A stylish new aparthotel is opening in Manchester city centre, with new images released of the Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly.
With 155 modern studios and one-bedroom apartments sprawled over 12 floors, it promises to be ‘the first aparthotel of its kind in Northern England’.
The pet-friendly rooms come with perks like well-equipped kitchens, smart TVs, and views of the city skyline.
Set to open in May, the new longer-stay hotel will be located on Laystall Street, between Piccadilly Station, Ancoats, and the Northern Quarter.
The Residence Inn by Marriott will be Marriott International’s first extended stay property in the north of England, but the fifth Residence Inn property in the UK (the others being in London and Scotland).
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There’ll be a mix of sleek and spacious studios and one-bedroom suites, 25 of which will offer baths. More than half the rooms will have sofa beds, designed for younger visitors or groups.
Residence Inn by Marriott Residence Inn by Marriott The lounge at Residence Inn by Marriott The restaurant spaceResidence Inn by Marriott The bedroomsInside an apartmentResidence Inn by Marriott
The rooms and communal areas will be decorated in warm, neutral tones and come with a fully functional kitchen, including microwaves, single ovens, two-ring hobs, refrigerators and dishwashers, and cookware. They also all have Smart-TVs.
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Self-service communal laundry facilities are available on site and open at all times, with other communal areas including lounge areas, outdoor seating areas, and a coffee shop with a grab-and-go section.
When it comes to food, you can start your day with a delicious complimentary breakfast or make use of their bespoke grocery delivery service.
Residence Inn by Marriott will have a 24-hour fitness centre, with high-spec cardio, resistance and free weight areas.
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Two retail spaces have been incorporated into the building’s design, which are independently accessible from the hotel and are available to let.
Residence Inn Manchester Piccadilly general manager, Mustapha Henini said: “We are incredibly excited for the opening of Residence Inn in Manchester Piccadilly. This city is inviting, and our new hotel offers the perfect space for those looking for a spacious stay.”
PHH UK Advisor, Morris Katri, said: “The Ancoats and Piccadilly areas have seen significant redevelopment and investment over recent years, with Residence Inn set to add to the offering available further.
“This hotel will enhance the community with its unique long stay offering and beautiful interiors, plus bring more jobs to the area, boosting the centre’s economic growth.”
Andy Burnham calls for ‘efficient and reliable’ public transport as he slams Northern rail services
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has called for an ‘efficient and reliable’ public transport system as he slams Northern’s rail services for being ‘not good enough’.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester has been vocal about his condemning views of rail travel across Greater Manchester and the North West over the past couple of years, notably calling for widespread reforms across the board, and particularly taking aim at Avanti’s running of the West Coast Main Line – especially as regular delays and cancellations have become commonplace for many.
But now, Mr Burnham, along with a handful of other Mayors across the North, have written to the Government to highlight poor performance by Northern.
This comes after Mr Burnham called an emergency meeting of the Rail North Committee last Wednesday, which saw regional mayors and leaders seek “immediate assurances” from Northern after a spate of cancellations, overcrowding of services, and ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings on Sundays.
Greater Manchester now regularly sees between 30% and 40% of its services cancelled on Sundays, and in many cases, no replacement bus services or alternative travel methods have been provided.
Andy Burnham has called for ‘efficient and reliable’ public transport across the north / Credit: TfGM
The Committee members said they fear that, without intervention, the situation could get worse, and ultimately affect confidence amongst shoppers and travellers as we head into the busiest time of year.
“The situation must be reversed in the interest of passengers and the region’s businesses, especially those in the retail and hospital sectors,” the Committee concluded.
Some of the topics discussed in the Committee meeting were the fact that, within the past week alone, with it being half term for many in the region, a total of 1,600 trains were cancelled across the network, and there was a lack of mitigations in place, such as ticket acceptance with other operators, when this happened.
Infrastructure challenges, high staff sickness levels, and Northern’s reliance on staff working on rest days was also discussed.
Last night, there were widespread cancellations of @northernassist services causing chaos at stations.
It can’t go on.
Following a special Rail North Committee, I have written to the Chancellor to ask that a pending agreement on rest day working is approved as soon as possible.
“Efficient and reliable public transport is a critical enabler of economic growth,” Mr Burnham said.
“What we heard from Northern at the meeting of the Rail North Committee was not good enough for residents and businesses across the north. That is why, on behalf of the Rail North Committee, I have written to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State to urge them to support us to bring the service back to an acceptable level.”
Mr Burnham concluded that “significant modernisation” is needed by Northern if they are to match the Committee’s ambitions for growth.
Featured Image – Northern
Travel & Tourism
This Manchester hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package for pets to help keep them calm
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most luxurious hotels is transforming into the ultimate pet refuge again over the firework season.
Bonfire Night is loved across the UK for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that go along with it, but the November annual event isn’t so fun for our four-legged friends, as fireworks can be frightening to pets due to loud bangs, flashing lights, and the unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives.
With multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays too, pets are rarely able to pinpoint where the booming explosions are coming from, only making it more terrifying for them.
This is why, after becoming a huge success following its launch last year, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the heart of the city centre has brought back its special ‘Bonfire Night Escape’ escape package, turning the already pet-friendly hotel into a firework-free sanctuary.
The hotel‘s year-round ‘PAWfect Stay’ package includes any dog staying at no extra cost, plus a pet tuckbox, a guide to the best dog-friendly places in the city, and a toy waiting for them in the room, but this fireworks season, pet owners will also get a luxury hamper including Pet Remedy’s ‘Party Season Survival Kit’
The kit comes together with a range of fast-acting products to help immediately in stressful situations such as fireworks, and includes calming spray, a plug diffuser, and some calming wipes too.
On top of that, dog owners can also take advantage of the hotel’s Music Concierge service, which allows guests to request a record player and vinyls to be placed in the room ahead of check in – with lots of classical and relaxing music records available to distract anxious pets from the noise of Bonfire Night celebrations.
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package to help keep pets calm / Credit: Elisha Terada (via Unsplash)
The award-winning The Refuge Bar and Restaurant inside the hotel also offers a menu of carefully-curated dog treats throughout the week, as well as doggy Sunday roasts all Sunday.
David Lockhart, who is the General Manager at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, said he likes to think of the hotel as a “home-away-from-home for our guests”.
“Our top priority is making sure everyone is feeling safe and comfortable,” he added. “We can’t wait to welcome our November guests and help them care for their four-legged family members, giving them everything they need.”
The Bonfire Night Escape package at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is available to book from Friday 1 November, subject to availability, and you can request the package via the hotel concierge or by emailing [email protected] to book.
Daisy Jackson -
28th March 2023 
