Renaissance Manchester City Centre Hotel

Renaissance Manchester is pretty uninspiring from the outside, especially compared with some of the beautiful historic buildings in the city. In fact it's a rather grimy-looking tower block. Inside, though, it's got a smart, modern finish, where the eye is drawn straight to the bright fuchsia chairs set up here and there. Shiny marble floors run through the long, narrow lobby, to the lifts in the back. The sunken restaurant is screened off from the busy lobby and has an intimate, stylish feel, with more pink chairs and pale pink uplights -- plus wall art depicting local architecture. Guests pass through for soccer matches, concerts and weekends away, as well as business meetings and conferences. 

Renaissance Manchester has a top spot in the center of the city, especially for shoppers. It's opposite Harvey Nichols, and a couple of minutes on foot to Selfridges and the Arndale Centre. Many attractions are within a five-minute walk -- such as the cathedral, Football Museum, and beautiful John Rylands Library. Shopping and nightlife in the Northern Quarter -- including trendy Afflecks indoor market -- is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. It's about the same to the smart bars of Deansgate, and for concerts and shows in Manchester Arena. A free Metroshuttle bus runs around the city center and stops right outside the hotel on Deansgate. The bus station in Piccadilly Gardens is also 10 minutes away on foot, with connections to Old Trafford Stadium in about 30 minutes. Transit to the airport is not as convenient as some city hotels -- the express train leaves from Manchester Piccadilly, which is a 15-minute walk. Perhaps easiest is to hop on the Metroshuttle which links to Piccadilly in about the same time. The journey takes about 45 minutes all in -- or it's a 30-minute drive. 

Rooms are spacious across the board, with even Standard Rooms offering a living area and sofas. Decor is muted, coming in pale gray and white tones, with huge monochrome wall art depicting local buildings. There are touches of warm yellow in the lamps, cushions, and patterns across the carpet. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and irons. While Wi-Fi is available, you should expect to pay extra. Superior Rooms and Suites are on the top floors of the hotel, and add fridges with water, robes and slippers, and Nespresso coffee machines. Suites have separate bedrooms and living rooms with gaming tables. The bathrooms are smart, with large gray tilework, shower/tub combos, and toiletries. Keep in mind that the city center location can be a bit noisy.

Features aren't very numerous here, though the Renaissance Manchester serves a full buffet breakfast with hot and cold dishes, plus a la carte items. It's not included in standard rates. An international menu is on offer throughout the day, and room service is available around the clock. Guests are provided free access to a local fitness center, a five-minute walk away. It has a well-equipped gym, pool, saunas, and steam rooms, as well as a program of fitness classes. There are nine event rooms, and the largest accommodates up to 400. As with many large chains, there's a charge for Wi-Fi in rooms, but it's free in public areas. Parking is available on-site, but again, there's an extra cost.