It’s been a long time coming… but the first images of Manchester’s newest hotel have finally been released ahead of its grand opening next month.
And it looks like a perfect place for a luxury city centre staycation, if you ask us.
Anyone walking down Princess Street in the heart of Manchester city centre over the past couple of years is likely to have seen the newest addition to lifestyle hotel brand, Malmaison’s, collection slowly taking shape – and now, the time has finally come for Malmaison Manchester Deansgate to officially open its doors at the start of next month.
Ahead of its grand opening on 1 February 2024, a selection of sneak-peak images of the new hotel have been shared, and they give the public a glimpse of what to expect once it’s up and running.
Manchester’s newest luxury hotel is finally set to open its doors next month / Credit: Malmaison Manchester Deansgate
Sat just a stone’s throw from the bustling Deansgate thoroughfare, which connects many of the city’s exciting neighbourhoods, despite its name, this four-star hotel isn’t actually on Deansgate itself, but it will, however, offer 70 rooms and suites – many of which boast views over Albert Square.
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All the interiors have been given the so-called ‘Mal Treatment’, and have taken inspiration from the city’s industrial heritage and contributions to art and music, which is aiming to “create an experience that is as bold and diverse as the city of Manchester itself”.
The bedrooms are said to pay homage to the retro designs of the 60s and 70s, and feature loads of illustrative murals with an “artistic fusion of nature motifs”.
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Malmaison Manchester Deansgate is the second Malmaison hotel in our city / Credit: Malmaison Manchester Deansgate
“Malmaison Manchester Deansgate translates themes that are so intrinsic to the story of Manchester into its design,” explained Jonathan Livesey, who is the Group Development Director at Malmaison & Hotel du Vin ahead of the hotel’s opening in a couple of weeks time.
Hungry for more?
As well as the stunning rooms and suites, the brand-new signature restaurant, Malmaison Bar & Grill, will also be able to seat 114 guests, and is set to serve a stylish fusion grill menu that offers contemporary takes on classic and seasonal dishes, alongside a curated wine list and bar menu.
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Manchester Deansgate will also be home to Malmaison’s second SORA rooftop bar and restaurant in the UK, with an intimate terrace that overlooks the historic Manchester Town Hall.
The new four-star hotel looks like the perfect place for a luxury staycation / Credit: Malmaison Manchester Deansgate
Hotel guests and diners can mix and match small plates from a selection of sushi, Robatayaki, and Pan-Asian fusion style tapas dishes, all while sipping signature cocktails and taking in the striking views of the city as the sun sets.
Manchester Deansgate will be Malmaison’s 18th hotel in its ever-expanding UK portfolio, and the second here in Manchester city centre itself.
Rooms are now available to book, and you can find out prices and more information about the new hotel ahead of its opening on the Malmaison Manchester Deansgate website here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Travel & Tourism
Urgent travel warning issued ahead of one of Manchester’s busiest event weekends of the year
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester is gearing up for what is set to be one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Manchester‘s biggest music festival, Parklife, returns to Heaton Park this weekend (Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June), with tens of thousands of people expected to make the journey to see headliners Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, Skepta, and Zara Larsson, as well as many other well-known music names… but that’s not all.
Over at the Etihad Stadium, Take That are set to perform a series of shows across the weekend, while the Etihad Campus will also host the Women’s Netball Final at Co-op Live from 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
The city will also welcome Lily Allen and the B52s across three nights at the AO Arena, and the Women’s Cricket World Cup will draw thousands to Emirates Old Trafford on 21 June, when South Africa take on India.
So, as you can see, we’ve got a jam-packed couple of days coming up.
📣 This weekend is expected to be one of the busiest in Manchester, with multiple events taking place across the city.
🚗 Public transport, roads and venues are likely to be extremely busy.
🕛 If you’re travelling anywhere this weekend, please plan ahead and allow extra time… pic.twitter.com/iqtmlSpAOR
In fact, it’s estimated that more than a quarter of a million people are expected to be travelling to the various events over the weekend, and of course, this means the roads and public transport will be significantly busier than usual.
Whether you’re one of the many fans or just making a regular journey, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is advising everyone to ‘plan ahead’, allow extra time for their journey, and avoid the busiest areas and times.
To prepare for the increase in travel, TfGM has confirmed that there will be more trams serving event venues, alongside extended tram operating times, to ensure everyone gets home safely.
For travel to and from Parklife, the specific Parklife travel ticket – which will be available on the Bee Network app – is valid on trams and buses across Greater Manchester, and this includes relevant shuttle buses operating to and from the city centre.
An urgent travel warning has been issued ahead of one of Manchester’s busiest event weekends of the year / Credit: Steve Turvey (Supplied) | TfGM
Throughout the weekend, extra staff and TravelSafe Support Officers will be out and about across the transport network to help passengers, and TfGM will be working closely with police and other partners to manage roads and the transport network around the clock.
“We’re expecting it to be very busy across the network, with more than a quarter of a million fans travelling to various sports and music events,” commented Danny Vaughn, who is the Chief Network Officer at TfGM.
“We will have as many staff as possible on the network, running as many services as we can to ensure that the Bee Network is here to help you get where you need to go.
“So, for everyone looking to get out and about, please plan ahead, check the Bee Network app for updates and have a safe journey.”
A dedicated travel page for this weekend’s event has been set up, so you can find out everything you need to know and get live updates on the Bee Network website here.
Featured Image – TfGM
Travel & Tourism
The simple hack that can save healthcare workers money on their holidays
Danny Jones
With cost-of-living pressure ever-present in the background of most everyday lives, finding some spare pennies for a getaway feels more difficult than ever, and if there’s anyone who deserves discounts on a holiday, it’s healthcare workers.
That’s why, when we became aware of the simple hack that can save those working in healthcare services money on holidays, we thought we’d help spread the word.
We’re sure lots of you working within the sector already know plenty about this booking strategy, but for anyone who doesn’t, how do you fancy saving up to half a grand on your next jolly?
With searches for ‘holiday voucher code’ up by 73% on Google, and even the likes of TikTok seeing ‘money saving tips’ up by 45%, travel agency TUI have decided to team up with the Health Service Discounts platform for 2026.
Providing those who work for the NHS with a ‘Holidays for Heroes’ (HfH) access code on various popular peak-season trips, this exclusive discount can be added on top of all other seasonal TUI deals, including the company’s ‘First Choice’ package holidays.
With the HfH code alone guaranteeing workers an extra £100 off their bookings, play your cards right, and you could get up to £200 in total discounts overall.
How to access the healthcare ‘Holidays for Heroes’ deal
Separate from standard Blue Light card savings, here’s how it works, and don’t worry, it’s all very simple:
Ella Foden-Lynch, Partnerships Manager at Health Service Discounts, said in a statement: “Getting away is vital for wellbeing, especially for those in high-stress roles.
“With travel costs rising, affordable breaks are becoming harder to find, but by using discounts on flights, accommodation, and car hire, key workers can still enjoy quality time away. It’s not always about luxury; it’s about making rest and recovery realistic.”
So, for those of you healthcare heroes looking for a well-deserved break, we urge you to find an affordable holiday that suits you very soon. With cheaper airport pints also inbound later this year, here’s hoping you save even more spends for when you’re away.
Emily Sergeant -
11th January 2024 
