City Centre

Dakota has been named one of the best hotels in the UK

It's the only hotel in the North West to make the list

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 17th May 2021

The best hotels in the UK have been revealed – and one is in Manchester.

It’s official, Manchester is now home to one of the UK’s top 25 hotels. Luxury home-from-home Dakota Manchester has been named as one of the Top 25 Hotels in the UK & Channel Islands at the Travellers Choice Best of The Best Awards.

Perfectly situated on Piccadilly Basin between Ancoats and the Northern Quarter, we like to think it looks a bit like the MIB headquarters in all its imposing, burnished glory.

With a purpose-built cigar terrace and champagne room, it’s certainly unlike anywhere else you can stay in the city. Dakota even has its own dedicated humidor from which to select the perfect Cuban to compliment your brandy.

It’s perhaps unsurprising, then, that the hotel has ranked among the top one percent on TripAdvisor after being voted one of the highest-rated stays around the world by its guests. 

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Making us even prouder, it is also the only hotel in the North West to make Trip Advisor’s top 25 list – recognised alongside 24 other hotels, such as 5* luxury London boutique The Hari and Claridge’s in Mayfair.

As well as its snazzy cigar garden and champagne room, Dakota Manchester also boasts a destination cocktail and wine bar, a vibrant brasserie serving rich, seasonal dishes, and its latest addition, The Dakota Terrace, which offers light bites, sharing plates and brunch in style. 

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The Grand Deluxe Suite at Dakota Hotel

Matt Townley, General Manager at Dakota Manchester said: “To say we are proud is an understatement. “Dakota has established itself over the past two years as one of Manchester’s leading hotels. We opened the hotel early in 2019 with the intent to deliver the finest hospitality in the city.  Our team have delivered this with style and should be extremely proud of themselves.

“Manchester is a vibrant city with an endless offering of great bars, restaurants and hotels, so to be ranked as Trip Advisor’s top 25 in the UK and included in the top 1% worldwide, is an achievement which we are all extremely proud of.”

Townley added: “We are excited to be reopening our doors once again to welcome leisure guests back to this fantastic city and to Dakota Manchester.

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“The return of Dakota Grill is one we’ve all been looking forward to. We cannot wait to welcome guests both new and old and provide the 5-star service we are recognised for.”

Feature image – Dakota Hotel.

City Centre

The BRIT Awards is moving to Manchester for the first time in its 48-year history

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant BRITs in Manchester

The BRIT Awards is coming to Manchester.

Yes, that’s right – for the first time in its illustrious 48-year history, British music’s most prestigious awards show will be leaving the capital London and heading up to the capital of the North, as ITV has confirmed that the BRITs will be staged in Manchester for the next two years.

The iconic celebration of UK music is set to electrify Manchester’s newest – and Europe’s biggest – live entertainment arena, Co-op Live, as part of a two-year deal that’s being described as a ‘bold new chapter’ for the legendary event.

After nearly five decades in London, The BRIT Awards 2026 will take place on Saturday 28 February, broadcast exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player.

The 2027 BRIT Awards will also take place at Co-op Live.

ITV says Manchester has been chosen as the new home for the BRITs thanks to its ‘deep and rich roots in music‘, having produced scores of iconic and contemporary artists over several decades, as well as also creating dozens of cultural music moments.

Nowadays, Manchester also has a thriving independent music scene to support emerging and new talent, and this makes The BRIT Awards ‘a welcome addition to Manchester’s music legacy’, according to ITV.

The 2026 BRITs will also be the first of three years under the stewardship of Sony Music UK – who have supposedly ‘spearheaded’ the move to Manchester.

The BRIT Awards is moving to Manchester for the first time in its 48-year history / Credit: BRITs (via Press Centre)

Speaking one the announcement of The BRITs move to Manchester, Jason Iley MBE – who is the Chairman and CEO of Sony Music UK & Ireland – commented: “This is a very exciting time for The BRIT Awards. Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music.

“Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards, and I can’t wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham added: “For The BRIT Awards to move out of London is a massive coup for Greater Manchester. After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture.”

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“We thank our friends at the BPI for choosing Manchester, and we will pull out all the stops to show they made the right decision,” Andy Burnham concluded.

The BRIT Awards 2026 will take place at Co-op Live on Saturday 28 February.

Featured Image – ITV / BRITs / Co-op Live

City Centre

Manchester Day is back with a ‘mammoth day’ of music-themed FREE fun next month

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Day is making a grand return for 2025 this summer, and you can expect a day filled with loads of music-themed fun.

Oh, and it’s free fun at that… doesn’t get much better.

With a whopping 1.3 million music tourists expected in Manchester this summer – apparently a little band called Oasis is performing or something? First we’ve heard of it – and a massive lineup of live music legends set to take over venues and parks across the city these next couple of months, this year’s Manchester Day is aiming to get everyone ‘in the groove’.

Manchester City Council is working with outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank on a programme that promises something for music fans of all ages and all musical abilities.

From the English National Opera teaming up with Manchester’s football fans, to community choirs, West End show tunes, juggling drummers, hip-hop wrestling, and loads more, this year’s Manchester Day has got all musical tastes covered.

As always, activities will be taking place right across the city centre – from St Ann’s Square to Cathedral Gardens, and everywhere in between.

Organisers say there will be plenty of chances throughout the day for visitors, both young and old, to get stuck in, try their hand at making music and maybe even uncover a hidden musical talent they didn’t know they had.

You can expect strum-along ukulele sessions, spontaneous sing-alongs, dancing to a steel pan band or some surprising Ska, and the stand-out music parade event travelling from St Peter’s Square to the Cathedral, with families invited to take a ‘musical meander’ through the city streets.

Manchester Day is back with a ‘mammoth day’ of music-themed free fun next month / Credit: Manchester City Council

“We’ve got a mammoth summer of live music coming up in the city this year, which means it’s only right that we max out on the music for Manchester Day,” commented Councillor Pat Karney, who is the Chair of Manchester Day, as this year’s theme was announced.

“Everyone in Manchester loves music, Mancs have music in their bones, there’s so much talent here – we’re either making it or playing it, and that’s why everyone’s on the guest list for this year’s Manchester Day to help us celebrate the music that Mancunians make best.

“We’ve got a fantastic day lined up, so loosen up those vocal chords, grab a guitar, grab your granny, all the family, and don’t miss it.”

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Manchester Day is taking over the city centre on Saturday 15 July, and will be kicking off at midday right through to 5pm that same evening.

Featured Image – Manchester City Council

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