THEY say that to get ahead you should get a hat and Moxy Hotel Manchester City boasts a whole wall of them.
The Marriott Bonvoy’s experiential hotel brand, officially opened in Manchester at the start of the year and presents its ever stylish vibe to the heart of Spinningfields.
You can’t really get more City than where it is.
With its pink neon signage on top of its metal panelled exterior, the contemporary neighbourhood hotel offers a youthful fun atmosphere to those looking for a place to be.
For those travelling by train, plane or bus, its centrally located and a nearby NCP car park accommodates those who travel by car - remember to download the app first though.
The minute you walk in you know you are in for some sociable times.
All guests arriving are offered a premixed cocktail (there’s a zero alcohol option too) just to kick off your free time.
The lounge area of the hotel offers quirky furnishings with colourful scatter cushions and little nods to the surrounding culture and history.
At Moxy City Manchester, you’ll find test tubes on shelves - a nod to the chemists that used to be there, cushions in the shape of knots - a reminder of the cotton that was made there, and hats aplenty - addressing the old hat factory there.
There were also old style gym lockers against one of the walls and a football table and annexed off of that a private office type space for board meetings or communal gatherings.
At weekends there’s DJs behind one of the desks at the entrance and card and board games aplenty as well as books to read to pass the time.
It’s got a cool, uncomplicated vibe and the smiles on guests faces says it all.
On arrival one of Moxy’s artists was completing a colourful mural on the back wall.
We checked in, got our welcoming drink, and caught a lift which was emblazoned with the lyrics Love Will Tear Us Apart - a tribute to Joy Division’s Factory Records link to the city.
We encountered a couple of greyhounds waiting for their floor - as the hotel is pet friendly.
The room itself was spotless and a sign told us everything had just been given a swoosh of anti bacterial liquid including the remote control (always comforting).
The mirrors are perfect for selfies and the mood lighting is a perfect start to the weekend - with a motion centred light under the bed for those night time bathroom excursions.
Closets are open walled and everything is minimalistic so there’s less clutter and more sleek lines.
The platform beds had fresh white mattresses and the pillows had just enough bounce while in the bathroom there are walk in showers and the pink hand and body soap smelled lovely too.
We resisted watching Netflix on the telly to explore the surrounding area of Spinningfields and its cool mix of shops and restaurants.
We were a guest of Ducie Street Warehouse and loved the freshly made food and trendy atmosphere in spacious surroundings and also visited our favourite Chinese restaurant The Rice Bowl, with its gluten free vegetarian options and stylish tables, the following day.
Breakfast at The Moxy is even better than you’d imagine.
There is much more than muffins and cookies, as guests can enjoy a self service hot or cold buffet with cold meats and cheeses, breads, fruits, an extensive cereal bar, yoghurts, a traditional English brekkie, and a mix of hot and cold drinks.
Machines will dispense regular breakfast drinks - with a separate fridge offering more choice to those who wish to pay a little extra for the drink of their choice.
The Moxy bar has a host of cocktails on offer too with beers, spirits, wine, Moxy syrup blend, non-alcoholic Fauxy Moxy,or the booze fuelled Disco Diva in a disco ball with Vodka, Vanilla, Limoncello, Citrus Elderflower, Pomegranate, and Prosecco.
There’s also a dedicated barista counter for a coffee fix, and Grab n Go snacks and beverages available 24/7 for those late night cravings.
Staff at the nine storey hotel were so friendly and informative about the local surroundings and history.
They went out their way to help with any requests too.
The Moxy is perfect for an easy and energised staycation. For full transparency we were a guest of the hotel for our stay but would definitely revisit.
Rooms are available from £99.
.To book your stay at Moxy Manchester city visit www.MoxyManchesterCity.com | @MoxyMcr #PLAYON #ATTHEMOXY
Other winners on the night included Scottish mindreader Colin Cloud who recently wowed Mel B on Americas Got Talent by telling her what she had for dinner, and Neil 'Wee Man' Bratchpiece who won an award for best writer.
More than 170 nominations were received from across the Scottish comedy industry in January and subsequently whittled down by a panel of 10 comedians to be judged by those those in the industry.
Alan Anderson organiser of the night said: “2016 was a stand out year for Scottish Comedy. Richard Gadd being the first Scot in 29 years to win the Edinburgh Comedy Award was without doubt the highlight. There is a great pool of talent on the stand up circuit with the likes of Susie McCabe and Scott Agnew finally reaching the potential we have all predicted. On the radio, BBC’s Breaking The News has also given a break to several excellent Scottish comedians and writers proving that we can do satire better than London. However it’s on the small screen that Scotland is experiencing a vintage period thanks to the brilliant UK wide response to Scottish shows such as Two Doors Down, Scot Squad and Still Game… not to mention the juggernaut that is Frankie Boyle."
