely rooms, superb beds, great pool / spa

Disadvantages: Expensive internet access

This review previously published on Tripadvisor.com

Stayed here on business in Nov 06. Initial impressions were that the building is very smart - it's a huge landmark in Manchester, and in the modern glass and steel style. The main lobby reception area is nothing special really, the standard big open space with lots of marble and a few leather sofas / chairs etc, and things did get off to a ropey start during checkin - I was with a group of colleagues and we were mostly using company credit cards, and the reception staff kept needing to "check with the credit card owner" which meant locating someone in the office for them to speak to. They did rather act as though they'd never dealt with a corporate booking before, which seemed very odd given the type and location of this hotel!

This hotel is brilliantly located on central Deansgate, which i imagine would be great if you were there for fun (ie shopping) rather than work. On arriving in my room, things definitely started to look up - the rooms are really smart, decor and fixtures very high quality, and bed particularly fabulous - super comfy, feather (i think) duvets and pillows, and quality linen. Also reasonably quiet although you can hear a low drone from traffic below, even from the twelfth floor which i was on, and the odd siren etc.

The Pool / spa area also very lovely, you could tell it was all brand spanking new, and used at night has very soothing mood lighting - none of your municipal pool striplighting here! The pool is situated high enough up that you can see right out across the city, and the area is surrounded by floor to ceiling glass so you can window shop on deansgate from the jacuzzi. There was also nobody using the facilties most of the time, i had it all to myself. Great sauna and steam room also - both very spacious and smelt clean and fresh.

The included breakfast was probably the best i've ever had in a large hotel. Huge range of fruit and healthy stuff, juices, even a juicer with fresh ingredients including wheatgrass if you want to make your own. I didn't - i was much more focused on the cooked stuff, including for once mushrooms properly sauteed rather than boiled of all flavour, and made to order pancakes and omelettes.

The Cloud Bar on the 23rd floor is also a nice touch - fabulous views, and a quiet and elegant ambience. I believe that this place is somewhat of a cult location these days, with lots of Sleb watching at the weekends. Cocktails were silly money (£12 for a glass of wine, anyone?!) but then i guess that comes with the territory.

Only other tiny gripe - stupid charges for internet access. £15 is not OK, and it's time free wireless became standard anywhere which is accomodating business travellers.

I think we paid £135 room & breakfast - would highly recommend this one for business travellers or a romantic / shopping getaway, given the health facilities.

Summary: I'd stay here again any time i'm in Manchester.