Hotel Review
Moxy Manchester City is part of the Marriott family of hotels offering a fun vibe combined with affordable luxury. The previous year I’d had the pleasure of staying at Moxy The Hague so I was interested to find out how Moxy Manchester compared.
Location:
Moxy Manchester opened in early 2022 and is located in a former hat factory. It’s tucked away down a quiet street off Deansgate in the vibrant Spinningfields district.
This is Manchester’s central business district and one of the city’s top destinations for shoppers, foodies and party-goers so definitely a great place to stay.
Arrival and check in:
We travelled by train, arriving into Manchester’s Victoria railway station in the early afternoon and enjoyed a pleasant walk through the city centre taking around 20 minutes to reach the hotel. For guests arriving by car, the hotel offers discounted parking at NCP Spinningfields which is close by.
On stepping through the doors, the brightly decorated entrance lobby was very welcoming. Check-in takes place at one end of the bar and Emily, the receptionist on duty (Moxy prefers to refer to front desk staff as hotel ambassadors) was very friendly and helpful. After a speedy check-in, we were handed our key cards and offered a welcome cocktail which we decided to enjoy after we’d settled into the room and freshened up.
The Room:
A pair of high speed lifts take guests up to their rooms and in hardly any time at all we had reached the seventh floor. On opening the door, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Moxy Sleeper we’d been booked into seemed bigger than I had anticipated. I was impressed with its Scandi style, uncluttered appearance and with floor to ceiling windows, the room was filled with natural light and boasted views over the city’s rooftops.
The super king size bed was very comfortable and with its light as air duvet and soft pillows we were both asleep in seconds. Nods to the building’s heritage as a hat factory abound with a cushion indicating that you can leave your hat on whilst the coffee table had imprints of milliner’s tools including scissors and a tape measure.
Wi-Fi was easy to connect to and worked well and with a large wall mounted Netflix enabled television we had everything at hand for a relaxing stay. The dressing table/desk had ample power points and USB sockets and a kettle with tea, coffee and milk sachets was provided. I was disappointed to find that there weren’t any biscuits but it wasn’t the end of the world. Neither was there a fridge, but after a phone call down to reception,, a large ice bucket was speedily brought up to the room enabling us to keep our drinks chilled.
Instead of a wardrobe, rooms have a trendy metal grid fitted to the wall supplied with four hangers so guests can see at a glance the clothes they’ve brought with them. As we were only staying one night there was adequate hanging space for our coats and dresses but if we’d been staying longer we would have needed to leave some things in our suitcases.
Bathrooms are small but perfectly formed with walk-in power showers, luxuriously thick bath towels and fragrant MUK Australian brand toiletries and hair care products.
Dining:
A varied buffet breakfast is served each morning in the lounge bar and this is a very relaxed affair with freshly squeezed juice, yoghurts, fruit, cheese, cold cuts of meat, salad, pastries and bread alongside cooked options of omelettes, bacon and sausages. As we were enjoying a relaxed mid week stay by the time we came down to breakfast at 9.00 a.m. it was very quiet but gladly everything was available so we tucked in and helped ourselves to fresh coffee, toast and waffles after sampling the savoury offerings first.
Small plates and daily specials are available throughout the day and after an afternoon of sightseeing and shopping we opted to eat in, both selecting Moxy hand stretched pizzas which were very good and reasonably priced at £13. We accompanied these with our complimentary iced tea vodka cocktails which I’d thought would be too sweet but were in fact very refreshing. For children and anyone not wishing to have an alcoholic drink, then mocktails are also available.
The Facilities:
Moxy Manchester City has 146 rooms spread over nine floors with the focal point of the hotel being its open plan lounge bar which is furnished with a mixture of armchairs, banquette seating and long tables with high stools enabling guests to relax, work and play. Board games are scattered around the tables from Scrabble to Chess and Jenga, with something for all the family as well as a play corner with colouring books and games for young children.
The bar lounge is the social hub of the hotel with one wall having a display of hats linking back to the building’s former life. The area has a modern industrial chic feel with locally inspired artwork, curated Manchester-style illustrations and illuminated signs across the lobby. From brightly coloured sofas, pouffe seating, cosy corners, huge soft toys to cuddle up to and a fun Photo Booth it’s a fun place to be.
On the lounge bar’s rear wall is a giant screen which alternates between showing the news and acting as “The Guestbook”. Designed with social media-lovers in mind, guests can upload their photos and videos onto Instagram and soon be able to see them blown up on the wall. Photos are constantly changing and it’s a fun option for anyone interested.
Out and About:
There’s so much to see and do in Manchester. Here are my suggestions:
Manchester Town Hall
Located in Albert Square and one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. It’s a fine example of Neo-Gothic architecture in the United Kingdom. Constructed in 1877 at a cost of £1m and containing more than 14m bricks it’s a joy to behold. The Town Hall features a 280 ft high clock tower with three clock faces and 24 bells. The building is currently closed for major renovations but we can all look forward to visiting when it re-opens and to viewing its Sculpture Hall and vast Great Hall displaying coats of arms from the towns Manchester traded with.
Manchester Cathedral
Visit the cathedral on Victoria Street and take a look at its impressive interior and wood carvings. Look out for the carvings of bees on the roof which are the symbol of Manchester’s industry. 30 minute guided tours are available with a suggested donation of £3 (admission to the Cathedral is free).
Exchange Square
Just steps away from the cathedral is the vibrant Exchange Square created after the devastating 1996 Manchester IRA bombing. The attractive square has tiered walkways and seating which are utilised as audience seating when events are held in the square. At other times sit in front of the Corn Exchange and happily while away an hour or so with a drink and a bite to eat whilst watching the world go by.
The Corn Exchange
This building was originally used as a corn exchange and previously known as the Corn and Produce Exchange. Renovated in 1996 it now houses restaurants and bars.
Shambles Square
A historic square adjacent to Exchange Square and home to four popular pubs. The term ‘shambles’ comes from the name of the street where butchers would slaughter meat as in the famous Shambles narrow road in the centre of York. The Wellington Inn is now the only surviving Tudor building in the city centre.
John Rylands Library
Located on the edge of Spinningfields and close to the Moxy is the The John Rylands Library, part of the University of Manchester and one of the most spectacular libraries in the world. The historic entrance hall and main staircase lead up to the reading room which is one of the finest reading rooms of any library. Statues of Mr & Mrs Rylands grace each end of the huge cathedral like space whilst stained glass windows celebrate the achievements of individuals from the world of arts and science. Entrance free.
Piccadilly Gardens
An open space in the heart of the city. It’s surrounded by a mix of historic and modern buildings, offices and restaurants. It’s also a major interchange for buses and trams.
Manchester Central Library
Dominating St. Peter’s Square and completed in 1934, this magnificent library combines historic features with modern design. Pop upstairs and view the splendour of the Wolfson Reading Room. There’s also a large, pleasant café overlooking the square.
Museum of Science & Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry showcases the city’s achievements and includes sections on textiles and technology. Entrance free.
National Football Museum
For any football aficionado, a visit to the National Football Museum is an absolute must. As Manchester is home to arguably two of the world’s best teams it seemed appropriate for the museum to be located in the city.
Chinatown
Make sure you visit Chinatown just behind Piccadilly on Faulkner Street. It’s the second largest in the UK with an impressive Imperial Chinese archway and lots of authentic restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores. It’s the main cultural hub for Chinese families in the north of England and thousands of visitors flock to the annual Chinese New Year Festival in February to view the large parade and lion dancing.
Nearby:
Salford Quays & MediaCity UK
A gleaming digital destination on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. It’s home to BBC North and ITV including the ever popular soap opera, Coronation Street whose fictional home Weatherfield is based here. Easily accessible by tram in around 20 minutes from the city centre.
The Lowry
Home to two theatres and an art gallery featuring the works of local artist L.S. Lowry, famous for his paintings of urban landscapes with human figures. The gallery located on the upper floor contains the largest public collection of the artist’s work. His paintings are mostly of local industrial districts and incorporate his trademark ‘matchstick men’ figures. Admission free.
Imperial War Museum North
Part of the Imperial War Museum housed in a distinctive steel building. This iconic building represents a globe torn apart by conflict. It was designed by Daniel Libeskind and admission is free. Touring the galleries is a moving experience as the powerful stories depict how war shapes lives, from reading a soldier’s last letter home to viewing a twisted piece of metal from New York City’s World Trade Centre – so sad but so real.
Overall:
Staying at The Moxy was an absolute joy, I adored its edgy design, relaxed atmosphere and comfortable accommodation. As part of the Marriott hotel group Moxy say “we don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we’re seriously into showing you a good time with smart rooms, stylish communal spaces and bars you’ll love” and they’ve definitely nailed it. Moxy might be marketed for Gen Z and Millennials but it’s a perfect place to stay for the young at heart too!
Details: Moxy Manchester City, 8, Atkinson Street, Manchester, M3 3HH
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