I am a born and raised Londoner, but if I had to pick another British city to live in, it would be Manchester. The place is the definition of 'a vibe', and whenever I get the chance to visit, I never say no. As a travel enthusiast, birthday trips with friends have become a go-to celebration and when a very close friend was in the market for a birthday staycation, INNSiDe by Meliá Manchester was the perfect choice.
If you say Deansgate to any Love Island fan, most will know an ITV reality star who has called it home at one point or another. Located a stone's throw away from Manchester's city centre, INNSiDe Manchester is nestled in between a bridge and a Junkyard Golf venue.
Floral assets flow throughout the lobby where you can also find Gino D'Acampo's new restaurant, and the decor perfectly captures Manchester's unique personality.
Did someone say a sleepover at INNSiDe?
The modern twist fed through to our spacious room. With floor-to-ceiling windows, our room was naturally light-filled which was refreshing for me as a person who favours bright spaces. But don't worry, when night falls and you draw the blackout curtains, no unwanted rays of sunshine can peel through.
INNSiDe have created a new definition of open-plan living thanks to their bathrooms. While there is a door to the toilet, the sink is technically in the bedroom and the shower door opens straight into the room too. One word for the shower - rainfall (it was magical).
© DAVID RALITAAs long-distance friends, having a sleepover night during our getaways has become a favourite tradition and INNSiDe’s hotel rooms are the perfect place for catching up in style. Our room already had refreshments available in the refrigerator, with free healthy drinks, a kettle for my tea-loving bestie and a Chromecast on the TV which meant we could pick what we wanted - cheerleading comedy Bring It On was the film of choice.
This celebrity chef understands a breakfast spread
Legend has it, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and let's just say Gino understood the assignment. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, Gino D'Acampo Manchester offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and we started our days with a breakfast spread that ticked every box.
The hot breakfast buffet boasted every item needed for the perfect English breakfast, with poached eggs and hash browns available by order, to a great selection of fruits, pastries and cereals, plus cold cuts, cheese and juices - and their milk choices are certainly very inclusive.
Little tip - treat yourself to the double chocolate cookie.
Exploring the city's hotspots
Whilst my bestie and I could've stayed in the hotel and called it girlhood, our city break wouldn't be complete without a little trip to the shops, especially when the city centre is only a short stroll away. If Deansgate didn't scream reality TV star enough, we stayed on brand and chose an influencer favourite, Sexy Fish. And let's just say, the women's bathroom decor could rival other popular hotspots… the girlies know.
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Handily, INNSiDe is perfectly located in the heart of everything. After a takeaway in our room and the first half of a pamper section, we ventured around the corner and ended up at HOME Manchester, the performing arts theatre, which had a bar, restaurant, stages and cinema screenings. We opted to see Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling's The Fall Guy.
Find out more at melia.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/manchester/innside-manchester.
