INNSIDE Manchester

The hotel is a really striking and bold design. A brand-new build which opened in May 2015, INNSIDE Manchester was the first in a series of organisations to come to the developed First Street area of Manchester city centre and since opening it has won some really nice awards including ‘MEN’s Manchester’s Coolest Hotel’ and the Downtown In Business ‘Hotel of the Year’ in 2017/18.

One thing that will strike you is the vibrant red paintwork on the outside of the building, which makes it easily recognisable from most of the city. As you enter the hotel, you are hit with lots of contemporary features in the very cool lobby and some really nice front of house staff, who made me feel very welcome. What’s not to love?

The stylish bar & restaurant 'Street on First' is just beyond the lobby, with the bar having plenty of seating and tables where you can chill out or catch up on a bit of work. The restaurant lies beyond it and is very contemporary, with the whole area flooded with natural light due to the FLOOR to ceiling windows that dominate the whole building.

One other thing that struck me in this area is the provision of DJ booth in the corner – but more of that later!

Parking: Although there isn't an official car park, hotel guests can receive a 25% discount from the nearby 'Q Park' which is less than a minute's walk away from the hotel - its located directly in the First Street development. It is super convenient.

Coach / Bus Pick-up Location at hotel: If you need to load or unload your group for an offsite dinner, coaches can pull up directly on the paved area outside the hotel, with the hotel being able to take down the bollards outside the hotel to allow access. There is also an area for the coach to park at the rear of the hotel if it needs to wait for your group. Very useful.

Number of bedrooms: 208

Bedrooms:
There are three different types of bedrooms at the INNSIDE Manchester:

167 x King / Twin guest rooms
33 x Premium guest rooms
8 x Lifestyle suites

I stayed in a king guest room and I was really taken by the design of it - I really enjoy rooms like this. The bathroom was integrated into the room in a really nice and stylish way - the sink is actually located in the bathroom area of this open plan room, with the toilet and shower having their own separate cubicles. Because of this, the room has a really nice open plan feel. Throughout all the bedrooms in the property, one thing that strikes you is how bright they are, with masses of natural light flooding into all the rooms due to the floor to ceiling windows everywhere. I love this in a hotel.

Other really great design touches were the discreetly hidden wardrobe next to the door and a plug socket placed into each side of the bed's headboard – a really clever and discreet way of solving a practical issue.

Another nice touch was that the mini bar, whose contents are complimentary in all rooms, providing water and a few soft drinks in this level of room and slightly more in the upgrades.

Number of floors: 10

Business centre: Yes on the first floor

Wi-fi: Yes, free hi speed access throughout. Log in code provided at reception and written on your key card wallet – access was simple and quick and the signal seemed to be strong everywhere in the hotel. Private networks can be set up for your groups if required too.

Fitness gym: There is a 24 hour 'Wellness Suite' in the hotel which is well stocked with equipment for you to use whilst here – including: cross trainer, rowing machine, abdominal bench, free weights, treadmill, yoga mats and swiss balls

Spa: Also in the Wellness Suite, is a sauna and steam room which you can use for no additional charge – these are open between 06:00 – 23:00. You can also book various spa treatments for an additional cost too.

Swimming Pool: No

RESTAURANTS & BARS
‘Street on First’ is the hotel's bar and restaurant and they were both very stylish. The bar area had plenty of different seating options so you can just as easily stay there for a drink or catch up on a bit of work.

The restaurant is also home to a couple of turntables, where a DJ comes in and spins some tunes for guests over breakfast on Friday to Sunday mornings – which is pretty cool if you ask me!! Never seen this before and I love the idea of it! The DJ also plays a few nights a week, mostly at the weekends.

The restaurant is home to 120 covers and is also used for conference lunches as well as dinners in the evenings. There is also space for 40 pax on the terrace outside. I actually had room service in the evening, which was excellent and I was pleased to have the full choice of all the food on offer at the restaurant (up to 10.00pm) – which was another great touch.

The conference rooms are all located on the first floor and can be reached by the elevator or by going up the stairs that are immediately in front of you as you enter the hotel – giving it a feel of a separate entrance, should you prefer this. Immediately at the top of the stairs is a great location for your registration desk as you would see everyone as they arrive. I really liked the layout.

There is a nice and bright shared conference breakout area outside of all the meeting rooms, which is a great location for all coffee breaks. As mentioned earlier, lunches are best taken in the 'Street on First' restaurant on the ground floor unless you prefer a working / stand up buffet lunch, which can be taken in the breakout area on the first floor. Either way, the hotel team are very accommodating and have a flexible approach.

The actual meeting rooms are all excellent with nice and high ceilings, masses of natural light throughout and very contemporary style and layouts.

Loading access for your AV teams is straightforward too with a goods entrance at the side of the hotel which is covered and allows easy access to the hotel and its meeting rooms.

Chadwick
This is INNSIDE Manchester's largest room and comprises of three individual rooms (Chadwick A, B & C) when they are fully opened up. As mentioned above, it is a very bright and airy space with built in projector and screen Each section of the room boasts a cloakroom space and can also be offered with full blackout drapes. This room is ideal for medium sized conferences and private group dinners.

Chadwick A, B & C
Natural light: Yes
Size: 306 Sq.M
Drinks Reception:
Theatre:
Classroom:
Dinner:
Boardroom:
U-shape:
Location:1st floor
AV Equipment included: Screen & projector

Chadwick A
Natural light:
Size: 129 Sq.M
Drinks Reception: 70
Theatre: 110
Classroom: 50
Dinner: 80
Boardroom: 35
U-shape: 30
Location:1st floor
AV Equipment included: Screen & projector

Chadwick B
Natural light:
Size: 77 Sq.M
Drinks Reception: 70
Theatre: 70
Classroom: 24
Dinner: 50
Boardroom: 16
U-shape: 18
Location:1st floor
AV Equipment included: Screen & projector

Chadwick C
Natural light:
Size: 72 Sq.M
Drinks Reception: 70
Theatre: 60
Classroom: 40
Dinner: 16
Boardroom: 18
U-shape: 18
Location:1st floor
AV Equipment included: Screen & projector

Foster
This nice & secluded room has masses of natural light on two sides and would be fantastic to use as a breakout room, or even better in a boardroom layout. For small meetings, coffee could be served directly into this room is you needed extra privacy. Blackout drapes are available to use in this room if required.

Natural light: Yes
Size: 49 Sq.M
Drinks Reception: 40
Theatre: 24
Dinner: 14
Boardroom: 15
U-shape: 10
Location:1st floor
AV Equipment included: Screen & projector

Big Ideas Space
This is my favourite meeting space at INNSIDE Manchester – quite simply it a very relaxed meeting room with many different seating options (think - comfy sofas and squidgy chairs) that actively encourage clear thinking and brainstorming. I loved it! It also benefits from having a SMART KAPP Screen which lets you share whatever you write, erase and scribble in real time with anyone, anywhere in the world. Fantastic!

Natural light: Yes
Size: 44 Sq.M
Theatre: 20 (not traditional theatre style - comfy chairs and sofas)
Location:1st floor
AV Equipment included: SMART KAPP Screen