Novotel Manchester Centre Hotel

Stayed here with work on a last minute booking through the company travel agents. Was the only place in Manchester for under £200 as I managed to pick a night when Manchester United were playing at home and Justin Timberlake in a concert. Was basic and clean - a but french with a bizarre separate toilet. It had just been refurbed and a lady asked us a few questions when we were in the bar. The english of the reception staff wasn't great and we had problems getting out dinner allowance sorted out. Good location for china town.

I was travelling to a convention at the last minute so paid a lot for one night. The location is bang in the heart of manchester city, which is great. The check-in was a bit slow, only one person seemed to be dealing with it. The room was clean, sheets clean and bathroom clean. The hotel was pleasant enough in decor. The parking though is a let-down, being central means it is an underground parking which is VERY tight to get into with a big car, and actual parking spaces are too close and tight, I can bet many a dunt happens on your car door. I had a problem, my brother was staying aswell and he pulled a neck muscle and couldn't move. The person at the check-in desk was not of much use, this was 7am sunday morning and I'd asked him if there was any painkillers they could give. No he said, I can understand the whole thing about liability etc, but he had no idea when any nearby shop may open. However, the lady in charge of the cleaners was VERY helpful. She let my brother stay in the room past the check-out time whilst I was going back and forth to the gmex centre. She'd also told us that sainsbury was open early and I got the painkillers from there, which helped a little. Overall, apart from a few niggly things, the location was good, the room clean, which is my main priority.

We recently spent a very enjoyable weekend in Manchester and we have nothing but praise for all the staff at the Novotel. The hotel is located in Chinatown and all the attractions are right on the doorstep. I was treating my wife to a weekend away after a long period of illness. Our arrival at the hotel car park was reassuring in itself - very safe and manned 24 hours per day. I have rerad other reviews complaining about this, but first of all the car park adjoins the hotel it is not owned by them as I discovered and secondly it is very secure. Our room was very spacious and had all the usual amenities you would expect of this class of hotel. The air conditioning and sound profing made for a very pleasant. sleep. Breakfast was fantastic value, all you can eat and so much choice - we were even having a very pleasant chast with the young chef who prepared all the hot food. When the reception manager learned we were here for a special weekend he arranged a card signed by all the hotel staff and chocolates were placed in our room when we returned from our night out. You don't find that sort of caring service very often. Every one was so friendly and proffessional. We hope to return to Manchester in the Autumn for shopping and maybe a concert and we will be staying here again. If you want a good central location, safety, friendly service and I must say a spotlessly clean hotel then you must try Novotel. For us it was a perfect stay .

Stayed here for one night on 13th July, having booked an internet pre-paid special rate of £79. Would normally stay at the Ibis but as the company was paying I thought I'd try the superior brand. A small queue awaited us at check in but not exactly surprising as I turned up just after 5pm but everyone was seen to quickly. The hotel is situated right in the city centre close to some of the main nightlife areas but also close to the ring road. Parking was available underneath the hotel but is not free for guests (£14 for 24 hours). It's not the most spacious of car parks so be warned if you are thinking of bringing anything larger than a Focus/Astra. The hotel lobby was clean and looked fairly modern, with a bar and restaurant. The bar seemed to be open to guests well into the early hours (I returned at 3am and people were still being served). Other facilities offered include a small gym on the top floor. The room itself will be familiar to regular guests at Accor hotels (the kit hotel kind of feel) and the extra £20 more you pay compared to the Ibis next door buys you a small sofa, a TV with pay channels, a mini bar and seemingly nicer shower gel and shampoo. The bathroom layout is poorly thought out with a separate tiny toilet cubicle. The bed was dreadfully uncomfortable and unless you like sleeping on concrete then you will find it very difficult to get a decent nights sleep. The room was also too warm and the air conditioning didn't seem to make much difference. I also was not impressed by the half eaten breakfast still laying outside my room when I first went in. We opted not to have breakfast as £12.50 was an extortionate price to pay. If you want the full English, the local Weatherspoons pub does a breakfast for £3 and it is just on the corner by the hotel, on the opposite corner to McDonalds. If you're just after a bed for the night then save yourself £20 and stay in the Ibis next door. The beds are more comfortable and the rooms are virtually the same.

Stayed at the Novotel for 2 nights (Fri / Sat). The reception area is nice, staff friendly and location great. The room was ok but decor not that nice, artex walls and plastic everywhere - all of the bathroom, including the glasses and even the lampshades were plastic! Interesting also that there is a mini bar however only plastic glasses from the bathroom to use! The toilet and bathroom were two seperate rooms, with no sink in the toilet area - pretty disgusting having to come out and then go into bathroom to wash hands! The bed was also really uncomfortable. Cleaning left a lot to be desired - had to rinse the bath out before use as deposits of previous guest were still there! Then when room was serviced it looked like a rush job - the plastic glasses in the bathroom were left unwashed/changed!! Remains of food on Room Service trays and empty mini bar bottles also littered the corridors for the duration of the stay! As you have probably guessed - I wouldn't recommend!

Standard Novotel format much the same wherever you go (which I think is fine). My problem was with parking ... there was none. Commercial garage type park next door was full and had to waste a frustrating few hours prowling the centre of a very large city to find an alternative. Many business clients drive here and the property needs to negotiate bookable parking spaces in the facility next door. Moral of the story .. train or plane, don't drive !

Have stayed at many hotels in Manchester but we decided to stay here, as we really enjoyed staying at the Birmingham Novotel last year. The room was a good size but separate WC made the bathroom very small and I don't see the point of it. The duvet was far too hot - much prefer sheets and a blanket that you can fold back if necessary. Cooked breakfast was lukewarm and the experience a bit frantic. Lots of nice fresh fruit though. We did not get the newspapers we ordered (though we were charged for them) and when we queried this we were met with a Gallic shrug at reception from the man who appeared to be in charge! (Other staff on the reception desk were helpful though). Location is great - right by Chinatown and the Art Gallery, which is always a pleasure, and only a short walk from the main shops. I come to Manchester at least once or twice a year and would probably choose somewhere else to stay as this was a mildly disappointing (and really quite expensive!) experience.

Good standard of hotel at a reasonable price. It's not the cheapest and it's not the dearest and you get what you pay for. I was more than happy with value for money. It is clean, with good facilities, helpful staff and good food. If you want 5 star then pay for it. It you want budget then pay for that. If you want somewhere inbetween then this is the one for you.

as soon as we stepped through the door we were greeted by a warm receptionist. the room was clean and tidy and the food was superb. i would recommend it to anyone.