Feature

The boutique Manchester hotel quietly boasting the most serene spa in the city

It’s the ultimate sanctuary in the heart of town

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 11th April 2025

King Street Townhouse is widely considered to be one of Manchester’s very best hotels, famed for its elegant interiors and bespoke, boutique feel. 

It’s also home to one of the city’s best spas, which offers a serene sanctuary right in the heart of the city centre.

King Street Townhouse’s ESPA Spa offers everything you need to unwind, from deeply relaxing massages to skin-reviving facials. 

These exclusive ESPA treatments have been designed to ‘melt away stress and restore your glow’. 

And you don’t have to carve out an entire day to enjoy this relaxation haven either – there are several different packages to choose from, starting from a Sunset Escape geared towards corporate guests or just an after-work recharge. 

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Imagine leaving your desk and heading straight to the beautiful King Street Townhouse spa, ready to slip away from the day and unwind.

Or booking yourself a full day away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, including de-stressing in the thermal suites. 

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There are also hotel and spa packages, for those who want to plan a full overnight escape in the hotel’s luxurious accommodation. 

The beautiful spa and gym at King Street Townhouse hotel in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
The beautiful spa and gym at King Street Townhouse hotel in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
The beautiful spa at King Street Townhouse hotel in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

Advanced and cutting-edge treatments at the King Street Townhouse spa include HydraFacials, LED Light Salon, and the Natural Facelift Facial. 

Inside the spa, which is open daily from 7am until 7pm, you’ll find thermal facilities like a Himalayan salt cave, eucalyptus steam room, rainfall shower, ice fountain, heated loungers and a sauna.

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And for those who want to bring this level of luxury relaxation to their everyday lives, there are even memberships available. 

With limited numbers, you’ll be able to enjoy the King Street Townhouse’s incredible facilities without ever feeling crowded. 

These exclusive memberships come with loads of special perks, like complimentary spa treatments, PT sessions, discounts across the hotel, unlimited access to the gym, birthday gifts, guest passes and plenty more. 

The beautiful spa and gym at King Street Townhouse hotel in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
The boutique gym at King Street Townhouse in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

Elsewhere in the hotel, there’s a stunning, boutique gym equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and machines. 

The King Street Townhouse gym and spa will look after your body, mind and soul. 

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It’s all ready and waiting at King Street Townhouse – head HERE to book your relaxation today. 

Memberships at King Street Townhouse

  • Fitness membership – unlimited gym and classes, in addition to a complimentary 60-minute PT session, member-pricing on the spa, and complimentary access to in-house events (e.g. Yoga & Brunch on the Terrace)
  • Gym & Spa Membership – includes all the above, plus unlimited use of spa thermal facilities, four complimentary guest passes, and complimentary room upgrades in the hotel.
  • Signature Membership – includes all the above, plus a complimentary 60-minute spa treatment, eight complimentary guest passes, complimentary hire of the hotel’s private cinema, and more.

Read more: The best, biggest and boujiest hotels in Manchester city centre

Featured image: Supplied

Feature

Gig review | Catfish at Heaton Park, Manchester – are the Bottlemen properly back?

Danny Jones Danny Jones Catfish and the Bottlemen gig review Heaton Park Manchester 2025

10 months on from their last gig and more than a year since they officially ended their hiatus, Catfish and the Bottlemen finally returned to Manchester for a sold-out show at Heaton Park, and while the reviews online have been mixed, we had a blast heading back to the fields again.

Making their Manc comeback just hours before this year’s Parklife Festival got underway, the beloved Welsh band had stirred lots of worry leading up to the day itself and, in truth, even in the moments leading up to (and after) their stage time.

Apart from their huge headline slot at Reading and Leeds, 2024 was the year of cancellations and controversy, so their fans had plenty of reason to be concerned. Nevertheless, we had faith and kept our spirits high, especially with the weather holding out.

Local legends and indie rock veterans James certainly helped on that front, delighting both die-hards watching from up on the hill and younger gig-goers who may have only heard a few of the big hits like ‘Sit Down’ – though they certainly didn’t heed that message, there was merely jumping up and down.

james catfish and the bottlemen heaton park support set
Some great computer-generated imagery backdropped the set.
catfish heaton park reviews
We watched this thing like a hawk.
You can read our recent interview with them HERE. (Credit: Audio North)

Once the main support act had wrapped up their pretty perfectly timed set, we’ll admit, standing on that grass felt like an eternity, especially considering Catfish had us waiting an extra 15 minutes beyond their expected arrival at Heaton Park.

You could call it fashionably late, but in this case, it saw several people around us uttering, ‘they’re not coming on any time soon’, and some even beginning to walk off.

However, they did eventually arrive just over a quarter of an hour past schedule, and the eruption of cheers from the crowd and a fair few screams from those nearest the barrier signalled what summed up the entire night: we were just so happy to have them back.

Even more notably, in fact, the boys themselves looked to be equally as buzzing, with bassist Benji Blakeway and ever-charismatic frontman Van McCann embracing each other before the opener and the latter flashing that familiar grin all night long.

We’ve heard people debating the sound quality and taking issue with parts of Van’s performance, but we’ll just leave this here and let you decide for yourselves:

One thing’s for sure: the energy was immaculate from start to finish.

From kicking things off with ‘Longshot’ for a limb-worthy intro, to hearing a fully acoustic version of ‘Hourglass’ as the lead singer stood alone on the dramatically lit main stage, soon to be followed up by a plethora of Parklife acts, we’d wager you they’ll remain a tough act to follow all weekend.

Other highlights included an entire park’s worth of people belting every word to ‘Kathleen’, ‘Fallout’, ‘Pacifier’ and pretty much every track they played, as well Van having the crowd repeat the chorus of ‘Cocoon’ as he hung up his guitar from the stand to deliver an ice-old mic drop.

We would’ve loved to hear a fuller set filled with the extended live versions of ‘Oxygen’, ‘Heathrow’ and ‘Glasgow’ too, especially given how many sections of pure instrumentation felt like they were going to transition into another track, but you can’t have everything, I guess.

manchester and the bottlemen flag
Inflatable crocodiles and cracking flags
van mccann manchester heaton park
Credit: The Manc Group
catfish and the bottlemen photos
Eyes and arms wide open
We’re here to urge you not to be drawn in by TikTok reviews – as far as we’re concerned, Catfish were made to headline Heaton Park.

Sure, there might have been a few minor fluffed vocal notes and slightly over-lengthy solos here and there, but after all, it’s a rock show: we want a bit of mess.

The same goes for Van McCann himself, too; we worry that people are starting to forget what a proper rockstar is, and we’re not talking about contriving some kind of Hollywood lifestyle, but certainly getting lost in the music and trashing your guitar so hard that your face is draped in nothing but hair and sweat? Absolutely.

All in all, we think Catfish and the Bottlemen‘s massive outdoor show at Manchester’s Heaton Park and de facto ‘comeback after the last comeback’ was a triumph and even when they’re not absolutely 10/10, they’re still bloody good value live.

As for the question of ‘are they back?’ We think so and certainly hope that ‘Showtime’ wasn’t just released as a way of signalling fans to come along for one last ride before the final curtain call.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Audio North

Feature

Gig review | Lionel Richie leaves Manchester dancing on the ceiling after Co-op Live debut

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

American multi-hyphenate Lionel Richie paid Manchester a visit last night and gave the 23,500 fans in the crowd all of his ‘Endless Love’.

Richie needs no explanation, being a household name, this artist had the crowd in the palm of his hands as soon as he stepped foot onto the stage, just like he has been doing since he burst onto the music scene over 50 years ago. 

When you’re about to watch a legend strut his stuff in various tailcoats ‘All Night Long (All Night)’, you know you’re in for a mini workout.

We tried out Co-op Live’s Backstage Club before the show to fuel up with a pizza and grab a drink to ensure that we could dance ‘All Night Long (All Night) as much as the main man himself. 

Drinks at the Co-op Live Backstage Club, Manchester.
‘Breezy like a Sunday Morning’.
Co-op Live Backstage Club, offers the perfect pre-gig experience.
Soaking up the fun at Co-op Live’s Backstage Club.
Co-op Live Backstage Club, offers the perfect pre-gig experience.
You really do get the VIP treatment.
Credit: Audio North

As well as boasting an intimate area with music history covering all four walls, this location had a photobooth, pool table, its own merchandise vendor and a live band.

For tonight’s show, it was only right that the band soundtracking Co-op Live’s Backstage Club were aptly named The Pennies and the signature drinks were equally fitting, ‘Say You, Say G&T’ and a cocktail offering labelled, ‘Breezy like a Sunday Morning’. 

Glasgow solo star Brooke Combe – a favourite of ours from past Neighbourhood Festivals – gave the crowd our first taste of music for the night, playing highlights of her debut album ‘Dancing at the Edge of the World’, which only dropped back in January.

Her songs ooze soul, from the infectious ‘Shaken by the Wind’ to the instantly catchy ‘The Last Time’ and fan favourite, ‘Are You With Me?’. Combe’s stage presence was nothing short of contagious.

It’s no surprise, really, considering she’s already practised and perfected her craft at Glastonbury back in 2022 among countless other massive slots. Make sure you catch her the next time she’s in Manchester.

The legendary performer knew he had to kick things off in true Lionel Richie style, it’s only obligatory that he opened the show with his greeting-titled hit ‘Hello’.

Lionel Richie at Co-op Live Manchester, left us dancing on the ceiling
Lionel welcoming fans with ‘Hello’ and being greeted with equally impressive roars from the crowd.
Lionel Richie at Co-op Live Manchester, left us dancing on the ceiling
Richie slowing it down for a moment, performing Commodores classic, ‘Easy’.
Credit: The Manc Group

As the chorus approached, the American superstar hailed “Hello” and the audience immediately exclaimed in synch, “Is it me you’re looking for?”.  

Social media might’ve been non-existent when the performer first reached our ears, but this didn’t stop Lionel Richie from inadvertently turning last night into a mini ‘Throwback Thursday’ playing his 1977 Commodores swooner ‘Easy’.

If you had told me that Lionel Richie would directly address me and my brother mid-performance, I would’ve laughed in your face, but last night the star adopted the both of us. Life complete.

The American singer came up the catwalk, soaking up all the cheers and love from the Co-op Live crowd, and then pointed directly at me and my brother and gave us a little shoutout.

Before playing the anthem that is ‘We are the World’, Mr. Richie expressed, “Alright, I’ll just tell ‘em” before admitting to the whole arena, “These are my cousins right here”.

I guess when we sang “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” earlier in the show, it really was me (and my brother) he was looking for.

Just like his opening track, the final slot also has its fixed placement in Richie’s setlist; of course, that song is none other than the essential party number, ‘All Night Long (All Night)’.

Richie recites the line, “We’re going to party, Karamu, fiesta, forever”, and the crowd understood the assignment as by the time he sang, “Come on and sing along / All night long”, everyone was up.

This tune is nothing less than cathartic, and for the five minutes it played, everyone was side-stepping, swaying, singing, dancing, not a single inhibition in sight. 

Lionel Richie might know his way around writing smash hits and commanding a crowd, but it’s the audience’s joy for the music that made this concert such a special night.

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Lionel Richie at Co-op Live Manchester, left us dancing on the ceiling
Did we tell you? Lionel Richie called us his cousins.
Lionel Richie at Co-op Live Manchester, left us dancing on the ceiling
Richie amidst a flurry of flashlights from the Manc crowd.
Credit: The Manc

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – The Manc Group  

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