Posts Tagged: Manchester serviced apartments

There’s a lot of fuss at the moment about two landmarks considered to be integral to Manchester’s modern history: The Twisted Wheel club, and the current set of television soap opera Coronation Street. Both are at risk of demolition in the name of progress, much to the chagrin of fans and Manchester enthusiasts.

The Twisted Wheel
The Twisted Wheel is regarded by many as the birthplace of music genre Northern Soul – a late 1960s rhythm and blues style which also gave rise to trends in dancing and fashion. The club originally opened in 1963 on Brazennose Street – but shortly afterwards moved to a converted warehouse building on Whitworth Street, near Piccadilly railway station. In recent years the building has housed contemporary club Legends, at which a popular Twisted Wheel tribute night is held twice monthly. There are now plans to knock down the Whitworth Street building and build a budget hotel in its place. Opposition is fierce, as many feel that Manchester already has plenty of accommodation options.

Coronation Street
The current set of ITV programme Coronation Street dates from 1982, making it 30 years old. It is one of the most famous sets in UK television history and has attracted many visitors over the years. Due to changes at ITV, there are plans to move and reconstruct it at MediaCityUK on Salford Quays – meaning it will no longer be in Manchester city centre. Coronation Street has been filmed in the centre since 1960 and many people are dismayed by the idea that there will be no lasting legacy of this. An application for listed status has therefore been submitted to English Heritage, who will refer it to the government’s Department For Culture, Media And Sport if they deem it suitable. It is thought that if the existing set was retained as a tourist attraction, it could raise significant funds each year.

Manchester has many landmarks and activity centres, making it a popular location for people to visit on day trips or longer breaks, as well as being a popular centre for academic study and professional work. Hotels and Manchester serviced apartments are often in high demand to cope with large numbers of visitors, so it is wise to book in advance to get the best rates.

Here in the capital of the north, we may not have quite as many five-star hotels as they do in London (they’ve got more than 50 and we’ve got two – one of which is actually in Salford), but there are still some very nice places to stay.

Providing five-star accommodation in the heart of the city centre, the Radisson Edwardian is located on Peter Street, which links Deansgate and Oxford Street. This makes it an ideal base for sightseeing and entertainment in Manchester, enjoying proximity to a plethora of theatres, art attractions, restaurants, bars and clubs. It is housed within the grade II-listed Free Trade Hall, which was originally built in 1846 and rebuilt after the Manchester Blitz of World War Two. It has also famously hosted gigs by Bob Dylan in 1966, Pink Floyd on numerous occasions and a legendary concert by the Sex Pistols in 1976. Its well-regarded restaurants are named Opus One (formal) and Alto (less so).

Despite being geographically located in Salford, the Lowry Hotel is often considered part of Manchester city centre, sitting on the banks of the River Irwell within easy reach of the shopping district and numerous bars and restaurants. It is the choice of many celebrities who visit Manchester, due to its five-star status and striking design. The Lowry Hotel’s River Restaurant has received excellent reviews in recent years and it also boasts luxury spa facilities.

The Midland Hotel on Peter Street is probably Manchester’s most famous, being the meeting place of Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce in 1906 – an event which resulted in one of the world’s most well-known car manufacturing companies. The grand building was built between 1898 and 1903 and has been a hotel ever since, now operating at a four-star level.

Manchester’s other notable hotels include Abode and Malmaison in Piccadilly – and the city also offers a wide variety of self-catered accommodation options. Manchester serviced apartments are located in the Northern Quarter, Deansgate, the Gay Village and Salford Quays, among other locations.