Staycity Aparthotels Manchester Northern Quarter

There are rows of tents outside now, and it's sad to see what's happening to the area. It feels like a refugee camp. This used to be a nice hotel, and I hope things turn around in future.

I believe this is now private only, and that the government has booked the entire hotel. There seems to be a lot of dealing outside.

The kitchenette and amazing king-size bed made this a nice blend of apartment and hotel. I was travelling for work and wasn't sure what to expect, but the staff looked after me from arrival through checkout. Sharon deserves a special mention: even while on probation, she was so helpful and accommodating, and seeing her smiling face whenever I returned made the trip feel extra special. I'm sure she'll pass probation with flying colours. If you stay, say hello to her. My first room looked onto other rooms, so I asked to move. They were happy to help, and the slightly smaller replacement had an incredible view of Manchester. I'd stay again in a heartbeat, for work or pleasure. One thing to know: guests need to be registered with reception at least 24 hours in advance, though there's no extra charge.

The room was bright, clean, open and a great place to unwind, and the location was perfect for the gig I was in town for. We had a look around before going out to explore, then ordered food when we got back. The plates in the room came in handy. Check-in was a rough start. The receptionist looked devastated when we arrived, spoke to me like I was an idiot when I checked whether we were in the right place, and went back to her game after handing over the key. She took a £100 deposit I hadn't known about, though luckily I could afford it, then charged the full amount. She also stopped us to point out, "unfortunately you have not" booked breakfast. The pillows were awful, hard and thin. A Yellow Pages phone book would've been more comfortable. We barely slept and ended up using the sofa pillows, which were still hard, just a little less punishing. If you only take one thing from this review, bring your own pillows.