Located a stone’s throw away from Manchester Piccadilly Train Station and a short walk from the bustling city centre and shopping streets, the Motel One Manchester Piccadilly Hotel opened just over a year ago, offering “great design for little money” for overnight business trips and leisure visits alike. STYLEetc. was recently invited along to review the Motel One Manchester Piccadilly Hotel for a one night stay with breakfast, see below for the full hotel review.
Checking In and Room
We arrived at the Motel One Manchester Piccadilly Hotel on a bustling Friday night, with the lobby full of guests ready to enjoy the weekend in Manchester’s vibrant nightlife scene. We eagerly headed over to the lobby desk to check in and head up to our room to drop off our bags and get ready for the night ahead. We were greeted by the friendly reception staff, who talked us through the hotel’s facilities and its’ location; we were offered a map of Manchester, but as locals we didn’t require this – but this would be a nice touch for visitors unfamiliar with Manchester. We were handed our key cards and the free WiFi code, so we headed up to our room in the lift to the sixth floor.
We discovered our room was located directly next to the lifts, which we were concerned about at first in case we could hear guests coming and going throughout the night and morning, but fortunately we couldn’t hear a thing and slept soundly. Motel One places an emphasis on modern, yet functional design throughout its’ hotel rooms and we were pleasantly surprised by the overall aesthetic and quality of the hotel room. Although compact, the room featured all of the required facilities for an overnight stay and made excellent use of the space with clever storage solutions. Upon first glance, there is no storage space, but there are clothes rails conveniently concealed behind the frame around the bed; to minimise clutter, the tea and coffee making facilities are located behind a cupboard door.
The bed in our room was kingsize and oh so comfortable. The bed was equipped with a high-quality mattress that you sink back into, luxurious 100% Egyptian cotton bed linen and fluffy white pillows; ensuring you drift off to sleep straight away for a night of quality sleep. The bed frame also featured ambient Artemide lights for a soft focus perfect for reading and drifting off. The room also boasts a flat screen TV opposite the bed with a range of Freeview channels; we particularly liked the hotel’s screen savers of a realistic burning log fire and fish tank that were oddly satisfying to watch.
The hotel room also featured large windows with big sweeping curtains; although it is a shame that our view was blocked by the other wing of the hotel – if you are on a higher floor you shouldn’t have this problem. A small desk is located next to the window, ideal for prepping some work or checking emails, although we felt you would only be able to do small tasks due to the desk’s size and having to sit on a stool rather than a proper chair. But the hotel has free WiFi throughout, so you could easily get some work done in the One Lounge or at the quieter tables in the hotel lobby.
The bathroom was very small but featured a luxurious fit out with dark granite surfaces, modern fittings and reflective glass and mirror features. The shower was open plan rather than being in a cramped cubicle, so plenty of room for moving around. It featured a wonderfully relaxing rain-effect shower head and complimentary organic mint shower gel that was refreshing and energising; just like having your very own spa in your room. The room also provided large fluffy towels to complete the luxurious spa effect.
One Lounge and Lobby Area
After we had dropped off our bags and gotten ready for the evening, we headed down to the One Lounge in the lobby area. For a budget hotel, the One Lounge definitely had a wow factor. Each individual hotel’s lobby area is inspired by the city the hotel resides in; making each of the Motel One hotels unique rather than adopting a standardised design. The One Lounge takes inspiration from Manchester’s renowned Brit-Pop era, with music memorabilia on the walls and giant mirror balls hanging from the ceiling – it’s the perfect setting for an evening drink.
The bar area is very modern, with a plethora of spirit bottles lined up on shelves and upbeat music playing in the background. We were looked after by barman Nathan, who talked us through the cocktail menu and the different concoctions available that take inspiration from Manchester’s heritage. In the end, we opted for ‘The One’, a gin based cocktail blended with elderflower, Blue Curacao, lemon and sugar syrup and ‘The Industrialist’, inspired by Manchester’s industrial heritage that consists of Havana rum, sugar, orange bitters and a flame of orange zest. The cocktails were sweet and refreshing, and went down a treat at the start of our Friday night; priced at £6.90 and £7.50 respectively, this is very competitively priced for cocktails hand-made by a mixologist with premium spirits.
Motel One Manchester Piccadilly doesn’t have a restaurant for evening meals, but it does offer a small bar snack menu if you are feeling peckish before heading out for the night. We were treated to a couple of the Motel One Toasts, opting for the ‘One Little Italy’ and ‘One Spicy Curry’. All of the toasties consist of a basic foundation of either ham and cheese or tomato and cheese, and are then finished with tasty herbal infusions for mouth-watering flavour. Served with hand cooked crisps, the Motel One Toasts are ideal for a light lunch or early evening snack with drinks.
Breakfast
After a sound night’s sleep, we headed down to the lobby for breakfast. The breakfast area in the hotel proudly displays motifs of the Manchester Bee; a nod to the city’s efforts during the Industrial Revolution. The breakfast area also featured honeycomb effect prints to the walls, honey toned materials and cotton fabrics to fully adhere to the Manchester Bee theme.
We headed over to the breakfast bar to help ourselves to the buffet. Unfortunately the breakfast at Motel One is not cooked, so don’t go and expect a full English; we were a little bit disappointed one we realised but the continental breakfast offering was substantial, and we should have realised that a European chain hotel would offer continental breakfasts.
There was plenty of choice, including an array of breads and pastries with a selection of spreads, sliced meats & cheeses, cereals, fruit & yogurt, fruit juices and hot drinks. It was nice to indulge in some fresh pastries and relax with a coffee. The breakfast is an extra supplement at £9.50 a person; at that price, if a continental breakfast isn’t really your thing, I’d advise going into Manchester as there are plenty of establishments that specialise in cooked breakfasts and brunch dishes.
The Motel One Manchester Piccadilly Hotel caters to a market who are looking for an affordable, boutique style hotel and they’ve really hit the nail on the head. The hotel rooms offer everything you need for a short stay in a luxurious and plush setting that equally caters to those visiting Manchester for work or pleasure. Ideally located, Motel One is on the doorstep of Manchester Piccadilly station and the Metrolink, so you really do have the whole city conveniently at your feet.
We especially loved how the lobby and One Lounge’s theme was inspired by Manchester itself and you can tell a lot of thought has gone into every design detail and it all has a purpose in telling the story of the city, whilst offering a premium and modern aesthetic. The staff we came into contact with were friendly and attentive and would be willing to help with any queries or requests you may have.
If you are looking for a well priced budget, yet chic hotel for any occasion or event in Manchester City centre, we would definitely recommend booking a stay at Motel One Manchester Piccadilly Hotel.
Prices start from £69 for a single room or from £84 for a double.
To book a stay at the Manchester Piccadilly hotel, visit Motel One’s website
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