A former hat factory in the heart of Manchester’s Spinningfields district is now a bustling party hotel - and the perfect place to ‘lay your hat’ after a night out in the city.
Moxy Manchester City, on Atkinson Street, off Deansgate, is the younger, cooler sibling of the Marriott brand, and is ideal for guests who love music, cocktails and giant fluffy hotel pillows, like me!
As my partner, Jake, and I arrived through the revolving doors at 3pm we were met not with a boring clinical check in desk, but a vibrant bar space and lounge with chill-hop seeping from the speakers around the room.
We headed straight up to the bar to check in, and received a complimentary Moxy cocktail to enjoy in the lounge.
The 360 degree bar also serves up a range of beers, cocktails and soft drinks - as well as hot beverages all day long.
In the lounge, the room is adorned with Morrissey cushions and The Smiths prints, as well as colourful cushions and a cosy projected fireplace.
The lobby is uber chic, with bowler hats nodding to the building's history as a hat factory, but bringing a moderness to it with Manchester pop culture.
As if we didn’t already feel like we were right at home, we decided to go and check out our room, heading up to number 614 in the Joy Division lyrics adorned lift.
All of the doors are room key activated - the elevators included - which offered a real sense of security and peace of mind for guests, too.
Arriving in the room, the afternoon sun glittered through the tall windows and onto the beautifully made bed.
The rooms aren’t the biggest, but feel bright and airy with little clutter or unnecessary furniture, with grey and white walls offering a clean and contemporary finish.
On the bed were four perfectly plump pillows leaning against the gorgeous suede hanging pillows, and a scatter cushion which read ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ - another acknowledgement of its manufacturing past.
Beside the bed was a little haberdashery themed stool, and on the other, a quant reading seat - which I got much use out of having ‘fallen’ into Waterstones en route.
At the foot of the bed attached to the wall was a huge flatscreen TV, which even had Netflix, meaning we could catch up on our watch list, including the final episode of After Life.
Outside we had views of the Manchester skyline, overlooking garden terraces and city high rises.
The best views can be found on the top floor though, looking over Beetham Tower, with the hotel boasting nine floors and 146 rooms.
In the bathroom, the shower, loo and sink were fairly compact, but offered everything we could need for the weekend.
I particularly liked the Muk branded shampoo, conditioner and hand soap, which were not in traditional minis, which can often be wasted in hotels. Instead, the full sized bottles take a more eco-friendly approach (and they smell amazing).
With plans to go out for dinner and drinks, I hung my dress up on the metal grid frame that surrounded the mirror - ideal for getting ready and drying my hair with the provided pink hair dryer.
Heading out to our dinner reservation, the lobby had filled up with guests who were enjoying cocktails, while the in-house DJ played some tunes.
It definitely seemed like a great way to get into the party mood before hitting the bars on Deansgate and in Spinningfields.
When we got back to our room, we were able to set the temperature on our thermostat so we weren’t too warm or too cold, before clambering under the sheets and sinking into the mattress. Never have I laid in a bed so comfortable with pillows that felt like actual clouds.
In the morning, breakfast is served from 7am to 11am, so we headed downstairs at 10ish for some food.
It’s a continental style breakfast with a great selection on offer, including fruits, yoghurts, cereals, pastries and cooked sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns and beans. But there’s also a snack bar and grab and go drinks area if you’re peckish too.
Checkout was at 12pm, and we left feeling relaxed and refreshed, and thanks to breakfast we were ready to take on some shopping before heading home.
We found the hotel to be really welcoming, affordable and while there was a party vibe throughout, the rooms themselves were tranquil and offered an escape from the hustle and bustle of the streets below.
Not only this, but Marriott Bonvoy members can earn benefits through their stay, and the venue is dog friendly for those looking to get away with their pet pooch.
Thinking of booking the Moxy for Valentine’s weekend? It's available to book from Friday, February 11 to Monday, February 14, with rates starting from £99.
