I took my partner to the Palace Hotel for an overnight Christmas Shopping trip on November 26th, 2008. Arriving at just before noon at Oxford Road, we expected to be asked to leave our bags with the concierge but we were able to check in and head to room 159, a high ceilinged room with very tall windows viewing the corridor that the room was on (no city view unfortunately) a large, very soft double bed and excellent en-suite.

I have only one reservation about the room though... the plasterwork around the Victorian pillers in our room was not proven ideal, with gaps large enough to stick my little finger in. It did not cause any problems though and overall it did not detract from the comfort. In the morning, the traditional telephone call waking us up was replaced with the TV turning itself on, a welcome change although if I was still inebriated from the night before, I would question what would happen as I slept through the welcome screen!

The facilites themselves were very good. The bar was quiet and professionally run with the staff able to collect orders from the table as well as standard bar service, the restaurant was quiet but both were reasonably priced for an AA 3* hotel. At breakfast, the restaurant was well stocked and the staff appeared to want to be there working, opposed to being there for the money!

Overall, I will be making recommendations to a national charity I work for to consider The Palace as a venue for its annual conference. Aircrew use the Palace as their residence from Manchester Airport, which must surely show an economic luxury in the hotel market.