Travel & Tourism

You can now stay at the cosy and historic Smithy Lodge in Heaton Park

The perfect winter getaway situated just on the outskirts of Manchester.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 14th December 2022

Is the frosty weather making you long to wrap up in a cosy winter setting somewhere like you’re the main character in a Christmas movie? Let us introduce you to the Smithy Lodge in Heaton Park.

Nestled against a treeline in Manchester’s beloved Heaton Park, home of festive favourite Lightopia and, of course, the legendary Parklife festival, is the historic Smithy Lodge, a quaint little cottage perfect for living out your Cameron Diaz in The Holiday fantasy.

Seriously though, this beautiful Grade II listed building dates all the way back to 1806 – named after a local blacksmith’s workshop situated nearby on Middleton Road – is one of the most picturesque little hideaways that we’ve come across in Manchester.

Cut to today and the lodge is now a luxury two-floor space that makes for an ideal staycation for those who want to get out of the city but don’t want to travel too far.

Smithy Lodge facilities
Credit: Hoseasons

Sleeping four people and having quickly become a popular site for couples getaways, the Smithy Lodge not only feels like a blast back through time but the pristine, traditional and fundamentally rural surround makes it feel like a high-end experience that few other Manchester hotel stays can offer.

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Complete with all the modern amenities you need as well as private parking, an electric car charging station and nearby access to the golf course combines English heritage with the expected hallmarks of modern city break culture.

Better still, if you’re travelling from out of town and still looking to head into the city centre or any of Greater Manchester‘s surrounding boroughs, the Heaton Park tram stop is just across the park.

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This former octagonal gatehouse might be a little bit more updated and mod-con than Hagrid’s Hut but it’s definitely giving us the same cosy winter vibes.

You can stay overnight in a replica of Hagrid’s Hut from Harry Potter

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It goes without saying that one of the lodge’s main selling points is having Heaton Park, with its long stretches of open fields and serene lakes all on your doorstep. Say no more.

Prices currently start from £289 but this number obviously changes depending on popularity and the season, with rooms often selling out rather quickly.

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You can check availability at the Smithy Lodge HERE and two festive slots are still free if you’re looking for a last-minute winter getaway this holiday season.

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

Featured Image — Hoseasons/Wikimedia Commons

Travel & Tourism

One of Manchester’s largest hotels has reopened after an ‘extensive’ £33m renovation

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of the largest hotels in Manchester city centre has now reopened its doors to the public following an “extensive” £33 million renovation.

A new chapter is officially underway for Manchester‘s Marriott Hotel in Piccadilly.

Conveniently located next to Manchester Piccadilly train station, and what is a world-class and ever-popular urban neighbourhood in Mayfield, the Piccadilly Marriott hotel is the second Marriott hotel in the city centre, and following its wide-scale refurbishment, the new premises now offers “a contemporary destination for travellers“.

A stunning bistro-style restaurant and bar, a large function room, 11 meeting rooms, a 24/7 ‘MClub’ lounge, a state-of-the-art gym, and an Elemis spa with six treatment rooms and a thermal suite, can all be found inside the new hotel.

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly has now reopened following a £33m refurbishment / Credit: Supplied

Known as the largest four-star hotel in the city centre, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly boasts 338 “generous” bedrooms spread across eight floors with “unparalleled comfort” and interior design that gives a nod to the neighbourhood’s industrial and music heritage.

The biggest standard-sized rooms in Manchester, 16 ‘Panoramic Suites’, and a selection of family rooms, are just some of the accommodation options the hotel now offers.

As well as the rooms, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly is also considered to be one of the best hotels in the city for both corporate and social events, with meeting rooms, function rooms, and more all on site, and now, thanks to the recent renovations, these refurbished spaces all include the latest in digital screen technology, audio-visual equipment, high-speed WiFi, and air conditioning.

The 338-room hotel is now one of the largest in Manchester city centre following the “extensive refurbishment” / Credit: Supplied

The new hotel is also home to Manchester’s only Marriott brand exclusive, MClub Lounge – which is a unique club lounge space designed to be the perfect place to relax, socialise, or meet for business.

The hotel’s stunning new spa is also described as being a “haven of wellness”, as it boasts six treatment rooms in partnership with award-winning British skincare brand, Elemis.

The stunning new premises now offers “a contemporary destination for travellers” / Credit: Supplied

Speaking as the new hotel opens its doors this week, Stephen Rycroft, who is the General Manager of Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly, commented: “We are excited to be part of this launch, bringing the flagship Marriott brand to this grand hotel, as it’s grand in both innovative design and size, making it the largest hotel in Manchester city centre.

“Our team is committed to providing exceptional experiences for both business and leisure guests alike.”

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Prices for rooms at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly start from just £129 per night, and you can find out more and book online here.

Featured Image – Supplied

Travel & Tourism

Classical music will be played at Northern train stations to ‘deter anti-social behaviour’

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Classical music is to be played at dozens of train stations across the North in a bid to “deter anti-social behaviour”.

It may not be the first tactic you’d think of if you were trying to ward off trouble and prevent it from happening again in the future, but after a successful trial was conducted at 35 train stations in Greater Manchester and across the North back in 2022, Northern has now announced that “classical music is here to stay”.

After noticing a rise in incidents of anti-social behaviour, the train operator orchestrated a plan to play music inspired by the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, and Handel at nine stations.

Following this, it was then introduced at another 26 stations last year.

As part of the trial aimed at “preventing loitering, vandalism, and graffiti”, the teams at the participating stations would play the classical music at certain times of the day that were identified or often associated with incidents of anti-social behaviour, but would make sure to control the volume so it didn’t disturb local residents.

Classical music will be played at Northern train stations to ‘deter anti-social behaviour’ / Credit: Northern

During the initial trial, the music was played at stations in Billingham, Shildon, Heighington, North Road, Orrell, Keighley, Hyde North, Ilkley, and Newton Aycliffe.

The following year, it was rolled out at Beverley, Birchwood, Bryn, Cottingham, Cross Gates, Fitzwilliam, Flimby, Halewood, Haltwhistle, Hattersley, Levenshulme, Lostock Gralam, Maryport, Mill Hill, Newton for Hyde, Penistone, Rainhill, Sowerby Bridge, Sunderland, Ulverston, Wetheral, Whiston, Nunthorpe, Seaton Carew, Stockton, and Seaham.

When the trail proved to be successful, passengers apparently “called for an encore” as they claimed the music made them feel safer at participating stations, because large groups had stopped gathering there on a regular basis to “cause a nuisance” – particularly during the school holidays.

It follows successful trials carried out at 35 stations in 2022 and 2023 / Credit: gov.uk

“We’re pleased to have found an innovative and effective way of deterring anti-social behaviour,” commented Tricia Williams, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Northern.

“Following the successful trial, we will continue playing classical music at these stations and look to introduce it at others in the coming months, as we want all of our customers to feel safe and secure when they travel.

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“This approach, along with other investment we are making, is working well.”

Featured Image – Jonny Walton (via Northern)

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