Have you ever gone away and just missed the mod cons from your daily life? I’m not talking about travelling abroad – it’s nice to keep kitchen utensils away on those trips. I mean getaways within the UK where you can clear your mind or just escape the city. A long soak in the tub and a home-cooked meal would be nice on these trips, wouldn’t they?
While luxury hotels are undeniably fabulous, when your trips are domestic, why not combine these luxuries with the comforts of a home? That’s where Manchester CitySuites come in…
Checking in
One fine Sunday, we hopped onto the Avanti morning train and headed to sunny Manchester. From the moment we checked in, the whole team at Manchester CitySuites welcomed us into a luxurious two-bedroom apartment, providing top notch service throughout our entire stay.
With its incredible central location, all major attractions and shopping streets were just a stone’s throw away from us. Despite that, our apartment lay as a calm oasis amid the bustling city. Inside, we enjoyed beautiful views of Manchester and settled into two large bedrooms spanning off the open-plan kitchen, diner, and lounge area. The kitchen was fully equipped with a large refrigerator, oven and stove – cooking dinner here would save lots of pennies during your trip. But if you want to hit the tiles and check out some of the local restaurants, it’s just a short walk into the city centre; no need for public transport – you’re right in the thick of it.
Eating at Manchester CitySuites
However, you don’t want to miss Manchester CitySuite’s very own restaurant, Embankment Kitchen. Sophisticated and lavishly decorated, it offers a seasonal menu that sources only the freshest ingredients – all brought together with Head Chef Josh Singleton’s creative flair.
To start, we pulled up stools at the bar and indulged in some fantastic cocktails where the bartender gladly tailors classic or even new mixes to suit your alcoholic preferences. We settled for Whiskey Sours, striking the right balance between sharp and sweet.
Onto the food, we had delicious and tender Korean Chicken Bites, drizzled with a rich and flavourful sauce. For the main course, we both decided on the Sirloin Steak, masterfully cooked and accompanied with seasoned fries, fresh chimichurri, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms.
The rest of the menu’s seasonal specials really impressed us, including a heavenly-sounding seafood dish, and everyone’s classic favourite desserts – Sticky Toffee Pudding, Chocolate Brownies with peanut butter-white chocolate brioche bread and butter pudding.
After Dinner
Suitably full and before retiring to our plush room, we paid a visit to the stunning pool, sauna, and steam room. Swimming helped us unwind at the end of the day, with a warm jacuzzi nestled at the end of the pool; amazing to get some laps done for exercise. They even have a fully equipped, 24-hour open gym – quiet and serene, the space felt ideal for a late-night workout.
Manchester CitySuites visitors enjoy exclusive access to the Executive Lounge, a stylish space to relax throughout their stay. With plug sockets and comfortable ergonomic desk spaces, you can get a lot of work done if you’re doing a mid-week stay. The newly renovated first-floor space is open for visitors to enjoy breakfast, connect with friends or hold impromptu meetings with colleagues over tempting food and drinks.
In the evening, the space transforms into a stylish evening lounge with a two-course dinner menu served from 6:30pm – 10:00pm. The daily-changing menu also features seasonal ingredients and national classics created by CitySuites’ in-house chefs. Although we didn’t try the food ourselves, we overheard good things in the elevator.
Outside of Manchester CitySuites
There are plenty of activities to do and see in Manchester during your stay. Football fans can pay a visit to Old Trafford for a tour of the grounds. The shopping in Manchester is fantastic, with a highly regarded centre whose shops range from designer brands to high street fashion. Perhaps you’re into daytime TV and fancy a tour of Coronation Street – the world is your oyster when visiting this vibrant and reasonably priced city. When the sun shines, there are a wide variety of pub gardens and rooftop bars also.
One night, we decided to pop a bottle of Prosecco and grunge down to visit a local rock and roll bar, Satan’s Hollow. The space, with some of the coolest, spookiest, and emo-styled interiors plays host to a range of local bands and DJs – definitely a spot to let loose and shake your hair around until the early hours. I can’t think of a single place in London that matches its energy, it would definitely be worth a visit to Manchester!
Whatever destination you take in the Northern capital, at the end of the day, you return to your luxurious home-away-from-home at CitySuites and enjoy a restful night’s sleep. Amongst all the mod cons, visitors also have access to a Sky Premium package, ultrafast broadband, a Nespresso coffee maker, dishwasher, washing machine and GHD Air Hairdryer – so you can pack light during your visit.
If you have a late night, be sure to visit Embankment Kitchen for a fully-fledged English breakfast or a lavish Eggs Benedict. But before you head home, you must have one last float around the pool and relaxing sauna, trust me, you won’t regret it.
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All Imagery Courtesy of Manchester CitySuites.