ibis budget Manchester Centre Pollard Street

The room was clean and cosy, and the bed was comfortable. For the price, that was good, but the stay was dragged down by how much they charged for basic things. A tray with a selection for making tea cost £3.50, and it was a pretty laughable selection. There were only paper cups, no mugs or glasses. The toilet paper was genuinely awful, coarse and like the stuff from schools in the 90s. The shower was very slippery without a bathmat, and apparently they had mats, but you had to ask for one. The TV ports were covered, so I couldn’t connect a laptop to watch Netflix or anything else, just Freeview. I don’t know why they’d do that. I’m not necessarily upset with the stay, and it was satisfactory otherwise, but it had a vaguely uncomfortable nickel and diming feel. The price was great, but bad toilet paper, paying just to make tea in the room, and not being able to use the TV as I wanted marred it.

The staff seemed friendly and helpful, and we didn’t hear traffic noise from the third floor. For an overnight stay, the hotel gave us what we needed, and I’m sure I’ll come back for another weekend away. It’s a budget place, so don’t arrive expecting glam. The location worked well for us: about a 15-minute walk to the city, or a straight 15-minute walk to the Etihad for a game. There’s a tram stop three minutes from the stadium. We didn’t park at the station, as I’d read reviews saying cars had been broken into there for no apparent reason. Instead we used Q parking at Piccadilly, a 10-minute walk away, for £17 for 24 hours. The room had the basics, including towels, soap and water cups. The heating was a blessing with it at -2 outside, and you can control it yourself. The pillows were a bit soft for me, so ask for a second if you’re particular. If you’re sharing with friends or kids, get comfortable quickly: the toilet and shower aren’t private. I’m 6ft 3 and my knees kept the toilet door open, much to my son’s delight. The shower is next to the bed too.

Everything worked well on my first stay, and I couldn’t fault the staff. The breakfast was remarkably consistent in quality across the different options. The hotel’s a short walk from the NQ, which I love, with a tram stop around the corner and a very nice bar restaurant next to a Londis shop. I’ll stay again.

The room was spotless, the beds really comfortable, and the tram makes it just one quick stop into Manchester Central. After a long trip and a gig, we were grateful to arrange a later checkout. As parents of two young children, it was a real treat. I slept until midday for the first time in years, which says it all! We travelled a long way and Peter welcomed us. He was fantastic, friendly and helpful, and gave great customer service. We had a great stay at the ibis budget Manchester and would definitely come back. Thank you!