18-24 Princess Street, Manchester, United Kingdom | (888) 551-4925
Housed in impressive, heritage-listed 19th-century building
Located in the heart of buzzing Manchester next to Chinatown, near public transport
Smart, modern rooms provide tea and coffee facilities and flat-screen TVs
On-site restaurant specializing in local seafood and premium steaks
Sleek, funky bar offers bartending classes and classic cocktails
24-hour room service
Interior design a bit lacking in character
Wi-Fi only free for first 30 minutes
Although impressive from the outside, the Arora Hotel doesn't quite deliver with its interiors, which are smart and modern, but largely lacking in character. Rooms, too, are perfectly adequate, with all the amenities you'd expect, but offer little to raise them above the average. The on-site restaurant, 24 Bar & Grill, does promise an impressive menu, and the hotel's excellent central location means there are plenty of other dining options at its doorstep. All in all, the hotel is a pretty good value for where it's situated, but travelers seeking a bit more style might consider The Midland nearby.
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Scene
Impressive, heritage building with generic, modern interiors
Housed in a grade-two-listed heritage building that was once a cotton warehouse, the Arora Hotel still features an impressive 19th-century facade that dominates the corner of a busy Manchester junction. The inside, however, is distinctly more up-to-date, with contemporary furnishings, dark wood paneling, and a slightly sterile ambience. There's little in the way of character to really distinguish the hotel -- interior design is modern and smart, but plain, emphasizing function over form. The lobby, with its vinyl seating arrangements and potted plants, feels something like an airport lounge. However, the 24 Bar & Grill is a bit more dynamic, with modern leather stools, a mirrored bar, and a chalkboard menu of classic cocktails. Clientele is a mixture of business and tourism, and those for whom a central location and no-nonsense lodgings are the main priorities.
Location
Set in Manchester's buzzing center next door to bustling Chinatown
The Arora Hotel is set right in the buzzing city center on busy Princess Street next to Manchester's bustling Chinatown. The hotel is well located for public transport, with Manchester Oxford Road train station and the main Manchester Piccadilly terminus both within a ten-minute walk. Being so central means the immediate area is full of bars and restaurants as well as plenty of shopping opportunities. The Manchester Art Gallery, known for its Pre-Raphaelite paintings and costume collection, is directly across the street. Manchester Airport is about ten miles from the hotel, or 30-minutes by car.
Rooms
Smart, no-nonsense rooms with air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs
The hotel's 141 rooms are all decorated in a smart, simple style with contemporary wooden furnishings, solid earth tones, and carpeted floors. Rooms are air conditioned, and provide tea and coffee facilities, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi (only free for first 30 minutes). Modern, brightly lit bathrooms are finished with white tiles and black granite countertops, and provide mist-free mirrors, shower/tub combos, and hairdryers.
Features
Restaurant specializing in locally sourced seafood and premium steaks
The Arora Hotel has a compact but modern fitness center on the upper floor, with a range of equipment and free weights. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, but only the first 30 minutes are free of charge. The hotel's 24 Bar & Grill specializes in aged steaks and locally-sourced seafood served in funky, modern surrounds -- crushed-velvet chairs, sheer black curtains, and ultra-modern lamps. The sleek, mirrored bar serves a wide range of of classic and updated cocktails, and offers bartending classes for groups. Well-suited for business travelers, the hotel has a suite for up to 100 guests, and three separate board rooms on-site.
