WHAT’S IT LIKE? Abode Hotels has six properties in total, all in the UK. As well as the one in Manchester, they are located in Chester, Exeter, Canterbury, Glasgow and London’s Chelsea (under its Baby Abode townhouse hotel brand). Abode Manchester occupies a converted Grade II Listed building with original features such as a Victorian redbrick frontage, walnut spiral staircase, hand-painted tiling and wrought ironwork.
The upper mid-range hotel opened in May 2008 and offers a modest ground-floor reception area looking on to the street through floor-to-ceiling windows, with an adjacent open-plan bar and dining area where food is served throughout the day. Rooms have high ceilings and incorporate modern fittings and furnishings.
WHERE IS IT? Five minutes’ walk from Piccadilly rail station, in the heart of Manchester. The airport is about 20 minutes away by train or 30 minutes by car.
ROOM FACILITIES All rooms come with original parquet flooring, high ceilings, king-size beds, workdesks, double glazed windows, LCD televisions, DVD players, safes, free wifi access and a “tuck box” with crisps and chocolate (no minibars though). Higher category rooms are more spacious, with Enviable rooms having complimentary snacks and living areas, and Fabulous suites offering additional features such as robes, slippers, magazines, newspapers and artwork by Yoko Ono and David Hockney.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper are all available in the MC Café, Bar and Grill, along with tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks in Bar MC on the ground floor. There is plenty of natural light and dark banquette seating, with waiter service and a buffet of cold (and à la carte hot) choices in the morning. Downstairs is a champagne and cocktail bar where fizz is available by the glass, bottle or magnum, and nibbles that can be ordered from a grazing menu.
For me, the highlight of this hotel is its award-winning on-site subterranean restaurant, Michael Caines (open 12pm-2.30pm and 6pm-10pm Mon-Sat), which is next to the champagne bar. I had a very enjoyable meal here one evening thanks to delicious food that was attractively presented (think grey slates and expansive white china), professional yet personable service, and a stylish setting with moody lighting.
The seasonal à la carte menu is described as “innovative European utilising the best regional produce” and is created under the guidance of one-armed chef Michael Caines, who also oversees eateries in Abode’s other properties in Exeter, Canterbury and London. An early evening menu of two courses costs £16.95 and for three courses it’s £24. Eight-course tasting menus (including one for vegetarians) cost £68 per person or £105 with wine pairings. A comprehensive wine list is categorised by grape types as opposed to region or origin, which the restaurant says is a way of encouraging diners to try vintages they may not have previously considered.
If you decide to go à la carte, options may range from the likes of pan-fried scallops with pea mousse, air-dried ham and bacon and maple syrup purée for £16, or assiette of spring vegetables with shoots, flowers and truffle dressing for £12.50. Mains could be of Yorkshire pigeon with duck liver, spring vegetables, celeriac purée and Madeira sauce for £24.50, or wild brill with crab crushed new potatoes, baby fennel and sauce vierge for £24.50.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES Corporate events or private functions can be held in either of the two dedicated meeting rooms or any of the five Fabulous suites. The café-bar on the ground floor can also be booked. There is no business centre.
LEISURE FACILITIES None.
VERDICT Whether or not you are staying at the Abode, Michael Caines’ restaurant is well worth trying as the food is top notch – not too fussy and very high quality. The hotel itself enjoys a good central location near the station and has contemporary rooms with free wifi. Staff are friendly and helpful but there are no leisure facilities and meeting space is thin on the ground.
FACT FILE
HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 56 bedrooms across three categories (Comfortable, Desirable and Enviable) plus five Fabulous suites.
ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The large amount of space, the wide comfortable bed and free wifi.
PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in October in a Comfortable room started from £109.
CONTACT Abode Manchester, 107 Piccadilly; tel +44 (0)161 2477 744; abodehotels.co.uk
Jenny Southan
