voco Manchester - City Centre, an IHG Hotel

"Hotel Brooklyn is Manchester’s newest (opened 2020) and arguably coolest hotel, located in the middle of Portland Street, a seven-minute walk from Manchester Oxford Road rail station. There’s a shouty neon-orange sign out front and a drive-in style film projector through the sliding doors into the open-plan lobby, bar, and restaurant where guests can check themselves in via iPads handed out by the attractive staff. It’s a lovely urban spot all things considered, the 189 rooms decorated in smoky charcoal, with mustard-yellow curtains and mint-green winged armchairs. Windows are floor-to-ceiling and there are mood-setting spotlights, and framed sketches of New York street scenes on the walls. A nice touch sees some of the suites have wildflower terraces to attract bees, Manchester’s symbol. There are also attractive in-room Smeg fridges stocked with Brooklyn lager and cans of G&T (at a price). Food and drink is solid, too. In the cozy bar sip cocktails while listening to a record of your choice on the personal turntables ; headphones provided. In the restaurant, with its exposed chrome overhead pipes, enjoy the likes of pork chops and burgers of an evening, waffles and bagels in the morning. Hotel Brooklyn is about as buzzy and New York as Manchester gets, the perfect spot for a trendy city center stay."