Mercure Manchester Norton Grange Hotel Review
Mercure Manchester
Norton Grange Hotel & Spa
Reviewed by Michelle Wright
As you drive into the entrance of the Mercure Manchester Norton Grange Hotel and Spa the first thing you notice is how the landscape transforms into stunning countryside… you would never believe you were so close to Rochdale or in fact Manchester City Centre.
The sun was shining and to be honest I could have just sat on the grass bank and watched the world go by for the rest of day. It was so peaceful that I felt my shoulders start to relax immediately! But no, I had my eye on the hydrotherapy suite and swimming pool that I had noticed online, so we headed inside.
The receptionist was extremely welcoming and explained all the facilities and booked us in for dinner. The hotel has over 80 rooms accommodating couples, singles and families spread over 2 floors. Our room was spacious and contemporary and the en-suite was almost sparklingly clean and included both a shower and separate bath.
The mission for our stay was to relax and ‘step off’ our busy day to day lives… so of course we headed for the spa straight away!
First we worked our way through all of the rooms in the hydrotherapy suite – absolute heaven! Then for a dip in the outdoor hydrotherapy room and to finish, we made the most of the swimming pool… There is a fabulous spa area where you can book for various treatments including massages, reflexology and detox treatments, for both men and women and they even cater for mums to be and offer wedding packages! Although we didn’t experience any treatments with this stay, I have had them at other Mercure hotels and totally recommend them. It really is a perfect pamper experience for you and your partner or with the girls.
The hotel also boasts a very well quipped gymnasium which holds state of the art equipment, and staff on hand to show you how any of the units worked.
Dinner was booked for 8pm in the Grange Restaurant but before that we sneaked in a drink in the Pickwick Bar. The bar had plenty of seating areas and a lovely welcoming atmosphere. Again the staff were very efficient and friendly making us feel very relaxed.
As my tummy started to rumble, we moved into the Grange Restaurant and were seated near the wall of windows. Unfortunately, as I was wearing a sleeveless top I found it a little too cold, but the helpful staff moved us to another table – nothing seemed too much trouble. The restaurant catered for both staying and non staying guests and were more than happy to accommodate private functions for birthdays etc…
We ordered our food and it came very quickly – the service was faultless. My husband had soup of the day – homemade vegetable soup and I had mushrooms on bruschetta. Both dishes were presented very well and were absolutely delicious. The portion sizes were perfect and not over facing.
For our main courses we both ordered Rib-eye steaks, which were cooked perfectly to our requirements. Served with vegetables and chunky hand cut chips, this was one of the tastiest steaks I have had for a long time. After such filling main courses we actually didn’t have space for a dessert, but from other dinners they looked absolutely mouth watering.
After a very comfortable night’s sleep, the following morning we were in the same restaurant for breakfast. You could choose from a cooked breakfast that included the most delicious locally sourced Cumberland sausages as well as Bury black pudding, or a continental selection. Breakfast was a self-service basis but there were staff available should you need any assistance.
And so our mini escape was over. We loved our stay at the Manchester Norton Grange Hotel and Spa and would certainly recommend any of the Mecure hotels to family and friends – perfect for a short stay near a city or a weekend of pampering with friends. The hotel is even licensed for civil ceremonies – and the grounds of the hotel offer a perfect setting for your wedding photographs!
For further details on the Mercure Manchester Norton Grange and Spa hotel and other Mercure hotels, please have a look at www.mercure.com
Rating: 5/5 
