Novotel Hotel Manchester Centre Review
Novotel Hotel
Manchester Centre
Reviewed by Judith Holliday
We chose to stay in the 4-star Novotel in Manchester because it offered lots of possibilities for a fun weekend away and the hotel is in a great location at 21 Dickinson Street. We had phoned ahead to find out about car parking, the hotel doesn’t have its own car park but offers discounted rates at the Q Park Piazza (M1 4LX) directly behind the hotel and we managed to find it with no problem. As we approached the hotel laden down with bags, pushchair, teddies, coats and colouring books in only the way that a family with small children can be, a member of staff came out of the doors to help us in. It was a great start and the friendly service continued throughout our stay.
The entrance to the hotel was very light, clean and spacious and gave a good impression. To one side of the reception desk was an area with children’s toys, books and an x box to play. Opposite this was the restaurant and the lifts were close by.
The check in process was very quick and we were given information about the hotel including answers to our queries about breakfast time, check out and how to pay at the car park. Excitingly for the children they were offered the choice of a small free gift (after checking with us that we could actually carry anything extra!) and they were thrilled with their new keyrings which accompanied us everywhere on our stay.
We went up in one of the two lifts to our superior room to find a modern, clean, very well maintained room already set out for us with a Queen bed and two single beds for the children, converted from a sofa bed I think. The room was so clean and well looked after that it looked as though it was new. It was decorated in bright neutrals with splashes of grey and yellow. There was a desk and chair, wardrobes and large mirror in the bedroom. The bathroom was fitted with good quality modern fixtures including a bath with over-bath shower and a sink. The toilet was in a separate room – handy for allowing a peaceful bath without being disturbed by others needing the loo although this meant the sink was in the room with the bath/shower in and not in with the toilet.
As well as a tea tray and kettle there was a Nespresso machine for making drinks and the little cartons of milk were kept in the mini bar fridge. There were other drinks and snacks available to buy in the mini bar. The free wifi was great for enabling us to check what was going on nearby and there were facilities we didn’t use such as a safe, TV with a variety of channels, ironing board and hair dryer. The hotel also offers a wellness centre with sauna, steam room and gym for guests to enjoy.
After getting settled in the room we made our way out to find somewhere for an evening meal. The location really is fantastic and as soon as we stepped out of the hotel doors on Faulkner Street we could see the ornate Chinese Arch marking Manchester’s Chinatown straight ahead. Within a two minute walk are streets of restaurants to choose from. There are also bars and clubs very close by for those who can manage to stay up a bit later. If you don’t fancy venturing out, the hotel offers food in its own restaurant and when service finished a room service menu was available which looked to offer a good variety of things so you’d never find yourself stuck for something to eat.
Back at the hotel I was really impressed with the excellent, comfortable bed and bedding. It can be a bit of a worry when staying away from home that you might be faced with a dreadful bed resulting in a disturbed night. Fortunately that isn’t the case here. The bed was spacious, comfortable and the pillows were in two different designs. One was a standard shape, the other with a fold down the middle allowing you to easily prop yourself up and get into just the right position. The duvet was lightweight and the bedding lovely and crisp. I noticed that Novotel sell some of their bedding and I can see why people would be tempted to buy some, it really was lovely. The children’s beds were also comfortable and at a lower level – ideal in case of rolling out of bed in the middle of the night!
The room had been quite warm when we arrived and I wondered whether the cooling system would be easy enough to work. Thankfully it was and we were able to leave it on all night without it being too hot, cold or making too much noise. I had wondered whether the excellent city centre location would mean that we would be troubled with noise but we all had a great sleep and heard very little from within the hotel or outside.
Breakfast was offered throughout the morning from 7-11am and a very early continental breakfast was offered between 4am and 6am for those needing to be out early. It was served in the restaurant opposite reception and there were plentiful choices, there was also lots of space and no queue – a big positive as far as I’m concerned. There was a hot buffet, fruit, cereal, pastries, yoghurt, waffles, breads, cheese and ham plus juices and hot drinks. There was even soya milk in addition, which I haven’t noticed in many other places and indicates to me that some thought has gone into offering guests what they are looking for.
After a good start to the day we were ready to enjoy some more of Manchester’s family friendly attractions before heading home. Checkout was available until 12 noon which I think offers great flexibility. Again, the process was very quick and we were soon on our way. I also noticed that the hotel rent out pushchairs – a great idea for those who want to carry fewer items of luggage than us.
We would wholeheartedly recommend a stay at the Manchester Novotel. It offers an excellent location, clean, modern and well maintained facilities, a comfortable, quiet night and friendly staff. Travelling as a family I felt it offered something for us all, excellent facilities with a family friendly touch. At no point did I worry that we weren’t as welcome as others because of our little explorers. We couldn’t have asked for any more and would be happy to return.
Rating: 5/5 
For more information or to make a booking visit www.novotel.com.
Novotel Manchester Centre, 21 Dickinson Street, Manchester, M1 4LX | 0161 2352200
