INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester

We stay here often because the location works so well for us. This visit, Igor recognised us as regulars and welcomed us in a way that made us feel valued. He's interested and warm without being intrusive or patronising, and a real credit to the team. The other staff have always been pleasant, though we haven't usually felt that same sense of being valued. One bit of feedback: the pillows are very thin and the mattresses feel rather hard. Maybe those could be improved.

The room layout is unusual, with the bathroom open to the rest of the room. It does make the toilet feel a little cupboard-like, but it didn't really take away from the stay. The sauna could've been hotter, and sadly the steam room wasn't working when I was there. Still, this is a modern, comfortable hotel in a great central spot, especially handy for the convention centre. Having the fitness centre, sauna and steam room included feels almost too good to be true, and the value for what you get is excellent. I had a superb stay, can't think of much to fault, and this will be my first choice when I'm back in Manchester.

Ian greeted me on Wednesday evening and made a lovely first impression. He was warm, welcoming and helpful, so thank you, Ian. The room was spacious and well equipped. We also had a very nice meal at Gino Di Campo, with lovely presentation and fantastic service from the staff. Breakfast was good too. Thanks, guys 😎🤛

We made the most of the culture nearby, including the imperial war museum, a canal cruise down ship canal, the science and industry museum and the Manchester art gallery with all the Lowris. Lots to see, and much of it was free. It was a great break, even if our timing meant being there on St Patrick's day when Manchester City were playing. The hotel is well placed for the city centre, transport, canals and good pubs. We took the free bus from Piccadilly railway station, though it's about a 20-minute walk otherwise. The room was a good size with city views. Free water and soft drinks, plus a silent fridge, were nice touches. The open-plan bathroom is quirky and the shower wasn't great; ladies, bring a shower cap and a decent hairdryer 😉. As other reviews mention, the layout won't suit every situation, though it was fine for us as a couple. We Brits do like a bit of privacy, so bear that in mind with the Melia influence here. Restaurant staff were very good, but the prices felt inflated for the quality.